Official Name: | Berg en Dal |
Settlement Type: | Village |
Pushpin Map: | Suriname |
Pushpin Label Position: | bottom |
Pushpin Mapsize: | 300 |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | Suriname |
Subdivision Name1: | Brokopondo District |
Subdivision Type2: | Resort |
Subdivision Name2: | Klaaskreek |
Population Density Km2: | auto |
Timezone: | AST |
Utc Offset: | -3 |
Coordinates: | 5.1392°N -55.0672°W |
Berg en Dal is a village in the resort of Klaaskreek in the Brokopondo District of Suriname. The village is located on the Suriname River.
In 1713, a military outpost was founded near Mount Parnassus which is nowadays called the Blauwe Berg. The outpost was meant to protect the colony against attacks of the Maroons (runaways slaves).[1] In 1722, a sugar plantation was founded by Hendrik Temminck, the governor of Suriname at the time.[2] In 1737, a wood plantation was founded, and named Berg en Dal.[3] In 1762, a peace agreement was signed with the Saramaka, and the military post was disbanded.[1]
In 1830,[2] the Moravian Church embarked on missionary activities among the slaves, and founded the first church in 1839.[4] After the abolition of slavery, the plantation suffered a period of decline, and in 1870, was sold by auction to the Moravian Church.[5]
In 1968, the Avobakaweg to Paramaribo was constructed,[6] which triggered a migration to the city. The Surinamese Interior War finally resulted in a near abandonment of the village;[7] only one person remained in the village.[2] In 1999, the Wederopbouw Berg en Dal foundation was established to revitalise the village. In 2003, the church collapsed.[2] The Moravian Church started a joint venture with hotel Krasnapolsky in Paramaribo, and in 2008 the former plantation was transformed into the Berg en Dal Eco & Cultural Resort, a luxury holiday resort with 150 rooms for ecotourism.[5]