Nieuw Amsterdam, Suriname

Nieuw Amsterdam (Dutch pronunciation: [ˌniʋɑmstərˈdɑm] or [ˌniuʔɑms-]) is the capital of the Commewijne District in Suriname. It is a small coastal town situated at the confluence of the Suriname River and Commewijne River, just across from Paramaribo, the country's capital. Its population at the 2012 census was 5,650,[1] with around 1,200 people living in the main town, most of whom are of Javanese and East Indian origin.[2] It is the location of the historical Fort Nieuw-Amsterdam, today an open-air museum. The town of Mariënburg with former sugarcane factory is located 3 km from Nieuw Amsterdam and part of the resort.[3]

Not to be confused with New Amsterdam, Guyana or New Amsterdam.
For other uses, see New Amsterdam (disambiguation).
Nieuw Amsterdam
Resort and town
Map showing the resorts of Commewijne District.
  Nieuw Amsterdam
Coordinates: 5°52′51″N 55°05′04″W
Country Suriname
DistrictCommewijne District
Area
 • Total48 km2 (19 sq mi)
Elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2012 census)
 • Total5,650
 • Density120/km2 (300/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-3 (AST)
ClimateAf

History

In 1734, the Society of Suriname decided to build a fort near the confluence of the Commewijne and Suriname River to defend the Colony of Suriname and the capital Paramaribo.[4] On 8 October 1834, Nieuw-Amsterdam became the capital of the newly formed District of Upper Commewijne.[5] Between 1843 and 1854, Nieuw Amsterdam was designated as the location where incoming ships had to quarantine.[6] In 1872, part of the fort was converted to a jail, and would remain the only jail in Suriname until 1967.[4] In 1873 the local population started a program of independent agriculture which was encouraged by governor van Sypesteyn who designated Nieuw Amsterdam and Domburg as suitable locations.[7] On 17 January 1888, a decision was taken to lay the first telephone line between Nieuw-Amsterdam and Paramaribo with branches to redoubts Leiden and Frederiksdorp, and to operate the network from Nieuw-Amsterdam, because it was expected to mainly for military purposes.[8]

With the completion of the Jules Wijdenbosch Bridge on 20 May 2000, the East-West Link was further expanded to Commewijne and Marowijne.[9]

Notable people

References
  1. Statoids.com
  2. "Census 2012" (PDF). Stang Makandra. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  3. "Marienburg suikerfabriek Nieuw Amsterdam Commewijne District". Trip Advisor (in Dutch). Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  4. "Geschiedenis". Fort Nieuw Amsterdam (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  5. "Districts of Suriname". Statoids. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  6. "Encyclopaedie van Nederlandsch West-Indië - Page 594 - Quarantaine" (PDF). Digital Library for Dutch Literature (in Dutch). 1916. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  7. "Encyclopaedie van Nederlandsch West-Indië - Page 441 - Landbouw" (PDF). Digital Library for Dutch Literature (in Dutch). 1916. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  8. "Encyclopaedie van Nederlandsch West-Indië - Page 587 - Telefonie" (PDF). Digital Library for Dutch Literature (in Dutch). 1916. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  9. "Wijdenboschbrug". Canon van Nederland (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  10. "Suriname". King Henry 9. Retrieved 18 July 2020.

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