Do
you sometimes dream about making a world-trip?
All the different fragrances and sounds, the variation in cultures and people, exotic food and extraordinary natural splendour? Unfortunately, for most people this remains just another dream.
Not everyone has the time available to just pack up and go somewhere for a year, not to mention the money to do so. A trip to Suriname is however an enjoyable alternative! Because in Suriname you not only still find pristine nature but also various population groups often still living their traditional lifestyle. Here is an appetizer of some Suriname features.
Heritage
Suriname
offers a lot of possibilities for cultural tours, thanks to the rich
history of the country. A walk through the historical city center
Paramaribo is certainly worth your while. The characteristic wooden
buildings from the colonial era, in which you will recognize the
European architecture, can be found here, but they were modified to
locally available materials and tropical conditions. The culmination
is the wooden St. Petrus and Paulus Cathedral, a combination of 19th
century European style in a traditional Surinamese form. Here, in the
largest wooden church of South America, Petrus ‘Peerke’ Donders,
declared a saint, lies buried.
From
Fort Zeelandia to the Jewish savannah There are monuments of the
colonial era all over the place. Fort Zeelandia, for example, named
after the residence of Zeeuws admiral Abraham Crijnssen. Once a Dutch
fort , now a lovely Surinamese museum with cultural historical
displays. The fort is located in the loveliest part of Paramaribo,
along the water, where a statue of queen Wilhelmina gazes out over
the river. Another lovely fort can be found in Commewijne: The Open
air museum ‘New Amsterdam’. This magnificent rebuilt fort offers
various sights from the colonial era, but you can also enjoy a
pleasant hike, view the exhibits or have a drink. You will not only
find signs of the Jewish community at the large synagogue on the
Keizerstraat, situated right next to the mosque State, but also
specifically in the ‘Jewish savannah’, the 17th century
settlement of the Jewish community in Suriname. It was the only
location in the Americas where the Jews had their own place of
residence, with freedom of religion and personal jurisdiction. The
remnants of the buildings and the cemetery are perfectly preserved,
and the area is well maintained. A daytrip by boat to the Jewish
savannah is a pleasant way of getting to know Suriname history.
Prehistoric
rock art
Another
unique feature in the region is the ‘caves of Werehpai’ at the
indigenous village of Kwamalasamutu on the Brazilian border. Unique
rock art was discovered here in the year 2000. The extraordinary
images were chiseled out using special stone chisels. Nowhere in the
Amazon basin has such
a large quantity of rock art been found. And the pottery that was
found there, appears to be the oldest material to have been found in
Suriname. Its interesting monuments can be seen all over Suriname.
Sometimes collected in one of the many museums, such as the Marron
Museum in Pikin Slee,
in the middle of the jungle. The cultural heritage of the
Saramaccaners in particular, are collected here; functional and
decorative objects, clothing and ornaments.
Culture
Suriname
society is a unique mix of population groups living side by side on a
basis of equality. Their cultural expressions largely determine the
face of the country. For example, the various prayer houses ensure a
colourful appearance of the street front. In the city, mosques,
synagogues, churches and mandirs are standing side by side in a
unique fashion. Some population groups prefer to dress in their
traditional clothing and delicacies from various parts of the world
are sold everywhere to the extent that sometimes
you may think you are in Africa, than again in India, China or in
Indonesia. It is a colourful collection of cultures that live
together in Suriname, yet each has retained their cultural
traditions. For the visitor it is not only nice to see, but you can
also enjoy the different culinary and cultural expressions. The
Javanese community that boasts with rich traditions like their ritual
dance the ‘Jaran Kepang’, is still regularly performed. You will
also experience the annual Holy Phagwa festival of the Hindustanis,
the Chinese dragon dance, an old-fashioned Creole Kaseko band and
many other cultural expressions almost everywhere in and around
Paramaribo.
A
large part of the original indigenous Surinamese population is still
living in the interior. This is where the various tribes, including
the ‘Trio’, ‘Akurio’ and the ‘Wayana’, still live in
traditional villages. They still make a living of fishing, hunting
and farming here. Another population group in the interior in
Suriname, are the Marrons. They are the descendants of the slaves who
refused to work on the plantations. There are various tribes, of
which the Aucaners, Saramaccaners and Kwinti are the best known.
These Marrons have upheld several of their customs originating from
Africa quite well. You will see the women doing their wash in the
river while the children are playing in the water. The men are busy
hunting or making woodcarvings with typical Surinamese-African
designs. There are various tour operators organising trips into the
interior. You can then enjoy the surrounding area in comfortable
resorts, while getting to know the culture of the Marrons or the
Indigenous people. Enjoy a ‘Pepre Watra’, the hot soup made from
cassava and fish, learn to shoot with a bow and arrow or dance on the
stirring beat of the drums.
Come
in please!
Events
All
kinds of activities are organized in Suriname, from cultural tinted
performances to major events. There are a number of annually
recurring activities. As far as music is concerned, there is the Jazz
festival, where well known names appear on the program at an ever
increasing rate. But the Salsuri salsa event also attracts fans from
both locally and abroad. There are film festivals, Miss pageants of
the various ethnic groups, the annual Marathon and the National Art
Fair.
The
four-day Savannah rally is also always a large draw card for the
public , with participants from all over the world. The circuit takes
you on a ‘Four Wheel Drive’ to places where you would normally
never go by car!
Obviously,
every population group has its own annual festival. This is usually a
national holiday, with festivities on the Square of Independence or
in the Palm garden. The day is filled with live music, markets and
cultural performances, such as the spectacular Dragon dance on
Chinese heydays.
The
‘Four Day Night’, a local event that can best be described as a
combination of the Dutch four days festival with aspects of the
Brazilian carnival, also has a very special place.
The
culmination of it all is the Surifesta festival on New Years Eve,
with magnificent fireworks and lots of music. You can enjoy modern
night-life every day in one of the many casinos, restaurants or
discotheques.
In
short, in Suriname you will find something for everyone !
In
Suriname worden allerlei activiteiten georganiseerd, van cultureel
getinte optredens tot grootse evenemente
