Nieuw-Nickerie: River Views and City History

Nieuw-Nickerie combines urban sights with a prominent waterscape. The Zeedijk is a popular meeting place, offering views across the wide Corantijn River. In the wider region, the same river forms the natural border with neighbouring Guyana. This brings together two geographical perspectives: the direct river view from the Zeedijk and the river’s role as a border in the wider area.

Water and seasonal colours

The Zeedijk protects Nieuw-Nickerie from the effects of the water. The Zoetwater Canal shows another side of the city’s landscape: it runs through Nieuw-Nickerie and appears pale pink during the lotus bloom. The river view and this seasonal colour are different depictions of water—one shaped by the wide panorama, the other by the change in colour along the canal. If you are particularly interested in the lotus bloom, take its timing into account when planning your trip.

The history of the Zeedijk and its role as a meeting place also give its connection with the water more than just a scenic dimension. It is both a place where people meet and a protective barrier for the city. This sets it apart from the Zoetwater Canal, whose notable feature here is its seasonal appearance during the lotus bloom.

Market, squares and monuments

The public market offers fresh vegetables, local fruit and colourful raspado ice. Across from it stands the blue-green Commissioner’s Office, made recognisable by its distinctive architecture. The market and the building thus provide two distinct points of interest: the food on offer here, and the striking shape and colour of an administrative building there. The market also gives a sense of Nieuw-Nickerie’s culinary side, without requiring a visit at any particular time of day or following a specific itinerary.

The monuments can also be distinguished by their locations. The Baba en Mai Monument and the Inheems Monument stand on Volksplein. The bust of Jaggernath Lachmon is on Brasaplein. A Chinese monument was also unveiled there on 17 October 2023. The Suriname Chinese United Association (SCUA) and the Chinese Embassy donated the artwork to the community of Nickerie. The locations of the monuments and the donation give each place of remembrance its own significance, rather than grouping them together as a single monument.

Local history as another perspective

Nieuw-Nickerie was founded in 1879 on the other riverbank, farther inland and therefore farther from the sea. This historical detail complements today’s impressions of the Zeedijk, the market and the town squares with a perspective on the town’s founding. In Sranan, the town’s name is Njoenton. Together, the founding date and the name reflect two distinct cultural and historical connections: the town’s place in time and its name in Sranan.

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Nieuw-Nickerie, it helps to decide what you want to focus on: local history, with the market and monuments, or the waterscape, with the Zeedijk and the canal’s seasonal appearance? If you are travelling with family, you can weigh these interests together and use them to shape the kind of stay you want.

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