Abstract
In this paper I will be referring mainly to Surinam, once the greatest colony of the Dutch in the Western Hemisphere. Surinam, which is four times as big as the Netherlands, has a population of less than a half a million. But its population is very varied. This is due to the fact that it is made up of peoples from all over the world. So quite easily we can call Surinam “a Lilliput edition of the world.” When you visit Paramaribo (the capital of Surinam with more than 100,000 people), you will be struck
by the great variety of races and dress, which you will see, and by the languages you will hear. As you get to know the country better, you will notice the variety of religions and cultures, manners and customs. Another thing which you will likely notice is that in spite of the military coup (1980-1987), the Surinamese carry a certain amount of good-naturedness and heartiness with them. This fascinating part of the former colony of the Dutch kingdom is not known as much in the Netherlands as the Surinamese would like. That is why I want to try to take a closer look at the Black part of this mixed population, as this is the theme of our conference.