Fort Zeelandia, Paramibo, Suriname (1651)

Artist/Designer: Abraham Crijnssen

Project Location: Paramaribo, Suriname

Style/Period(s):
No Style/Period Assigned.

Primary Material(s):
Glass, Wood

Function(s):
Exhibition

Related Website(s):

Significant Date(s):
1640, 1650-1659, 1651, 1660-1669, 1667, 1870-1879, 1872, 1940-1949, 1960-1969, 1967, 1970-1979, 1972, 1975, 1990-1999, 1995, 2000-2009, 2009

Additional Information:
Publications/Texts in Print:


Additional Information:
In 1872, after years of not needing a fort, the space was converted to a prison that existed for nearly 100 years. In 1975 is was converted yet again into headquarters and a prison for the military government of Dési Bouterse.
Unfortunately on December 8th, 1982, there was a shooting of 15 journalists, lawyers, academics, unionists, etc. by the Bouterse regime. In 2009 the Bastion Veere was marked a National Monument to remember the horror of the murders.
In 1995 the regime ended, and the museum expanded. Today the Surinaams Museum has displays of the original old apothecary shop, cobbler shop, and prison cell with many historic and ethnographic objects.


Project Description:
The fort is a pentagonal fortress in Paramaribo, Suriname's capital. The French originally designed the fort in 1640 and built it out of wood. The British conquered the fort in 1651 and reinforced it with stone. In 1667 the Dutch took over the fort and further added to Zeelandia, eventually creating the final form that is seen today. Abraham Crijnssen was the Dutch Admiral who helped redesign the fort, and he also contributed heavily to the 'modern' beginning of downtown Paramaribo.

Building Address:
Abraham Crijnssenweg 1,
Fort Zeelandia,
Paramaribo, Suriname

Supporting Designers/Staff:

Significant Dates:
1640 - Original wooden fort built by the French
1651 - Fort reinforced with stone by the British
1667 - Dutch took over
1872-1967 - Used as a prison
1972 - Surinaams Museum moved to the fort
1975 - Fort converted into headquarters and prison for the military government
1995 - Dictatorship ended and museum expanded throughout the fort
2009 - Bastion Veere marked a National Monument

Associated Projects:
Downtown Paramaribo

Tags:
Fort, Historical, Prison, Suriname, Paramaribo

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