Ruins of Fort Frederik Hendrik at Vieux Grand Port

These ruins form part of the Vieux Grand Port Historic Site, one of the most important historical locations in Mauritius and the site of the island's first permanent Dutch settlement. The Dutch established Fort Frederik Hendrik in 1638 after deciding to create a permanent base on Mauritius. The fort stood above Grand Port Bay and was rebuilt several times after cyclones, fires and attacks. The Dutch finally abandoned Mauritius in 1710. The site is also closely associated with the history of slavery and resistance in Mauritius. In 1695, Anna de Bengal and other enslaved people were involved in setting fire to Fort Frederik Hendrik, an act now remembered as an important episode of resistance against slavery and colonial oppression. Anna de Bengal has since become a recognised symbol of courage and resistance in Mauritian history. One important detail is that the stone ruins visible above ground today are mainly of French origin, built after 1753 on top of the remains of the earlier Dutch fort. Archaeological excavations later uncovered the Dutch structures below ground, helping confirm the long sequence of occupation at Vieux Grand Port. Today, the nearby Frederik Hendrik Museum interprets the Dutch and French history of the site and displays artefacts recovered during archaeological work.