Culture

Fort Amsterdam: a short history of the Dutch fort at Little Bay

The Dutch built Fort Amsterdam in the early 1630s, lost it to Spain in 1633 and saw Peter Stuyvesant's attempt to retake the island fail in 1644. A short history of the fort.

By SXM Daily · October 14, 2026

Fort Amsterdam, at Little Bay on the Dutch side, is a reminder of the contest for St. Martin in the 17th century. The Dutch built it in the early 1630s, lost it to Spain within a few years, and later strengthened it. Here is what the record shows about the fort and why it matters.

Photo: David Stanley / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Built for salt

The Dutch built Fort Amsterdam in the early 1630s. At the time, salt harvesting was one of the main reasons for settling on the island, and the fort was part of that early Dutch presence.

The main source for the fort's history used here is the history section of the St. Maarten Marine Park Management Plan, published in 2007 by the Nature Foundation St. Maarten.

Taken by Spain

The Dutch hold did not last long. In 1633, Spain took the island. The Spanish reinforced Fort Amsterdam, using materials taken from a Dutch fort on Anguilla.

Stuyvesant's failed attack

In 1644, a Dutch force of about 800 men under Peter Stuyvesant tried to retake St. Maarten. According to the Marine Park plan, the attack on the Spanish-held island failed.

It came at a personal cost for Stuyvesant. Encyclopaedia Britannica records that his right leg was badly injured during the expedition and had to be amputated.

The Spanish stayed on the island until 1648.

Strengthened in the 18th century

Fort Amsterdam was strengthened again in the 18th century, at a time when the main settlement on the Dutch side moved to Philipsburg.

Part of the Marine Park

Today, Fort Amsterdam is listed as a historical and archaeological site within the St. Maarten Marine Park area, together with the Little Bay cannons.

Why it matters

For residents, Fort Amsterdam is a direct link to the decades before the island was divided in 1648, when the Dutch and Spanish fought over it. For visitors, it is a place where the island's early colonial history can still be seen in stone.

A note on dates

Sources do not agree on the exact year the fort was built. SXM Daily uses "early 1630s" until a primary record, such as an archive or monuments-list entry, settles the question.

FAQ

Q: When was Fort Amsterdam built?

A: In the early 1630s. Sources differ on the exact year.

Q: Who built it?

A: The Dutch, at a time when salt harvesting was one of the main reasons for settling on the island.

Q: What happened when Spain took the island?

A: Spain took the island in 1633 and reinforced the fort, using materials from a Dutch fort on Anguilla.

Q: What happened to Peter Stuyvesant?

A: He led a Dutch force of about 800 that tried and failed to retake St. Maarten in 1644. His right leg was badly injured on the expedition and amputated.

Q: Is the fort protected?

A: It is listed as a historical and archaeological site within the St. Maarten Marine Park area, together with the Little Bay cannons.

Sources

https://www.dcnanature.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/StMaartenMarinePark2007ManagementPlan.pdf
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Peter-Stuyvesant

Source: https://www.dcnanature.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/StMaartenMarinePark2007ManagementPlan.pdf