Berlijn, Suriname

Berlijn (Sranan Tongo: Balen[1]) is a village and former wood plantation in the resort of Zuid in the Para District in Suriname. It is located on the Para Creek,[1] and about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from the Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport.[2]

Berlijn
Balen
Village
Plantation house (1962)
Plantation house (1962)
Berlijn is located in Suriname
Berlijn
Berlijn
Coordinates: 5.3990°N 55.1843°W / 5.3990; -55.1843
Country Suriname
DistrictPara District
ResortZuid
Time zoneUTC-3 (AST)

Overview

On 25 February 1763, Johan Godlieb van Borrius bought 1,000 Surinamese acres (about 430 hectares[3]) of land, and founded the wood plantation Berlijn. The plantation was located near maroon territory, therefore, a military outpost was established in Berlijn.[4] In the late 18th century, Berlijn became the largest supplier of wood in Suriname.[5] In 1821, the plantation was bought by James Balfour who wanted to transport the slaves to his sugar plantation Waterloo. In Paramaribo, the slaves discovered their final destination, revolted, and escaped back to Berlijn. The government ruled that they could remain in Berlijn.[4]

In 1863, the slaves were emancipated, and the plantation closed. Many of the freed slaves, remained on the land.[6] In 1912,[7] the Lawa Railway opened with a station in Berlijn. The railway operated until 1996.[8] In 1937, Berlijn was officially founded as a village.[9] In 1957, a road was built from Berlijn to Zanderij near the Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport.[6] The economy is mainly based on subsistence farming,[10] and people who work at the airport and Cola Creek, a nearby tourist resort.[11]

Notable people

References
  1. "Plantages / B / Berlijn (Parakreek)". Suriname Plantages (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  2. "Berlijn to Zanderij". Places in the World. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  3. "Woordenlijst". Lianne Damen (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  4. Franke 1971, p. 160.
  5. Karwan Fatah-Black (2010). "Paramaribo en het achterland in de achttiende eeuw". OSO. Tijdschrift voor Surinaamse taalkunde, letterkunde en geschiedenis (in Dutch). p. 316. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  6. Franke 1971, p. 161.
  7. "The Railways of Surinam, 2014 - Suriname Landspoorweg". International Steam. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  8. "Sociaalhistorisch onderzoek naar de Lawaspoorlijn – Parbode Sneak Peek". Parbode (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  9. "De kwestie van de dorpsgemeenschappen". Het Vaderland via Delpher.nl (in Dutch). 12 November 1937. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  10. Franke 1971, p. 162.
  11. Franke 1971, p. 164.
  12. "Gemeenschapscentrum Fred Derby". Dagblad De West (in Dutch). 21 March 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2021.

Bibliography
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