The Waterkant is the oldest [1] [2] and one of the most important streets of Paramaribo, Suriname. The street is located in the historic centre on the Suriname River, and was the location where ships used to arrive. [3] The street starts at the Onafhankelijkheidsplein and extends to the Central Market. [4] As of 2002, it has been designated a Unesco World Heritage Site. [5]
Paramaribo was founded in 1613 by Stoffel Albertszoon near the indigenous village Parmurbo. [6] According to a legend, it was named after chief "Para Maro" who built a quay near the Garden of Palms. The quay was named Rembo (English: waterside Dutch: waterkant), hence Para Maro Rembo. [7]
Van Sommelsdijck captured Suriname from the British in 1683, and found 27 or 28 houses around Fort Zeelandia. [8] He started to extend the village along Waterkant and Gravenstraat. [1] The Suriname River near Waterkant is more than one kilometre wide, and provided plenty of space for ships. It was therefore the location where the ships were loaded and unloaded. [9]
On 21 January 1821, a major fire started at the corner of Waterkant and Onafhankelijkheidsplein which destroyed about 400 houses in the centre of the city. [10] The street was given a new façade by city architect Johan August who designed monumental white wooden buildings with galleries. [11]
Waterkant has remained one of the most important and busiest streets of the city. On the waterside of the street, there are many food stalls and terraces. [3] The street is aligned with important buildings like the Weigh House, the Central Bank, the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Central Market and the Martin Luther Church. [4] All buildings are made of wood except for the Weigh House and the Central Bank which are built in stone, and a brick house at number 10. [12] The ferry to Meerzorg is located on Waterkant. [13]
As part of the Paramaribo Urban Rehabilitation Program (PURP), the Waterkant will be rehabilitated to embellish and preserve it as a historical heritage. The project contains the redesigning of the area between the National Assembly building and the Waaggebouw (Weigh House). The area between the street and the river on the Waterkant will also be worked on, including the renovation of existing restaurants and renewal of lighting and street masts. The project is set to start in June 2024 and is estimated to take up to 15 months. [14]
The Republic of Suriname has a number of forms of transport. Transportation emissions are an increasing part of Suriname's contributions to climate change, as part of the Nationally Determined Contributions for the Paris Agreement, Suriname has committed to emissions controls for vehicles and increased public transit investment.
Paramaribo is the capital and largest city of Suriname, located on the banks of the Suriname River in the Paramaribo District. Paramaribo has a population of roughly 241,000 people, almost half of Suriname's population. The historic inner city of Paramaribo has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002.
Commewijne is a district of Suriname, located on the right bank of the Suriname River. Commewijne's capital city is Nieuw Amsterdam. Tamanredjo is another major town, while Meerzorg is the most populated.
Meerzorg is a town and resort (municipality) in Suriname, located on the eastern bank of the Suriname River, directly opposite the capital Paramaribo. Its population at the 2012 census was 12,405. Since 2000 it has been connected to Paramaribo by the Jules Wijdenbosch Bridge, named after the former President Jules Wijdenbosch.
De Nieuwe Grond is a resort in Suriname, located in the Wanica District. Its population at the 2012 census was 26,161. Its main ethnic groups are East Indian, and Creoles. The resort is named after a sugar plantation in 1770. The plantation was already abandoned in 1863, when slavery was abolished, because that year, it was up for public auction. The area used to consist of small scale agriculture with a focus on vegetables and rice, but due to its proximity to Paramaribo, it has become a suburban area with a young population. In 2019, a new bigger market opened in the town.
Centrum is a resort in Suriname, located in the Paramaribo District. Its population at the 2012 census was 20,631. The historical centre of Paramaribo is located within the resort. The city centre is mainly in original condition, contains 291 listed monuments, and has of 2002 been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Berg en Dal is a village in the resort of Klaaskreek in the Brokopondo District of Suriname. The village is located on the Suriname River.
Herman Daniël Benjamins, was a Surinamese educator, editor and writer. He is best known as the founding editor of De West-Indische Gids, and editor of the Encyclopaedie van Nederlandsch West-Indië (1914-1917).
Court Charity is a friendly society of the Foresters Friendly Society. It is located on Burenstraat in the centre of Paramaribo, Suriname. The building is a monument.
Kodjo also Cojo and Codjo was a Surinamese slave. On 26 January 1833, he was burnt alive for starting the 1832 fire in Paramaribo which caused the destruction of 46 houses. Kodjo used to be known as a criminal. Nowadays, he is remembered as a resistance fighter.
The Waag is a former weigh house on the Waterkant in the historic centre of Paramaribo, Suriname. The building is a monument, and an Unesco World Heritage Site.
The Martin Luther Church is a church of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Suriname. It is located on Waterkant in the historic centre of Paramaribo, Suriname. The building is a monument. The first church burnt down in 1832. The current church dates from 1834.
Philip Julius Lichtenberg also van Lichtenberg, was a governor of Surinam. He was governor from 16 February 1669 until March 1671.
Jules Sedney Harbour is the main seaport for cargo ships in Paramaribo, Suriname. Until 2016, the harbour was called Nieuwe Haven. It is one of the two main cargo ports of Suriname. The other being Nieuw-Nickerie. Paramaribo used to have a generic harbour at Waterkant. In 1965, Nieuwe Haven opened as a specialised cargo harbour.
Sara Creek is a former tributary of the Suriname River located in the Para District of Suriname. After the completion of the Afobaka Dam in 1964, the Sara Creek flows into the Brokopondo Reservoir. In 1876, gold was discovered along the Sara Creek, and a railway line from Paramaribo to the river was completed in 1911.
James Balfour was a Scottish-born physician and planter. He worked as a doctor in Berbice and later became a plantation owner in Nickerie District. Harriët Balfour was his daughter with a slave. He requested Harriët's freedom the day before he died.
The Santa Rosa Church is a Roman Catholic church located in Paramaribo, Suriname. The current church dates from 1911, and is the second largest church in Paramaribo. It is located in the centre of the city and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Willem Benjamin van Panhuys was a Dutch military officer, planter, and colonial governor. He served as Governor of Suriname from 27 February 1816 until his death on 18 July.
Johannes Herbert August Willem, Baron van Heerdt tot Eversberg was a Dutch naval officer, civil servant, and colonial administrator. He served as Governor of Curaçao and Dependencies from 1 October 1880 until 18 October 1882, and Governor of Suriname from 11 November 1882 until 1 August 1885.
Coropina Creek is a blackwater river in the Para district of Suriname. The river originates in swamp forests in southern Para, meanders through the district, and eventually merges with the Para River.
{{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)