Monday November 1; today Frances and I visited Fort Zoutman. According to the Werbata map, triangulation point no 9 is on the fort. The fort is the oldest Dutch building in Aruba. It was built in 1796 to defend the port of Oranjestad.
The fort was originally at the waterfront, but, because land was reclamed later, it is now further from the coast.
The fort is named after the Dutch Admiral Johan Zoutman. In 1868 the tower was added to the fort; the tower then served as a lighthouse, while a bell was also placed in it, which was rung on the full hours.
At the time of the land survey by Willem Jonckheer jr, a land surveyor trained by Werbata on Curaçao, a triangulation point was also placed on the tower.
The Werbata triangulation point was the main reason for me to visit the fort. In addition, the presence of a historical museum in the fort also makes the visit worthwhile.
At the entrance of the fort I explained what I wanted to do and that I would like to go up the tower for that. Apparently that is normally not allowed, but if I promised be careful with the trap doors between the different floors, I was be allowed to go upstairs. So Frances and I made our way up the steep stairs. Fortunately, only the top trap door was closed, because opening such a hatch is quite a tough job.
On the top floor of the tower we found the clockwork, which was placed in the tower in 1937. The timepiece is made in Amsterdam. On top of the roof we found only the cast bell. While we were enjoying the view, it suddenly started to strike 9 o'clock. We were quite startled at first. Apparently the clock was not running on time, because it was already well after 9 o'clock.
Unfortunately, there is no trace of the triangulation point. Not surprisingly, because the clock tower was provided with an extra building layer in 1937, which also included a clock. Apparently the bell was also replaced at that time, because the bell, which is now on top of the tower, was cast in 1936.
I assume that the Werbata triangulation point was lost during the renovation. The light was still maintained at that time, but it was also removed in 1963, giving the tower its current shape.
Apparently the fort itself has also been restored and some of its historical characteristics have been lost. For example, the water drainage openings that normally can be found below the guns are no longer visible, because the floor where those openings should be is evenly filled with concrete.
Foto's
Oranjestad with Fort Zoutman - DP09
The clockwork in the tower Willem III, made in Amsterdam
Detail of the mechanism of the clockwork
The bell, from 1936
and I know where the clapper hangs
Unique panorama from the top of the tower
The different forms of the tower from 1868 till present time
The tower in 1930 - the light of the light tower and Werbata triangulation point still present
Frances in a kitchen
Inside of the fort
The tower as seen from the inside of the fort
Probably the first accurate map of the island Aruba from 1825
The Werbata kaart is also present in the museum
Embrasures in the fort
The tower of the fort as seen from outside the fort
Tropical storm Tomas is nearing Aruba
