Fort Santo Domingo

Date CapturedJune 19th, 2016 at 09:25 UTCCameraNIKON D3100LensAF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED IIApertureƒ / 10Shutter Speed1/400 secFocal Length23.0 mmISO200Exposure Value15.3 EVOriginal Size3600 × 2400

A small stone fortress overlooking the Tamsui River, originally built with wood by the Spanish in 1628 as Fort Santo Domingo. It was captured by the Dutch in the Battle of San Salvador and subsequently rebuilt in stone in 1644. The Dutch renamed it Fort Antonio after Governor-General Anthony van Diemen of the VOC. The popular Hokkien name, literally “red hair fort”, is an allusion to the Dutch, who were soon expelled from the island by the forces of the pirate-king Koxinga.

From 1867 until 1972 the compound was leased to the British and used as a consulate, with an adjoining brick consular residence added in 1891. Briefly placed under Australian and American administration after the United Kingdom switched recognition to the PRC, it was returned to the Republic of China government in 1980 and now houses a museum.