The Negombo Dutch Fort A Little Slice of History

If you are a person who is fascinated by historical buildings and ancient architecture, the Negombo Dutch Fort should be on your bucket list of places to visit on your trip to Sri Lanka.

Overview

Located close to the oceanfront near the lagoon mouth of Negombo lies the ruins of an ancient building that is over 300 years old. This was once a fort that was used as a stronghold by the early colonizers. What remain of the original building are an archway and a bell tower and the rest of the complex has been made into a prison.

The History

The Portuguese are the first to capture Negombo which had the next strategic importance after the cities like Colombo, Jaffna and Galle. They built the fort to defend Colombo which was later captured by the Dutch. In 1796 the fort came under the control of British without opposition. Later in 1800, the British decided to demolish the building and build a prison in its place.

Attractions nearby

The time you would spend here will be short as there are only a few things you could see here. After exploring the ruins, you can head out to the Negombo town and visit places like the famous Negombo fish market, the St Mary’s church, Negombo Beach Park and many others that are located close to the fort.

Visiting here

Upon reaching Negombo by train or a bus, you can visit here by getting on to a tuk-tuk which is one of the famous transportation methods in the country. Upon arrival, you might also need to book your stay at a resort or a hotel in the city in order to spend the night after a tiring day of exploration. One of the accommodation options that are worth considering is Amagi Hotels which is one of the renowned Sri Lanka beach resorts that is located in Negombo.

Damon Starky is a creative nomadic travel writer, who is well informed and experienced on a wide range of interests that would connect to the needs of any type of traveler.

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