Fort Provintia

{{Short description|Dutch outpost in Taiwan}} {{Refimprove|date=December 2009}} {{Infobox military installation | name = Fort Provintia | ensign = | ensign_size = | native_name = 赤嵌樓 | partof =  | location = West Central, Tainan, Taiwan | nearest_town =  | image = Chihkan Tower 03171.jpg | alt = | caption = | image2 =  | alt2 = | caption2 = | type = Fort | coordinates = {{coord|22|59|51|N|120|12|10.12|E|type:landmark_region:TW|display=inline,title}} | gridref = | image_map = | image_mapsize = | image_map_alt = | image_map_caption = | pushpin_map = Tainan | pushpin_mapsize = 250px | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = | pushpin_relief = | pushpin_image = | pushpin_label = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_mark = | pushpin_marksize = | ownership =  | operator =  | controlledby =  | open_to_public =  | site_other_label =  | site_other =  | site_area =  | code =  | built = 1653 | used =  | builder = | materials = | height =  | length =  | fate =  | condition = | battles = | events = | current_commander =  | past_commanders =  | garrison =  | occupants =  | designations = | website = | footnotes =  }} 250px|thumb|Remains of the wall of the original fort

'''Fort Provintia''' or '''Providentia''', also known as '''Chihkan Tower''' ({{zh|c={{linktext|赤|嵌|樓}}|p=Chìkǎnlóu|poj=Chhiah-khám-lâu}}), was a Dutch outpost on Formosa at a site now located in West Central District, Tainan, Taiwan. It was built in 1653 during the Dutch colonization of Taiwan. The Dutch, intending to strengthen their standing, sited the fort at ''Sakam'', about {{convert|2|mi}} due east from modern-day Anping.{{sfnp|Campbell|1903|p=546}} During the Siege of Fort Zeelandia (1662), the fort was surrendered to Koxinga,{{sfnp|Davidson|1903|p=38}} but was later destroyed by a rebellion and earthquakes in the 18th century. It was rebuilt afterwards in the 19th century under Qing rule.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tainanstudy.nmth.gov.tw/article/detail/668/read?highlightQuery=|script-title=zh:赤嵌樓考|trans-title=Research on Chihkan Tower|website=National Museum of Taiwan History|language=zh|last=Huang|first=Dian-quan|date=30 September 1968|access-date=12 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://nrch.culture.tw/twpedia.aspx?id=8114|script-title=zh:赤嵌樓|trans-title=Chihkan Tower|website=nrch.culture.tw|language=zh|last=Huang|first=Shu-qiu|date=9 September 2009|access-date=12 August 2022}}</ref>

The fort's name derives from the Taiwanese aboriginal village recorded by the Dutch as ''Sakam'',{{efn|Other early forms of the name are Chhaccam, Sacam, Saccam, and Zaccam.{{sfnp|Campbell|1903|p=546}} Also ''Sakkam'' per {{harvp|Davidson|1903|loc=Index p. 32}}}} which has developed into the modern-day Tainan. After growth in size and trade, the Chinese called it ''Chhiah-kham'', and surrounded it with high brick walls. It eventually became the capital of the whole island under the name of Taiwan-fu.{{sfnp|Campbell|1903|p=546}}

In addition to the site's architectural and artistic significance, its library of dictionaries and business transactions documents the Siraya language spoken by the native inhabitants of the region during Dutch rule.

The fort is up for redevelopment which will see it turned into a museum. The project is led by Taiwanese architecture studio HOU x LIN, the two partners of which both have a connection to The Netherlands. The project should be finished by 2024 in time for the celebration of the 400 year old relationship of the two countries.<ref>{{citation |title= Nederlandse architectenbureaus floreren in Taiwan (Dutch architecture firms thrive in Taiwan) |url= https://www.volkskrant.nl/cultuur-media/nederlandse-architectenbureaus-floreren-in-taiwan~b60f29fb/ |publisher= Volkskrant |access-date= July 24, 2020 }}</ref>

==See also== {{Portal|Taiwan|Architecture|History}} * Fort Santo Domingo * Ft. Zeelandia * Cape of San Diego * Eternal Golden Castle * History of Taiwan * Taiwan under Dutch rule * Koxinga * Siraya

==Footnotes== {{notelist|30em}}

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography== {{refbegin}} *{{cite book|author1-link=Tonio Andrade |last=Andrade |first=Tonio |title=How Taiwan Became Chinese: Dutch, Spanish, and Han Colonization in the Seventeenth Century |publisher=Columbia University Press |chapter=Chapter 6: The Birth of Co-colonization |chapter-url=http://www.gutenberg-e.org/andrade/andrade06.html |year=2005 }} *{{cite book |last1=Campbell |first1=William |author-link=William Campbell (missionary) |title=Formosa under the Dutch: described from contemporary records, with explanatory notes and a bibliography of the island |year=1903 |publisher=Kegan Paul |location=London |oclc=644323041 |chapter=Explanatory Notes |chapter-url=https://archive.org/stream/formosaunderdut01campgoog#page/n554/mode/2up}} *{{cite book |last1=Davidson |first1=James W. |author-link=James W. Davidson |title=The Island of Formosa, Past and Present : history, people, resources, and commercial prospects : tea, camphor, sugar, gold, coal, sulphur, economical plants, and other productions |year=1903 |publisher=Macmillan |url=https://archive.org/details/islandofformosap00davi |location=London and New York |ol=6931635M }} {{refend}} ---- {{Commons category|Chihkan Tower}} {{Osmway|158995081}}

Category:1653 establishments in Dutch Formosa Provintia Category:Dutch Formosa Category:Buildings and structures associated with the Dutch East India Company Category:National monuments of Taiwan Category:Former star forts