Snapshot of Formerly Fort Willem II at Ungaran

This building is situated in the center of Ungaran city, a small hill city at south side of Semarang City. It situated directly beside of the main city street. It could be the iconic one. Currently, the building is functioned as Public Meeting Hall that managed by local Police Authority. When I was coming here in the year of 2014, I can freely entering the site to take some pictures.

There was a sculptural bronze wall mural placed near the entry gate. This sculptural bronze mural showing a figure of a person, as mentioned in carved text below the figure, his name is William Baron Van Imhoff. And an indication of years is carved below the figure, the text below the name, mentioning the year of 1743 - 1750. I think seven years was time duration when William Baron Van Imhoff was served as Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies.

Most likely, the fort is built around that years. A particular source mentioned that the fort was built several years after 1750, but another historical notes also mentioned that the fort was initially built long before 1743.

A pair of strong wooden door leaves are placed at the center of the fort underneath of a main viewing tower within a pair of old vintage cannons. There are some cannons also found at each far corner sides at upper floor decks. After entering this main entry door, somebody can directly find a central open court in the middle of the fort. There also found double space long and narrow corridors that ended-up to wooden stairs at both end sides of the fort. This long narrow corridor are connected with void opening to promote natural daylight that comes from observation alleys at upper floor.

A large hall room is situated at upper floor. An open space enough for large gathering with natural dark wooden flooring, white masonry wall and louvered wooden windows. This hall is accessible from perimeter alleys which is connected with timber bridge at back side of the fort building. Generally, the fort looks well preserved. Despite it currently use in different function as originally is. At least a visitor can still experiencing a memorable place where Dutch Colonial authority ever control this land and its surrounding areas for several hundred years ago.