Fort Zeelandia

Fort Zeelandia stands on the bend of the Suriname river where Paramaribo begins, a five-pointed brick fort of 1667 built by the Dutch on an earlier English work, and the whole city grid was laid out on an axis running northwest from it. It now holds the Surinaams Museum, with the colonial and archaeological collections in the casemates and officers' quarters. It is named in the UNESCO inscription. The English built the first work here in 1651 and the Dutch took it over and rebuilt it in brick after 1667, which is the fabric that stands today.

What you actually see

• The five-pointed plan - the brick fort of 1667 on its river bend.
• The city axis - the grid Paramaribo was laid out along from the fort.
• The Surinaams Museum - collections held in the casemates and quarters.
• The river frontage - the Suriname running past the walls.

When to go

Year round. The museum keeps set hours and closes on some days. Mornings are cooler for walking the walls.

Honest expectations

The museum displays are dated and labelling is largely in Dutch. Parts of the complex are closed at times. Two hours covers it.

Nearby

The Palmentuin is behind it, and the cathedral is northwest.