Javanese Surinamese
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| (ca. 74,000) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Commewijne · Wanica · Paramaribo | |
| Languages | |
| Dutch · Sranan Tongo · Javanese | |
| Religion | |
| Islam · Christianity · Kejawen |
Javanese Surinamese are an ethnic group of Javanese descent in Suriname. They are present since the late 19th century, whose first members were selected by the Dutch colonizers from the former Dutch East Indies.
After the abolition of slavery, the plantations in Suriname needed a new source of labor. In 1890, the influential Netherlands Trading Society, owner of the plantation Mariënburg in Suriname, undertook a test to attract Javanese contract workers from the Dutch East Indies. Until then, primarily Hindustani contract workers from British India worked at the Suriname plantations as field and factory workers. On August 9, the first Javanese arrived in Paramaribo. The test was considered successful and by 1894 the colonial government took over the task of recruiting Javanese hands. They came in small groups from the Dutch East Indies to the Netherlands, and from there to Paramaribo. The transport of Javanese immigrants continued until 1914 (except 1894) in two stages through Amsterdam.
The workers came from villages in Central and East Java. Departure points were Batavia, Semarang and Tandjong Priok. The recruited workers and their families awaited their departure in a depot, where they were inspected and registered and where they signed their contract.
The immigrants were recruited to work on the plantations. The exception was a group in 1904, when 77 Javanese were recruited specifically to work at the Colonial Railways. From World War I Javanese also worked at the Suriname Bauxite Company in Moengo. Immigration continued until December 13, 1939. The outbreak of World War Two ended transplantation schemes.
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