Fort Duurstede is Saparua's essential stop, a restored Dutch fort on a coastal rise above Saparua village. The VOC built the permanent fort in the late 17th century, using coral stone walls and bastions to guard its position in the clove islands.
Its deeper importance is Indonesian history. In 1817, local forces led by Thomas Matulessy, better known as Pattimura, captured the fort during a rebellion against Dutch rule. The story is remembered across Maluku, and the fort gives it a clear physical setting.