Located at Kuala Linggi, a border between Melaka and Negeri Sembilan, Fort Supai, also known as the Dutch Fort, is built by the Dutch atop of a hill due to its strategic location where the Linggi River could easily be guarded. All the ships has to pass through the Linggi River before entering Kuala Linggi or the Straits of Malacca. Fort Supai was gazetted as a historical monument under the Antiques Act of 1976.
Fort Supai was built as a result of the war between the Dutch and the Bugis and was built mainly for the purposes of tax collections rather than for war or act as a bastion to defend their strategic interest. The war between the Dutch and the Bugis started in 1756 and ended somewhere late in the second half of 1757.
Both the Dutch and the Bugis jointly built this fort as a memento of their friendship and a peace treaty was signed at the fort on 1 January 1758. Under the treaty, the ruling chiefs were allowed to retain their positions but enabled the Dutch to take control of the fort and monopolised the tin trading that was quarried in the interior of the Linggi River and the Rembau River. The Dutch finally abandoned the fort in 1759 because of the continuing relationship with the Bugis.
The name of the hill is unknown but it was usually referred to as Sepoy’s Hill (Bukit Supai). Previously, this fort was known as Fort Filipina by the Dutch, named after the daughter of the Dutch Governor, Jacob Mosel.
Fort Supai was complete with bastions for artillery at each corner. A moat completely surrounded the fort. Each corner of the fort is made into a semi-circle and a cannon is being placed there. A passage way that used to connect the fort and the landing stage at the beach has now disappeared. The building erected on the fort was also no where to be seen.
Location
Address: Jalan Kampung Teluk Perun, Kampung Kuala Linggi, Kuala Sungai Bahru, Melaka
GPS Coordinate: N 2.387001, E 101.968982
GPS Coordinate: N 2.387001, E 101.968982
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