Fortaleza developed out of the fortification of Schoonemborck, built by the Dutch in 1649. A few years later, in 1654, the fort was conquered by the Portuguese and given the name of Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora de Assunção. This is the origin of the city's name. Today, Fortaleza numbers among the largest cities in the country. With 2 million inhabitants, it is an important economic center of Brazil's Northeast. In addition, it is one of the greatest tourist centers in the country. Fortaleza's flair lies in the special mixture of colonial tradition and modern architecture.