| Keywords: Suriname | star | ethnic group | America | Guyana | Dutch Guyana. south America |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors Overview In 1667 according to the Treaty of Breda, New Amsterdam (modern New York) was exchanged for Suriname, which was conquered by the Zeeland navy. In 1682 it was handed over to the GWC (Dutch West India Company). On 21 May 1683 the 'Societeit van Suriname' ('Society of Suriname') was established, in which the GWC, the City of Amsterdam and Cornelis van Aerssen van Sommelsdijck participated. The first known arms of Suriname can be found of seals from around 1684. It consisted of the arms of the City of Amsterdam, the GWC (a three-master), and the Family of Van Aerssen, together with two S'ses, an Indian shooting an arrow, the motto 'Justitia Pietas Fides', and two Indians as supporters. In 1770 the shares of the Van Aerssen family were taken over by the City of Amsterdam, so the arms of Van Aerssen were dropped. In 1795 the 'Society of Suriname' is liquidated, and the colony is governed by the 'Raad der Coloniën' ('Council of Colonies'). New arms are adopted, consisting of the three-master, flying a (Dutch) flag with 'R.v.S.' for 'Raad van Suriname' ('Council of Suriname'). On 1 March 1803 the Batavian Republic abolished all previous adopted arms, and the Dutch arms (a lion of gold with sword and bunch of arrows) with 'Suriname' underneath became the new arms of Suriname. After the Kingdom of the Netherlands was established in 1815, the arms of the kingdom were also valid for the colonies. Nevertheless, the arms with the three-master can be found on bank-notes and headings of gazettes, and also on a (unofficial?) flag.
The modern were adopted 15 December 1959, several years after becoming autonomous within the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1954. When Suriname became independent on 25 December 1975 these arms were slightly revised (the hair of the Indians was changed from blond to black.....).
Sources: "Wapens en Zegels van Suriname", Mr. Johanna Felhoen Kraal, 1950. "Keesings landenvademecum", J. Goedvolk, 1980. [laa13] and [ped80].
Mark Sensen, 19 April 1999
In 1980 after a coup a national Military Council came into power, headed by Desi Bouterse. The national flag, adopted in 1975, wasn't changed. In 1986 the so-called Jungle Commando, with Ronnie Brunswijk as leader, began to fight the army of the government. After some time they had some parts of East Suriname under control. According to a newspaper report (printed in Vexilla Nostra no. 148, January/February 1987) they used the national flag, but with some colors changed; e.g.. the yellow star was changed to black. Unfortunately the other changes aren't mentioned.
Mark Sensen, 2 May 1999
Symbolism on the Flag
The unity of all ethnical groups is represented by one star. The colour (yellow/gold) of the star stands for a golden future. The red stripe stands for progress and love, the green for hope and fertility, and white for peace and justice.
Mark Sensen, 2 March 1996 Coat of Arms
The explanation of the arms from http://www.sr.net/srnet/InfoSurinam/arm.html (defunct): "The coat of arms of Suriname consists of two Indians holding a shield. Below the Indians and the shield you find the motto 'Justitia Pietas Fides' which means 'Justice Faith Loyalty'. The sailing boat at the left part of the shield symbolizes the history of Suriname when slaves were taken to Suriname from Africa. The palm at the right part of the shield stands for the present as well for justice. The diamond in the middle symbolizes a hart. The five-point star within the diamond stands for the five continents the inhabitants from Suriname came from."
SURINAME 
The motto in the scroll, "JUSTITIA - PIETAS - FIDES", means "Justice, Piety, Faith".
Antonio Martins, 13 September 1999 Origin/Meaning:
The official Suriname website explains the arms as follows :
"The coat of arms of Suriname consists of two Indians holding a shield. Below the Indians and the shield you find the motto 'Justitia Pietas Fides' which means 'Justice Faith Loyalty'. The sailing boat at the left part of the shield symbolizes the history of Suriname when slaves were taken to Suriname from Africa. The palm at the right part of the shield stands for the present as well for justice. The diamond in the middle symbolizes a hart. The five-point star within the diamond stands for the five continents the inhabitants from Suriname came from".
In 1667 according to the Treaty of Breda, New Amsterdam (modern New York) was exchanged for Suriname, which was conquered by the Zeeland navy. In 1682 it was handed over to the GWC (Dutch West India Company). On 21 May 1683 the 'Sociëteit van Suriname' ('Society of Suriname') was established, in which the GWC, the City of Amsterdam and Cornelis van Aerssen van Sommelsdijck participated. The first known arms of Suriname can be found of seals from around 1684. It consisted of the arms of the City of Amsterdam, the GWC (a three-master, see also (Curacao), and the Family of Van Aerssen, together with two letters S, an Indian shooting an arrow, the motto 'Justitia Pietas Fides', and two Indians as supporters.
In 1770 the shares of the Van Aerssen family were taken over by the City of Amsterdam, so the arms of Van Aerssen were dropped. 
The arms of Suriname from a document from 1796
In 1795 the 'Society of Suriname' is liquidated, and the colony is governed by the Dutch 'Raad der Coloniën' ('Council of Colonies'). New arms are adopted, consisting of the three-master, flying a (Dutch) flag with 'R.v.S.' for 'Raad van Suriname' ('Council of Suriname').
The colonial arms of Suriname On 1 March 1803 the Batavian Republic abolished all previous adopted arms, and the Dutch arms (a lion of gold with sword and bunch of arrows) with 'Suriname' underneath became the new arms of Suriname.
After the Kingdom of the Netherlands was established in 1815, the arms of the kingdom were also valid for the colonies. Nevertheless, the arms with the three-master can be found on bank-notes and headings of gazettes, and also on a unofficial flag.
The modern were adopted 15 December 1959, several years after becoming an autonomous region within the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1954. When Suriname became independent on 25 November 1975 these arms were slightly revised (the hair of the Indians was changed from blond to black.....) and the meaning of the symbols was changed as can be seen above.
Literature : : "Wapens en Zegels van Suriname", Mr. Johanna Felhoen Kraal, 1950. |
