Paramaribo

The capital city of Suriname is Paramaribo. 180,000 people lived in Paramaribo in 1998. The total population for Suriname was estimated in 1996 to be about 405,000 people. Thus almost one out of every two Surinamers lives in the capital city.

The English where the first people to try and conquer the land. But it was the Dutch who would leave their stamp on Suriname. Dutch settlers arrived on the South American coastline in 1616. In 1667 Suriname became a Dutch colony. But the colony never thrived. The Dutch were more enamored with their East Indian colonies, which were far more profitable. Slaves were imported from West Africa and were treated with extreme cruelty. Many of these slaves escaped into the jungle where they continued to live a West African-style life. The five principal Maroon tribes in Suriname are the descendants of these runaway slaves.

Still, the Dutch influence on Suriname can be easily seen in Paramaribo. European-style wood-framed buildings which are several hundred years old can be seen in the downtown area. One of the city's landmarks is the largest wooden cathedral in South America. The cathedral was built by the Roman Catholic Church in 1835.

Suriname's population is one of the most ethnically diverse in the world. Peoples from Java, India, Africa, China, and Holland live together peacefully. Each ethnic group preserves its own culture. Relationships (marital, political, etc.) tend to follow ethnic lines. But people from each group can be seen working, playing, and mingling together in the schools, shops, and streets in downtown Paramaribo.