Map for a new design of the Nieuw Amsterdam fort

Title Leupe: Plan van de Nieuwe Fort Amsterdam, op de hoek van de rivieren Suriname en Commewine.

This map shows what appears to be an early stage of the redesigned fort Nieuw-Amsterdam. At the end of 1733, an agreement between the Society of Surinam and representatives of the colonists to improve Surinam's defences was ratified by the Dutch Estates-General. This design would have been made as part of these plans shortly afterwards. The actual work began in 1736 and dragged on with numerous set-backs, conflicts and delays until 1747. Afterwards, the fort would remain problematic both in terms of maintenance and defence. (For more details on its building history, see under 'documentation', especially the book by Temminck Groll.)

This undated map by Desmarestz (also: Desmaretz, Desmaretsz), gives an overview of the projected work in an early stadium, that is, in the first few years after 1734. The accommodation and kitchen gardens for the enslaved people who were set to work here (D, E) and the main sluice (B) are reproduced with some emphasis. The last was completed in April 1737. Very probably this general map was attached to Desmarestz’ progress map dating from May 1737, on VEL2034, dealing only with the fort, where the construction of the sluice is said to have been completed ‘to perfection’.

North is right.

Scale-bar of 200 Rhineland rods = [approximately 1 : 8,200]..