20 km from the centre
Fort Nieuw Amsterdam: open-air museum at the river fork
Fort Nieuw Amsterdam is a pentagonal fort completed in 1747 at the fork of the Suriname and Commewijne rivers, now an open-air museum with casemates, cannon and a former prison.
Check this Opening hours and entry prices in Suriname change without notice. Call or message ahead if you are coming specifically for this.
The fort was built to command the entrance to both rivers, whoever held this point controlled the whole plantation colony. Much of the earthworks and the pentagonal plan survive.
The museum is largely outdoors: you walk the ramparts, past the casemates and cannon, and through buildings that later held a prison.
There is almost no shade. Come in the morning and bring water.
Frequently asked questions
When was Fort Nieuw Amsterdam built?
Construction began in 1734 and the fort was completed in 1747, at the fork of the Suriname and Commewijne rivers. It existed to control access to the plantation districts.