SARAMACCA

The popular district of Saramacca is located less than an hour’s drive from Paramaribo, and its main town is Groningen. Saramacca is economically tied to the river of the same name, the Saramacca River, which flows not only through this district but also continues southward through the districts of Para and Sipaliwini.

The most popular place in Saramacca is the main town, which is sustainably linked to the Dutch city and province of Groningen. To protect the plantations from attacks by runaway slaves, the governor of Suriname had a pentagonal fort built in 1790 and named it after his birthplace: Groningen.

In 1845, the first Dutch farmers began settling in Saramacca, and they had to establish themselves across from Groningen on the plantation Voorzorg; a remote swampy area that was barely suitable for agriculture. The conditions were dire, and many of the farmers died from tropical diseases. Eventually, they decided to cross over and settle in Groningen. The descendants of these farmers are known as “boeroes” in Suriname. To mark the failure of this colonization attempt by Dutch farmers, the “Monument van de Boeroes” (Monument of the Boeroes) stands in Groningen.

Upon entering Saramacca, small plots of land and picturesque houses set the scene for the district; the tranquil atmosphere creates an authentic rural feeling for visitors. The main town of Groningen is especially lively on weekends. Visitors from Paramaribo and Wanica enjoy the refreshing breezes by the river or picnicking along the waterfront. This is also where handmade Indigenous jewelry is sold on Sundays, with seeds from tropical fruits used as beads and feathers from exotic birds serving as decoration.

The largest ethnic groups in Saramacca are the Hindustanis and the Javanese. The district is well known for the culinary richness of these two, originally Eastern, cuisines.

A unique experience in Saramacca is spotting manatees in the Saramacca River. Manatees, or sea cows, are among the largest species in the aquatic mammal order. They are best spotted from the riverbank in the early morning hours, but for those who want a closer look, it’s recommended to take a boat trip across the river.

Batavia, located on the Coppename River south of the district, is a pilgrimage site where a leper colony was established in the 19th century. The Dutch missionary Petrus (Peerke) Donders voluntarily left for Suriname in 1842, where he dedicated 27 years of his life to the lepers in Batavia.

Donders passed away in 1887 but was beatified in 1982 by Pope John Paul II. Since then, Batavia has been recognized as a pilgrimage site.