Laarwijk | |
Population Total: | circa 100 |
Population As Of: | 2018 |
Pushpin Map: | Suriname |
Pushpin Mapsize: | 300 |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | Suriname |
Subdivision Type1: | District |
Subdivision Name1: | Commewijne |
Subdivision Type2: | Resort |
Subdivision Name2: | Meerzorg |
Coordinates: | 5.7°N -58°W |
Timezone: | ART |
Utc Offset: | -3 |
Laarwijk is a settlement and a former sugar plantation in the Commewijne District in Suriname. Laarwijk is situated along the Suriname River and can only be reached by boat (via Domburg).
Laarwijk was founded in 1737.[1] The government bought the plantation on 5 August 1899, and allocated it for small-scale agriculture.[1] In 2020 plans were announced to build a bridge between Laarwijk and Domburg in order to develop the area, and relieve traffic congestion in Wanica and Commewijne.[2] Traffic up to now has to use the Jules Wijdenbosch Bridge between Paramaribo and Meerzorg.[3]
After years of political prevarication in January 2010, Laarwijk has received a connection to the electricity grid. A cable is pulled from Domburg under the Suriname River. A generator which was installed just before the elections in 1996, had never produced a single kilowatt.[4]