Pronounced ‘niekerie’, Nieuw-Nickerie is the second largest city in Suriname and the capital city of Nickerie district. Topographically, it lies on the mouth of the Nickerie river on the Atlantic coast, opposite the mouth of the Corantijn river (Courantyne) and the Guyanese town of Corriverton (Springlands).

The city is characterised by a tropical climate and is tempered by trade winds. It can be approached by water, using the ferry service between Springlands and Nickerie.

Considering the fact that Suriname itself is the smallest sovereign state in South America in terms of area and population, Nieuw-Nickerie, with roughly 8,000 inhabitants, is far from being densely populated. The primary occupation is cultivation, and the main industries are bananas and rice. Its exports include cocoa, baboen lumber and balata.

Paramaribo, the capital city of Suriname, is situated on the Suriname River, about 15km inland from the Atlantic Ocean. The country may be the smallest in South America, but it has an impress...