Anping Old Fort is a Dutch-built fortress in Anping District, Tainan, originally constructed as Fort Zeelandia by the Dutch East India Company in 1624 and completed a decade later in 1634. In 1661, Koxinga's forces besieged the fort for about nine months before the Dutch surrendered, and the site was subsequently rebuilt across the Zheng, Qing, and Japanese colonial periods. The surviving red-brick remnant walls and watchtower still carry traces of all four eras.
Fort Zeelandia was first built as a simple stockade by the Dutch East India Company in October 1623, demolished in April 1624, rebuilt on the same site, and completed in 1634. Koxinga's forces landed and began the siege on April 30, 1661; the Dutch signed the surrender on February 1, 1662, and formally handed over the fort on February 9 — a siege lasting roughly nine months. In October 2022, the site's two separate national historic monuments were merged into one, renamed 'Fort Zeelandia Remains.'
What to See at Anping Old Fort
Fort Zeelandia was the most important military and trading hub of the Dutch East India Company in Taiwan. After Koxinga took it following a nine-month siege in 1661, it was renamed Anping Town Castle. The fortress gradually fell into ruin during the Qing dynasty; during the Japanese colonial period, customs staff quarters and a watchtower were built on the old site. The surviving red-brick remnant walls are the Dutch-era brick structures that persisted through successive renovations and are now protected as a historic site.
Inside the grounds, the Anping Old Fort Exhibition Hall uses scale models and historical documents to explain the original layout of Fort Zeelandia and its evolution through the ages. The watchtower was built during the Japanese colonial period; from the top you can look out over Anping Harbor and the surrounding streets. The bricks from the Dutch period are darker in color and denser in texture, visibly different from the later Qing-dynasty bricks.
How to Make the Most of Your Visit
Practical Information
Getting There & Timing
- Located on Gubao Street in Anping District, about 7 km from central Tainan; recommended to get here by bus or shared bicycle.
- For opening hours, check the Tainan City Bureau of Cultural Affairs website or on-site notices — hours may vary slightly by season.
- Morning light is better for observing brick textures; the western exposure in the afternoon means sun protection is essential.
Nearby Connections
- Walking distance to Anping Old Street and Anping Tree House, forming a half-day walking route through Anping District.
- Eternal Golden Castle is about 2 km from Anping Old Fort — easily reached by bicycle.
Source: compiled from contextual facts; for administrative information such as opening hours, please consult official announcements from the Tainan City Bureau of Cultural Affairs. Photos pending replacement with Dio's actual shots.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Anping Old Fort originally called?
It was originally named Fort Zeelandia, built by the Dutch East India Company on Taiwan's southwest coast starting in 1624.
How long did Koxinga's siege of Fort Zeelandia last?
Koxinga's forces landed and began the siege in late April 1661, and the Dutch surrendered and handed over the fort by early February 1662 — a siege of roughly nine months.
What historic monument status does Anping Old Fort hold today?
In October 2022, two previously separate national historic monuments covering the site were merged into one, now named "Fort Zeelandia Remains."
Sources
- 安平古堡 - 維基百科 — 建城起訖年份、鄭成功圍城日期與月數、2022年古蹟合併沿革