Lelydorp

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title: "Lelydorp" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["lelydorp", "resorts-of-suriname", "populated-places-in-wanica-district"] topic_path: "general/lelydorp" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lelydorp" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
official_nameLelydorp
other_nameKofi Djompo
settlement_typeResort and town
image_skylineLelydorp-Kofidjompo.jpg
imagesize250px
image_captionFrom top, left to right: Monument Lelydorp; bird's-eye view of Midtown Mall; I Love Kofidjompo Monument
image_mapWanica Ressorts Suriname Neutral.png
mapsize250px
map_captionMap showing resorts in Wanica District.
pushpin_label_positionbottom
pushpin_mapsize300
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_nameSuriname
subdivision_type1District
subdivision_name1Wanica District
area_total_km2149
population_as_of2012
population_total18663
population_density_km2auto
timezoneAST
utc_offset-3
coordinates
elevation_m9
::

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Lelydorp (Sranan Tongo: Kofi Djompo) is the capital city of Wanica District, located in Suriname’s north. With a population of 18,663 (2012), it is the second largest city in Suriname, after Paramaribo.

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/SpeeltuinLelydorp2025.jpg" caption="Lelydorp Playground"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/Regionaal_Ziekenhuis_Wanica.jpg" caption="Regional Hospital Wanica"] ::

Pad van Wanica

For centuries the Pad van Wanica (Wanica path) has been the only road that leads Paramaribo to the south. The establishment of the road is unknown, but it is speculated that the original inhabitants formed the path. After the road was established parcels were issued on either side. The oldest part of this road is the northern part, which is closest to Paramaribo. The land issued there date from the early 18th century, with plantation names such as: Hermitage, Zorg en Hoop, Flora, Duisburg, Onverwacht, Goede Verwachting, Ephraimszegen, Nieuw Weergevonden, etc.

Around 1790, a new series of land grants were given that ended on the south of the path, starting with Braamshoop and ending with Halfhideslust followed by Klein Nieuwzorg. These new grounds were used almost exclusively as timber grounds.

Kofi Djompo

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c0/ILoveKofidjompo2025.jpg" caption="ILoveKofidjompo Monument"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/LelydorpMonument2025.jpg" caption="Lelydorp Monument"] ::

Lelydorp was originally called Kofi Djompo but was renamed by Cornelis Lely (the Dutch governor of Suriname in 1905) and since then it is known as Lelydorp. Lely was responsible for many large water construction projects in the Netherlands.

The original name Kofi Djompo is said to refer to a maroon rebel leader called Kofi, who escaped by jumping over a creek. Kofi means "born on Friday" (Kofi Annan, for example, was born on a Friday). Djompo means "jump". The hamlet started to grow when the Lawa Railway was constructed, but was mainly dependent on agriculture with cassave and asparagus beans as the main crops.

Modern day Lelydorp

Lelydorp is considered a big village instead of a city. Wanica has a population of about 118,000 and an area of about 440 km2. With a population of this size, Wanica is one of Suriname's most populated and most urbanised districts. Lelydorp is the main resort of the district with many shops, offices, and businesses, but still needs a clear city structure and has many agricultural areas close to the centre and neighbourhoods.

Lelydorp is also the most important halfway stopping point between Paramaribo and Zanderij, where the Johan Adolf Pengel Airport is located. Its population consists of a mixture of Javanese, East Indian, Creoles, and Europeans. Between 1890 and 1939 many people from Java settled into the area. Names of roads and streets in Lelydorp, like Sumatraweg, Celebesweg and Tawangsarieweg, are typical original names from Indonesia. The Saramacca River divides Lelydorp from Saramacca.

Lelydorp is home to the "Caribbean Centre", a conference center founded by Bhai.{{cite news|url=https://www.starnieuws.com/index.php/welcome/index/nieuwsitem/50398|title= Cultuurkenner James Ramlall is niet meer |website=Star Nieuws|access-date=10 May 2020|language=nl}} On 16 July 2010, the Neotropical Butterfly Park opened. On 7 February 2020, the Regional Hospital Wanica opened in Lelydorp.

Notable people

Twin city

Lelydorp maintains international relations with the twin city of Lelystad.

References

References

  1. (July 2021). "World Gazetteer/ Suriname}}{{dead link".
  2. "Lelydorp Geschiedenis".
  3. "Wanica".
  4. "Geschiedenis Lelydorp ǀ Villa Lelydorp Apartments".
  5. "Woensdag – Het belang van namen (van de dagen) in Suriname".
  6. (1916). "Encyclopaedie van Nederlandsch West-Indië - Page 448 - Lelydorp".
  7. "Sranan. Cultuur in Suriname page 53".
  8. "Districts of Suriname".
  9. "STRUCTUUR ANALYSE DISTRICTEN 2009-2013".
  10. "Census 2012".
  11. "Lelydorp, Suriname".
  12. "Feestelijke opening Neotropical Butterfly Park".
  13. "Regionaal Ziekenhuis Wanica gaat eerste fase in".
  14. "Ressortvergadering te Lelydorp".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

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