40 Heritage expertise across Asia The Focus

Reinterpretations at Fort Nassau in the Banda Islands,

Joëlla van Donkersgoed Heritage sites are in a constant process of re-interpretation by a wide variety of actors and stakeholders. The act of attaching meaning to a site does not occur in a vacuum but is influenced by power dynamics within its broader social context. For example, emphasis on certain features of a site, at the expense of other features, can vary with each interpretation and each interpreter. Moreover, the meaning ascribed to a site by contemporary communities may be widely different from the intended meaning given by the society that constructed it. Because of this, heritage sites should be studied from a variety of angles that together shape the interpretation of the landscape in which the site exists.

project for Fort Nassau in 2014, which included their islands, and the reconstruction of Fort the removal of vegetation and the rebuilding Nassau is regarded as a positive investment of the collapsed and absent bastion walls. This towards this goal. The concern of the local government initiative can be seen as shaped population, however, is the way in which by a specific vision of consumption: this is conducted. There is an overall sense a completed fort that aligns with the aesthetic of exclusion amongst the local communities of the VOC. In order to accomplish this, the during the process of reconstruction and there different life-phases of the fort, including is a fear that the reconstructed site will be its partial destruction and other historically an inauthentic replica. The fear is based on significant events, were disregarded. previous reconstructions that did not meet the Although there is an overall consensus expectations of the Bandanese; for example, a among the Bandanese that the restoration is a recent renovation of a colonial building by non- positive action for the fort, the project has not local investors opted for a new roof made of been received with merely positive responses. blue durable material rather than a traditional Firstly, plans to reconstruct the moat around roof. Some Bandanese described the modern View from the reconstructed bastion of Fort Nassau on . In this image the material used for the the fort were encountered with resistance appearance of this material as degrading the reconstruction of the bastion is clearly visible, as well as the fact that the residence is located in the trajectory by the local population who have inhabited historical feeling of the building and the area. of the next phase of reconstruction. Photo by Joëlla van Donkersgoed. that land for several decades and used the The use of material that differentiates visually area of the moat for the cultivation of crops. from the historical fabric is in this case a factor n my research on the current interpretations perken, plots of land that were to be governed Proposed preservation and rehabilitation that decreases the heritage value in the eyes of the cultural landscape of the Banda Islands by ex-VOC employees, called perkeniers, plans to reconstruct the entire structure would of the Bandanese. Iin Indonesia, I explore the interpretations of and labored by slaves. therefore involve the displacement of several The ongoing efforts in heritage manage- the historic site of Fort Nassau on the island Fort Nassau in Banda Neira is the first families. Secondly, there have been conflicting ment, including the addition of this site as of Banda Neira by diverse interest groups, permanent construction the Dutch built on the reactions to the reconstruction of the walls of a cultural landscape to the Tentative List of including local, national and international archipelago, leading to fierce resistance from the fort on two separate counts. On the one UNESCO, as well as the restoration initiatives agents. Through my work, I examine the the Bandanese noblemen. It is the location hand, the materials used in the reconstructed at Fort Nassau, suggest that there is increasing challenge of gathering insights into the where 44 noblemen, orang kaya, were publicly bastions differ from the material in the original interest in the heritage resources of the Banda different influences that define this particular quartered and decapitated during the Dutch stonework. Discontentment was voiced by Islands at multiple local and international site as a heritage site. Considering various conquest. The fort itself has since known several Bandanese in relation to this distinction, levels. This has attracted outside experts, heritage interpretations, which include both several uses, including its function as a prison who argued that the reconstructed parts of who are invited to ‘do something’ with the colonial narratives as well as the oral history of and a storage facility. However, it lost its the fort did not seem ‘original’ or as it is more heritage for the promotion and benefit of the the Bandanese people, I suggest that fixating military defensive function after it was severely frequently described in the field of heritage Bandanese people. These efforts are welcomed on a specific historical heritage deters the damaged by bombing during its capture by studies, that it is inauthentic. On the other by the local community as they recognize that ongoing (re)interpretation of sites to suit the the English in 1810. The inner court was then hand, the Bandanese have also voiced regrets tourism is a profitable source for seasonal needs of contemporary society. turned into a tennis court for the enjoyment that the construction work is conducted by work, and they are also proud to share the of the perkeniers families. In the 20th century, non-local workers, fueling the perception history and resources of the islands with this open area was re-used as the location for that the regional office does not trust the visitors. However, developments surrounding Banda Islands and Fort a radio station and antenna. These, in turn, craftsmanship of Bandanese construction the restoration efforts at Fort Nassau revealed became a target for Japanese bombs during workers. Overall, the Bandanese feel that that the local community does not feel directly Nassau: and mace the attacks on the Banda Islands in World through this process of outsourcing the work, empowered through the current style of Until the mid-1800’s, the Banda Islands War II, which damaged the fort further. they have lost their ability to determine how the heritage management. There are various ways in Indonesia were the primary source location In ruins, the fort failed to regain a new function reconstruction of their site is being conducted. in which their involvement could be formalized for the sought-after nutmeg and mace. and vegetation took over the site. Bandanese Interestingly, while many post-colonial in these initiatives; for example, Bandanese As these goods were popular around the world, who live near and at the site reported that heritage debates question the contemporary construction workers could be employed rather traders from Asia and the Arabian Peninsula the structure became haunted, with sounds validity of preserving colonial structures than outsourcing the work to a company from travelled great distances to the region in order of the massacred men and the rattling of in territories that were once occupied, the Ambon; and the process of consulting the to obtain them. The first European traders their chains heard at night. development of a heritage industry in the community could include devising a plan to that engaged with people on the Banda Banda Islands suggests that heritage resources incorporate the reconstructed site into their Islands were the Portuguese in 1512, followed from the Dutch colonial era are not regarded daily social lives, giving the fort a function by the Dutch in 1599, and the English in 1601. From site of tragedy negatively by the Bandanese nor the other beyond tourism as a stage to hold cultural The Dutch East Company (Vereenigde Indonesian stakeholders involved in these performances, a marketplace, an area for Oostindische Compagnie or VOC) was to site of tourism interpretations. Instead, these resources drying nutmeg, etc. This would stimulate the established in 1602 with the prime objective of Fort Nassau had seen multiple phases are valued as an opportunity to monetize site to accrue new social value and contribute maximizing profits by establishing monopolies of destruction and reinterpretation prior to a heritage through tourism and foster a sense to the larger cultural landscape that defines on certain trade goods—the remoteness of the the start of my research. When I first visited of pride in buildings that reflect the financial the Banda Islands as a potential World Banda Islands and their profitable resources the site, the Banda Islands at large had been successes made through the trade of Heritage List property. made this location an obvious target for the attracting interest from within and outside nutmeg historically. establishment of a monopoly on nutmeg Indonesia by organizations and individuals Joëlla van Donkersgoed and mace. However, the Bandanese were interested in the development of heritage PhD Candidate, Rutgers University not receptive to trading exclusively with the industries, due to its multi-cultural history and Processes of reinterpretation [email protected] Dutch, which would mean breaking other unique natural marine environment. Notably, Fort Nassau on Banda Neira is an long-established trade relations. The VOC sent through the patronage of a prominent local example of a Dutch colonial site that is being to seize control of the family Des Alwi, foreign experts have been reinterpreted for contemporary uses. These Notes island, which he did through violent measures. involved in the preparatory work for the efforts are propelled by Indonesian president In particular, in 1621, a bloody confrontation nomination of the Banda Islands on the Jokowi’s wish to stimulate tourism as an 1 ‘The Historic and Marine Landscape known as the ‘Bandanese Massacre’ involved Tentative List for the World Heritage List of avenue to increase the GDP of Indonesia.2 of the Banda Islands’, UNESCO World Heritage Centre, 9 Feb 2017, not only the execution of 44 Bandanese the United Nations Educational Scientific and Efforts and resources towards the re- https://tinyurl.com/bandaislands 1 noblemen but also the persecution, deportation Cultural Organization (UNESCO). As a result of construction of this fort fit within this goal in 2 ‘Tourism Ministry Aims to Woo and starvation of an estimated 90% of the this general interest, the regional conservation order to attract more tourists to the Moluccan 13.5 Million Foreign Visitors next Year’, local population. After this violent conquest, office in , Balai Pelestarian Cagar province. The Bandanese seem to welcome The Post, 14 June 2016, Jan Pieterszoon Coen divided the islands into Budaya (BPCB), initiated a reconstruction an increase in the number of tourists that visit https://tinyurl.com/woovisitors