Commewijne | |
|---|---|
 | |
.svg) Map of Suriname showing Commewijne district | |
| Coordinates:5°52′N55°04′W / 5.867°N 55.067°W /5.867; -55.067 | |
| Country | Suriname |
| Capital | Nieuw Amsterdam |
| Area | |
• Total | 2,353 km2 (908 sq mi) |
| Population (2012 census)[1] | |
• Total | 31,420 |
| • Density | 13/km2 (35/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-3 |
Commewijne is a district ofSuriname, located on the right bank of theSuriname River. Commewijne'scapital city isNieuw Amsterdam.Tamanredjo is another major town, whileMeerzorg is the most populated.[1]
The district has apopulation of 31,420 and anarea of 2,353 km2.[1]
One of the most populated of Suriname's districts, Commewijne relies primarily onagriculture for its income, withplantations dating back to the firstDutch colonisation of the area in the 17th century.[2] In the 21st century, Meerzorg has been designated as a regional centre, and suburban area for Paramaribo, and is the site of many building projects. Nieuw Amsterdam has been steadily growing as well.[3]
In 1621, theDutch West India Company started to explorethe Guianas, and traded with theindigenous people. When a force reporting toFrancis Willoughby landed on Commewijne, there was already a small Dutch settlement who were trading with the indigenous people, and a group ofJews had arrived in Suriname in 1632.Surinam was conquered in 1667 byAbraham Crijnssen for the Dutch West India Company.[4] Commewijne became the main location for plantations during the 18th century.[2] A monument to theindependence of Suriname is located in Fort Nieuw-Amsterdam.[5]
Fort Nieuw-Amsterdam is located in Nieuw Amsterdam. On 10 October 1712,Jacques Cassard captured the plantation Meerzorg forFrance, and threatenedParamaribo across the Suriname river.[6] To protect Paramaribo and Commewijne from future attacks, Fort Nieuw-Amsterdam was constructed, and opened in 1747.[7]
Several other small colonial forts were constructed. Theredoubts Frederiksdorp,Braamspunt, and Leiden were the first towns connected to atelephone line after Paramaribo to Nieuw-Amsterdam in 1888.[8] The scale of the other forts was small, because whenAugust Kappler visited Frederiksdorp in 1854, three soldiers were stationed there.[9]
Commewijne is divided into 6 resorts (ressorten):
TheBraamspunt Nature Reserve is located in Commewijne, because it is an important nesting ground for theleatherback sea turtles, and thegreen sea turtles.[10]
The former plantation ofFrederiksdorp is located nearJohan & Margaretha, and has in 2004 been designated at as amonument.[11]
Commewijne used to be isolated from Paramaribo, In 1931, aferry opened between Meerzorg en Paramaribo,[12] but to improve access to the eastern part of Suriname, theJules Wijdenbosch Bridge was opened on 20 May 2000 replacing the ferry. The bridge is part of theEast-West Link.[13]
In 2020, plans were announced to build a bridge betweenLaarwijk andDomburg in order to develop the area, and relieve traffic congestion betweenWanica and Commewijne.[14]
The economy is still largely built around agriculture, and the industry in the district are mainly related to agriculture as well.[3] The closure of the sugarcane factoryMariënburg in 1986 caused a regional decline.[15] Meerzorg is becoming a centre for trade. Companies and banks have started to open offices or moved to the town.[3]
| Brokopondo District |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Commewijne District | ||
| Coronie District | ||
| Marowijne District | ||
| Nickerie District | ||
| Para District | ||
| Paramaribo District | ||
| Saramacca District | ||
| Sipaliwini District | ||
| Wanica District | ||
5°52′11″N54°55′11″W / 5.86972°N 54.91972°W /5.86972; -54.91972
