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by Željko Heimer, 30 January 2003
Official Name: Republic of Suriname
(Republiek Suriname)
Previous Names: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana
Capital: Paramaribo
Location: South America
Government Type: Constitutional Democracy
Flag adopted: 25
November 1975
ISO Code: SR
See also:
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
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 Colonien' ('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 November 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 colours changed; eg. the yellow star
was changed to black. Unfortunately the other changes aren't
mentioned.
Mark Sensen, 2 May 1999
The present flag of Surinam was established by a Decree of the
Governor (Johan H. Ferrier) dated 25 November 1975 (abrogating
Decree G.B. 1929 No.105 of 8 December 1959) and the appendix gave
construction details, official colour specifications and the
original symbolism of the flag. It was published in the
Government Gazette of Suriname No.160 of 24 November 1975, and
here are some extracts from it:
COLORS: The colours of the five horizontal bars are respectively
green, white, (bright) red, white and green The green colour
consists of nine parts chromate-green and one part white. The
(bright) red colour consists of four parts bright orange
(vermilion-red) and six parts carmine-red (geranium). The colour
of the five-pointed star is yellow. The yellow colour consists of
twelve parts chromate-yellow and one part white.
SIZES: The height in proportion to the length is 2:3. The heights
of the bars from top to bottom – green, white, red, white,
green – are in the proportions of 2-1-4-1-2. The centre of
the circle that circumscribes the five-pointed star is situated
on the vertical centre line of the flag. The topmost point of the
star is also situated on this centre line. The radius of the
circle that contains the star is equal to the width of a green
bar, or half the width of the (bright) red bar. The distance
between the topmost point of the star and the top of the (bright)
red bar is equal to the distance between the two lowest points of
the star and the lower edge of the (bright) red bar.
SYMBOLISM - The green symbolizes the fertility of Suriname with
its multitude in possibilities; at the same time this colour
depicts the hopeful expectations, the new Suriname. The white
symbolizes justice; it also depicts freedom. The white bars of
freedom and justice connect the green of the possibilities of the
country with the (bright) red of renewal through the deeds of the
nation. In the (bright) red colour, the bright orange (vermilion
red), is depicted as the symbol for renewal and the carmine-red
depicts the love which leads to deeds. The star symbolizes the
unity of the nation and the yellow symbolizes the sacrifices
made. The yellow star symbolizes the sacrificing harmony and the
direction taken to a golden future. From its light the nation
draws its strength to bear the sacrifices patiently and, with
confidence in their own ability, to continue to devote themselves
to country and nation.
This was translated from the original Dutch by Andre van de
Loo and supplied to me by Jos Poels.
Christopher Southworth, 26 January 2003
According to Album 2000 [pay00]: National Flag (CSW/CSW 2:3 (2+1+4+1+2:15)) - Tricolour of five unequally wide stripes green-white-red-white-green with a yellow five-pointed star in the middle. Each of the green stripes is double the width of any of the equally wide white stripes, and red stripe is double the width of any of the green stripes. (This is longishly said: 2+1+4+1+2). The yellow star is inscribed in a circle with diameter 4/10 of hoist, and the star (and not the imaginary circle) is positioned in the middle of the flag (i.e. there is equal distance from the top of the star to