35 km from the centre
Frederiksdorp: a coffee plantation still standing
Frederiksdorp is an eighteenth-century coffee plantation on the Commewijne River, about 35 kilometres from Paramaribo, where the director’s house, the police post and the prison cells all still stand: one of the few Surinamese plantations preserved as a whole.
Check this Opening hours and entry prices in Suriname change without notice. Call or message ahead if you are coming specifically for this.
Most Surinamese plantations have vanished or been reduced to a foundation. Frederiksdorp is an exception: the yard has been restored and the buildings stand in their original relation to one another.
That is exactly what makes it uncomfortable and valuable. You can look from the veranda of the director’s house to the cells and walk the distance yourself. It is a short walk.
A small hotel now occupies part of the site, which means it is maintained but also that there are guests about.
Frequently asked questions
Can you visit plantations in Suriname?
Yes. In Commewijne district you can visit Frederiksdorp, Peperpot and Fort Nieuw Amsterdam among others. Frederiksdorp is the best preserved, the director’s house, police post and cells all survive. Our Commewijne day tour (€75 per person) covers all three.