[1] Its purpose was to control the trade in nutmeg, which at that time was only grown in the Banda Islands.

[2] The Portuguese had previously attempted to build a fort in this location in 1529 but, after constructing the foundations, they abandoned the work due to hostility from the Bandanese people.

On 25 April 1609, the Dutch fleet commander, Admiral Verhoeven, sent 750 soldiers ashore to commence their fort, choosing the Portuguese foundations as the location.

Fort Nassau was a large four-bastioned quadrilateral structure, located by the channel between Banda and Banda Besar Islands.

It is currently damaged and dilapidated, but two bastions and substantial walls can still be seen.