Braamspunt
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Braamspunt | |
|---|---|
Nature reserve and village | |
 Beach at Braamspunt | |
  Braamspunt | |
| Coordinates: 5°56′54″N 55°09′46″W / 5.9483°N 55.1627°W | |
| Country |  Suriname |
| District | Commewijne District |
| Resort | Johan & Margaretha |
| Elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC-3 (AST) |
Braamspunt is a nature reserve, fishing village, and a former military outpost in the Johan & Margaretha resort of the Commewijne District of Suriname. Braamspunt is the most western point of the Commewijne District at the combined mouth of the Suriname and Commewijne River. The capital Paramaribo is located to the south of Braamspunt.[1] The name is a corruption of Byam's Point which refers William Byam who was a quartermaster of Willoughby.[2]
After Fort Nieuw-Amsterdam was constructed in 1747,[3] a redoubt was created at Braamspunt to aid in the defence of the Colony of Suriname.[4]
Even though Napoleon Bonaparte did not officially annex the Netherlands until 1806.[5] Great Britain considered it a puppet state and started to eye the colonies. In 1804, the Royal Navy arrived in Suriname with 2,000 soldiers.[6][7] The redoubts Braamspunt and Leiden quickly fell to the enemy, but Fort Nieuw-Amsterdam managed to offer resistance before it too was conquered.[8] Suriname was returned in 1815 at the Congress of Vienna[9]
During the 18th century, ships had to anchor at Braamspunt before being allowed to continue to Paramaribo.[10]
