Katwijk

Katwijk (Sranan Tongo: Juliansi) is a coffee plantation and village located in the Alkmaar resort of the Commewijne District in Suriname. It holds the distinction of being the only coffee plantation in Suriname that remains in operation today. The plantation produces coffee that is mainly sold within Suriname, and it includes a coffee-roasting factory built on the estate in 1979. The workers' houses on the plantation are still inhabited, forming a living village around the agricultural operation. The land that became Katwijk was sold in 1746 to Alida Maria Wossink, who was then only 13 years old. Over her lifetime she married three times and transformed the property into a successful coffee plantation. Historical accounts, including that of John Gabriel Stedman, describe her as one of the worst slave holders of the era. In the middle of the 19th century the plantation temporarily switched to growing bananas. In the early 20th century, 196 contract workers from Java were hired to work on the plantation. During World War II, when American soldiers were stationed in Suriname, concerns about sexually transmitted diseases led authorities in 1942 to intern all prostitutes at Katwijk in anticipation of a visit by Princess Juliana of the Netherlands. Among those arrested was Maxi Linder, a well-known Surinamese prostitute. The women were released in 1944 when the American soldiers were replaced by soldiers from Puerto Rico. In 1974, Hendrik Gonggrijp sold the plantation to Nagib Nouh-Chaia, who turned it into a successful plantation. A coffee-roasting factory was built there in 1979. Today Katwijk remains an active coffee producer and a historic village in the Commewijne District.

The land that would become Katwijk was sold in 1746 to Alida Maria Wossink, who was only 13 years old at the time. Wossink married three times over the course of her life and transformed the property into a successful coffee plantation. According to John Gabriel Stedman, she was one of the worst slave holders. In the middle of the 19th century, the plantation temporarily switched to growing bananas. In the early 20th century, 196 contract workers from Java were hired to work on the plantation. During World War II, American soldiers were stationed in Suriname, and there were concerns about sexually transmitted diseases. In 1942, in anticipation of the visit of Princess Juliana of the Netherlands, all prostitutes were interned at Katwijk. Maxi Linder, the well-known Surinamese prostitute, was among those arrested. They were released in 1944 when the American soldiers were replaced by soldiers from Puerto Rico. In 1974, Hendrik Gonggrijp sold the plantation to Nagib Nouh-Chaia, who turned the plantation into a successful plantation. In 1979, a coffee-roasting factory was built on the plantation. The coffee is mainly sold within Suriname. The houses for the workers are still inhabited.

• 1979

  Coffee-roasting factory built on the plantation.

• 1974

  Hendrik Gonggrijp sold the plantation to Nagib Nouh-Chaia.

• 1944

  Internees released when American soldiers were replaced by Puerto Rican soldiers.

• 1942

  Prostitutes interned at Katwijk in anticipation of Princess Juliana's visit.

• 1900

  196 contract workers from Java hired to work on the plantation.

• 1850

  Plantation temporarily switched to growing bananas.

• 1746

  Land sold to Alida Maria Wossink, who developed it into a coffee plantation.

Historic single-estate coffee plantation and the only operational coffee plantation in Suriname.

• Coffee

  Main product, sold mainly within Suriname.

• Bananas

  Historically grown in the mid-19th century.

1. 1Katwijk - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Katwijk, Suriname - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org