Suriname Timeline

By VallejoG
  • 1498

    C.C. sights Land

    C.C. sights Land
    Christopher Columbus sights the coast of Suriname.
  • 1498

    C.C. finds land

    Christopher Columbus sights the coast of Suriname

  • Named by Spanish

    Spanish explorers visit the area and name it Suriname, after the country's earliest inhabitants, the Surinen.

  • Tried to claim but Failed

    Settlements attempted by Spanish, Dutch, British and French during the first half of the 17th century. They all failed, in part because of resistance by the native inhabitants.

  • First Permanent Settlment

    First permanent European settlement in Suriname, established by the British at Paramaribo by Lord Francis Willoughby.

  • Dutch Rule

    British cede their part of Suriname to the Netherlands in exchange for New Amsterdam (later called New York).

  • Plantations Established

    Coffee and sugar can plantations established and worked by African slaves.

  • Reimposed

    British ruled was reimposed.

  • Slavery Abolished

    Slavery abolished; indentured laborers brought in from India, Java and China to work on plantations.

  • ALCOA

    Aluminum Company of America begins mining bauxite - the principal ore of aluminum - which gradually becomes Suriname's main export.

  • Independence

    Suriname becomes independent with Johan Ferrier as president Henk Arron, of the Suriname National Party (NPS), as prime minister; more than a third of population emigrates to the Netherlands.

  • Ban

    Ban on political parties lifted.

  • Finally Reached

    Peace accord reached with SLA.

  • Conviction of Bouterse

    Dutch court convicts Bouterse for drug smuggling after trying him in absentia.

  • New President

    Desi Bouterse becomes president.

  • Passed by Parliament

    Parliament passes amnesty law for President Desi Bouterse and 24 other defendants on trial for alleged execution of political opponent during Mr. Bouterse's military rule in 1982.