Fort Zeelandia (Paramaribo)

Fort Zeelandia is a fortress in Paramaribo, Suriname. In 1640 the French built a wooden fort on the spot, which during the British colonial days was reinforced and became Fort Willoughby. It was taken by the Dutch in 1667 and renamed Fort Zeelandia.[1]

Fort Zeelandia
Part of Suriname
Fort Zeelandia in Paramaribo
Fort Zeelandia
Coordinates5.8252°N 55.149872°W / 5.8252; -55.149872
Site history
Built1651 (1651)
Fort Zeelandia
Officers houses at Fort Zeelandia

History

Willoughbyland, a small English colony was established in 1650 by Major Anthony Rowse on behalf of the governor of Barbados, Francis Willoughby. In 1651 a small trading post was created by the Dutch. The Dutch presence increased and strengthened. In 1667 the Dutch Admiral Abraham Crijnssen took Paramaribo and recaptured the Essequibo-Pomeroon Colony. Byam, the British commander of Fort Willoughby defended the fort in a battle which lasted only three hours as British munitions were exhausted.[2][3][4] Crijnssen renamed the fort to Zeelandia.[5][6] Over the years, it started to become obsolete as a military object and in 1772, there were even plans to tear it down.[7]

After the Surinamese independence in 1975, during the military government of Dési Bouterse in the 1980s, Fort Zeelandia was the location of the "December murders" of 1982 and was used to hold and torture political prisoners.[7][8]

The Surinamese Museum is located in Fort Zeelandia. The museum has a large collection of ethnographica. Its collections contain archeology, visual arts, colonial furniture, textiles and historical photos.[9]

The Nola Hatterman Art Academy is located in the former commander's house.[10]

See also

References
  1. http://www.suriname.nu/302ges/archi198.html
  2. Rodway, James (1888). "Chronological History of the Discovery and Settlement of Guiana ..."
  3. "On this day 25 February".
  4. Marley, David F. (11 February 2008). Wars of the Americas. ISBN 9781598841015.
  5. Rodway, James (1888). "Chronological History of the Discovery and Settlement of Guiana ..."
  6. http://etudescaribeennes.revues.org/1032?lang=en
  7. "Fort Zeelandia". City of Paramaribo. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  8. "Wat zijn de Decembermoorden". NPO Focus (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  9. "Stichting Surinaams Museum". Amazonia Museum Network (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  10. "Onderwijs". Nola Hatterman (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 June 2020.

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