Fort Amsterdam in West India Strategy
Fort Amsterdam was a key component of the Dutch West India Company’s broader strategy in the Caribbean. Built to protect the lucrative salt trade and to assert Dutch power in the region, the fort served as a vital link in the company’s network of colonial outposts.
The fort’s strategic location at Great Bay allowed the Dutch to control access to one of the island’s most valuable resources—salt—which was essential for preserving food in Europe. Fort Amsterdam also functioned as an administrative hub, coordinating the activities of the Dutch settlers and managing relations with other European powers in the region.
The fort’s importance in the Dutch West India Company’s strategy underscored the economic and military significance of Sint Maarten in the 17th century.