Fort Zeelandia (Paramaribo)

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The location of the fort and other defenses in Suriname, map from 1801

Fort Zeelandia is a former fortification on the left bank of Suriname and the core from which today's capital of Suriname , Paramaribo , arose.

history

The fort was built at the beginning of the 17th century (around 1613) near the Caribbean village of Parmirbo, later Paramaribo, as a Dutch trading post protected by palisades . In 1644 there was a simple reinforcement that French colonists probably put on. The English under Lord Willoughby took over the post in 1651 and strengthened the complex. The fortification raised with stones was named Fort Willoughby.

Conquest by Abraham Crijnssen

Abraham Crijnssen conquered the fort for the first time in 1667 and finally for Zeeland from the English in 1668 and it has been called Fort Zeelandia ever since. Over time it was expanded with five bastions.

Prison, museum

From 1872 it was used exclusively as a prison. In 1968 it was thoroughly restored and rebuilt in order to be able to set it up as a Surinamese museum. On September 25, 1972, the facility was transferred to the Surinamese Museum Foundation.

headquarters

This peaceful use lasted only ten years, because in 1982 the military around Desi Bouterse moved in. It was set up as a military headquarters and also served as a prison for opponents of the regime . On December 8, 1982, fifteen opposition members were tortured by the Bouterse regime and shot in the courtyard of the fort. The event is known as the " December Murders ".

museum

After the military cleared the fort, it was renovated again in early 1995 and re-established as a museum. On November 23, 1995, Fort Zeelandia reopened its gate to visitors.

  • Fort Zeelandia Gallery

  • Aerial photo of Fort Zeelandie in 1961

  • Fort courtyard, February 2000

  • Away from the boat, February 2000

  • Entrance area, December 2008

  • Fort with statue of Queen Wilhelmina , December 2008

  • Memorial plaque on the Veere Bastion in the fort, in memory of the 15 people murdered in 1982

literature

  • CFA Bruijning, J. Voorhoeve (red.): Encyclopedie van Suriname . Elsevier , Amsterdam 1977, ISBN 90-10-01842-3 , p. 683.
  • Jos Fontaine: Zeelandia. De divorced van een gone . De Walburg Pers, Zutphen 1972, ISBN 90-6011-441-8 .

Web links

Commons : Fort Zeelandia, Paramaribo  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 5 ° 49 ′ 30.7 ″  N , 55 ° 8 ′ 59.5 ″  W.