Fort Zeelandia
A five-sided colonial fortress on the Suriname River, the birthplace of the city. It houses the Suriname Museum, which tells the nation's history.
Fort Zeelandia began as a wooden fort built by the English in the 1640s. After the Dutch fleet from the province of Zeeland captured it in 1667, it was rebuilt as a five-sided brick and stone fortress, and Paramaribo developed around it. Today the fort houses the Suriname Museum, which displays Indigenous artifacts, the history of slavery and plantations, and colonial-era furniture. The December Murders of 1982 also took place here, and the site has a memorial exhibition. From the ramparts you can look out over the Suriname River. The museum is usually closed on Mondays. Admission costs a few US dollars. The riverside lawn outside the fort is free to enter.
Opening hours
Museum Tue–Fri 09:00–14:00, Sun 10:00–14:00 (check on site)
Nearby sights
- Independence Square
- Presidential Palace of Suriname
- Garden of Palms
- Waterkant
- Historic Inner City of Paramaribo
- Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral
- Central Market
- Neveh Shalom Synagogue