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White Surinamese or European Surinamese are Surinamese people whose ancestry lies within the continent of Europe.

As of 2012, people of solely European descent are a small minority in Suriname, accounting for only 1,667 people or 0.3% of the country's population. The largest European ethnic groups in Suriname are the Dutch and the Portuguese.

History

Christopher Columbus was the inaugural European to set foot in the region. Subsequently, the Spanish, British, Dutch, and French attempted to establish their presence but were unsuccessful until the 1650s. Plantation owners from Barbados arrived with enslaved individuals to cultivate Suriname. The settlement flourished to such an extent that it attracted further European interest, leading to conflicts between the Dutch and the British over territorial claims. Following the conclusion of the second Anglo-Dutch War, the British ceded Suriname to the Dutch in 1677. European invaders brought diseases such influenza and tuberculosis and wiped out the indigenous population. Before the arrival of Europeans, Suriname was home to many indigenous tribes such as Arawaks, Caribs, Kalina people and Warao people.

See also

• Dutch Surinamese
• Portuguese Surinamese
• History of the Jews in Suriname

References and footnotes

1. Briggs, Philip (February 2015). Suriname. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 18. ISBN 978-1-84162-910-0.
2. "Suriname Census 2012" (PDF). UNSD. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-06-29. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
3. "CIA - The World Factbook -- Suriname". CIA. Retrieved 2013-05-13.
4. Foster, Ruth (14 April 2003). Take Five Minutes: Fascinating Facts about Geography. Teacher Created Resources. p. 159. ISBN 978-0-7439-3290-5.
5. In and Out of Suriname: Language, Mobility and Identity. p. 171.
6. Gupta, Gaurav (31 October 2023). A Journey Through Timeless Heritage of Suriname. Prabhat Prakashan. ISBN 978-93-5562-154-2.

• European diaspora in Suriname
• White culture in South America