Back in the early 1800s, West Sumatra was caught up in the Padri War, basically a clash between two groups: the Padri, who wanted stricter Islamic rules, and the Adat folks, who were sticking to their Minangkabau traditions.
Things got heated, and the Adat asked the Dutch for backup. So in 1825, Captain Bauer set up a star‑shaped fort on Bukit Jirek hill. At first it was called Sterreschans, but later renamed Fort De Kock after Hendrik Merkus de Kock, the Dutch commander. From up there, the Dutch had a perfect view for keeping an eye on the Padri and slowly tightening their grip on the area. Around the fort, little by little, a colonial town grew which later became Bukittinggi.
Fast forward a century or two: the war ended, Indonesia eventually gained independence, and the fort lost its military purpose. The original buildings are gone, but the cannons, moats, and memorial stone are still there. The fort connects to the zoo and cultural park via the Limpapeh suspension bridge, so you can literally walk from history straight into a family day out.
