Paramaribo

Paramaribo, largest city, capital, and chief port of Suriname. It lies on the Suriname River 9 miles (15 km) from the Atlantic Ocean. Paramaribo is built on a shingle reef that stands 16 feet (5 meters) above the river at low tide. Access from the ocean is limited by a sandbar that allows a depth of about 20 feet (6 meters).

Paramaribo originated as an Indian village that became a French settlement (c. 1640) and was later the site of an English colony planted in 1651 by Lord Willoughby of Parham. In 1667 Paramaribo was one of the settlements ceded to the Dutch under the Treaty of Breda, commencing the period of Dutch colonial rule that was interrupted only by brief periods of British control (1799–1802 and 1804–15). After World War II the city grew considerably, mainly because of tourism and industry. Manufactures include paint, margarine, cement, and beer.

Much of Paramaribo’s distinctive Dutch colonial architecture, as well as a canal system, remain. The city’s historic center was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2002 for its fusion of European and local elements. Some of the city’s most notable buildings include the 17th-century Fort Zeelandia, built to protect the Dutch West India Company from European rivals; the St. Peter and Paul Cathedral, made of wood; and De Waag (“The Weighing House”), where colonial agricultural products were weighed and sorted before being shipped.

The administrative heart of the city is Independence Square, which is flanked by the Presidential Palace and the Ministry of Finance building, both of which are of architectural importance. This square frequently hosts competitions among keepers of whistling birds. Paramaribo also has a museum, a library, and a large palm tree garden. Major institutions of learning include the Anton de Kom University of Suriname, founded in 1968 as the University of Suriname; the Polytechnic College of Suriname (1994); and the Centre for Agricultural Research in Suriname (1967). Paramaribo is served by a highway and other roads, and an international airport lies about 25 miles (40 km) south of the city. Pop. (2004) 242,946.