surinam: fort nieuw amsterdam

Fort New Amsterdam dates from the eighteenth century and served to defend the plantations against English attacks. It has been used as an open-air museum since 1968, and has been listed as an ancient monument since 2005. The government of Surinam took the initiative to start a form of co-operation with the Zuiderzee Museum and looks forward to the open-air museum contributing to a growing understanding between the various population groups of Surinam in the future.

The Zuiderzee Museum has given advice and assistance in the process leading to the former national museum’s independence and is actively involved in the restoration and renovation of the old fort of the Dutch West Indian Company. The director of the Zuiderzee Museum is a member of the Board of Governors of the new independent museum.