Suriname

Good morning this Monday I have a country I have never heard  of before,  others may know of it.

Suriname is a small country on the northeastern coast of South America. It’s defined by vast swaths of tropical rainforest, Dutch colonial architecture and a melting-pot culture. On its Atlantic coast is the capital, Paramaribo, where palm gardens grow near Fort Zeelandia, a 17th-century trading post. Paramaribo is also home to Saint Peter and Paul Basilica, a towering wood cathedral consecrated in 1885.

The country was once known as Dutch Guiana, is one of South America’s smallest countries. It enjoys a relatively high standard of living but also faces serious political and economic challenges. Since independence from the Netherlands in 1975, Suriname has endured coups and a civil war.

The official language is Dutch the population around 623,000, the currency is the Surinamese Dollar. The Surinamese dollar has been the currency of Suriname since 2004. It is divided into 100 cent. The Surinamese dollar is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively Sr$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies.

The flag of Suriname was legally adopted on 25 November 1975, upon the independence of Suriname from the Netherlands. The flag was designed as a result of a national competition. It was raised for the first time on the Independence Day of the Republic of Suriname.

Suriname’s culture and society strongly reflect the legacy of Dutch colonial rule. It is the only sovereign nation outside Europe where Dutch is the official and prevailing language of government, business, media, and education; an estimated 60% of the population speaks Dutch as a native language.