Fort Vastenburg, originally named Grootmoedigheid, was constructed in 1745. In 1750, it was renamed to Vastenburg. The fort served not only as a military barracks and shelter, but also functioned as a residence for military officers and colonial officials. In 1772, the fort underwent renovation, and after being redesigned twice by its architect, the project was completed in 1788, with a total cost of 2,021 reals.

By 1791, the fort housed around 345 people, mostly military and political officers of the Dutch East Indies Company. However, the fort’s role evolved significantly during the rule of Governor-General Daendels, under French influence. Daendels introduced major military spatial reforms to defend Java from British attacks. He viewed static fort-based defense as outdated and shifted toward a decentralized defense strategy, spreading troops and artillery across more open and strategic locations.

In Surakarta, this strategy was realized through the construction of new barracks outside the fort, such as the Kestalan Reserve Barracks and the Stabelan Artillery Barracks. High mobility of troops was emphasized, leading to the development of military roads, including a widened road from the front of Fort Vastenburg to Kartasura, continuing through Boyolali, Salatiga, Ungaran, and Semarang.

This transformation also impacted urban planning. The residence of the Dutch official was relocated outside but still facing the fort, northwest of its location. As defense structures decentralized, the European civilian population no longer felt the need to live inside the fort. This led to the emergence of European residential areas around the southern banks of the Pepe River, complete with social facilities such as the Societeit.

After Daendels' era, Fort Vastenburg's structure was modernized. In 1821, it was a simple fort with four gates aligned with the cardinal directions. By 1832, following another transformation, it featured three main gates (west, east, and north), and its interior was filled with functional buildings including troop barracks, a commander’s residence, armories, workshops, stables, kitchens, a grass barn, guard posts, and even a pharmacy and hospital. At this point, the fort became a specialized military zone, reflecting its role in Dutch colonial defense strategy.