THE DUTCH AT VIEUX FORT

Around the middle of the 17th century, one finds the Vieux Fort Caribs in conflict with some Dutchmen.

It would seem that certain Dutch ships used to call at this part of St. Lucia to take on wood and water. They may have been going to Tobago or returning from that island, around the year 1654 when the Dutch established a colony there. So it happened that some Dutch men of the sea erected a redoubt in the Vieux Fort district at that time. Apparently it was on the Windward side, in the Pointe Sable area. The reason given for the erection of the redoubt was "to protect themselves       (the Dutch) from the attacks of the Caribs, who were vexed at seeing foreigners act as if they were masters in the midst of their very huts". The exact site of the fort is not known. It was probably made of earth and wooden staves and so disappeared in the course of time.

These Dutchmen were followed by some Frenchmen, who also put up a redoubt. Finally, "both the Dutch and the French abandoned the settlement and withdrew to the leeward side of the island". However, it was this early redoubt or fort of the Dutch which gave the district its name.