Open to
the public Yes Phone +597 322-225 Built by Society of Suriname | Address Nieuw Amsterdam, Suriname Year built 1747 | |
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Similar Burgerweeshuis, Fort Zeelandia, Museum Willet‑Holthuysen, Bijbels Museum, Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder | ||
Fort nieuw amsterdam suriname
Fort Nieuw-Amsterdam is a fort in Suriname built from 1734 to 1747 at the confluence of the Suriname and Commewijne rivers. It is open to the public as an open-air museum.
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Museum fort nieuw amsterdam paramaribo surinam
History
The necessity of improving the fortifications of the colony of Suriname was underscored when French buccaneers under the leadership of Jacques Cassard attacked the colony in 1712. Fort Sommelsdijk, which was situated further upstream the Commewijne River at its confluence with the Cottica River was fortified for this purpose in 1715, but it was clear something more substantial needed to be done to defend the colony against foreign attacks. It was eventually decided to build a new fort at the confluence of the Suriname and Commewijne rivers. When Fort Nieuw-Amsterdam was completed in 1747, Fort Sommelsdijk was downgraded to a military outpost.
Between 1863 and 1967, the fort was used as a prison. It is the location of the decommissioned lightvessel Suriname-Rivier, which is permanently moored in a wet dock inside the fort.