Fort Beekenburg has guarded the entrance to Caracas Bay since the early 18th century. Its round stone tower and lower gun battery defended one of Curaçao's best natural harbours, and the fort remains the island's best-preserved outer-bay stronghold.
Built in 1703, the fort was named for governor Nicolaas van Beek, who oversaw Curaçao's defences from 1701 to 1704. It withstood French, English and pirate attacks during the 18th century; one English force tried to bypass it over Cabrietenberg but abandoned the difficult crossing. Rain channels on the tower fed an internal cistern during sieges, while IJssel bricks carried from the Netherlands as ship ballast supplied much of the building material.
You can climb through the open compound for views across the bay and Spanish Water. Nearby stand the atmospheric remains of a 19th-century quarantine station. The ground is rough and there is little interpretation on site, so sturdy shoes help and details such as the tower's water channels are easy to miss.