Alkmaar, Suriname
History
History
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The plantation was named after the city of [Alkmaar](/wiki/Alkmaar "Alkmaar") in the Dutch province of [North Holland](/wiki/North_Holland "North Holland") where Jacobus Hengeveldt, the founder was born. The city was named after the plantation. Alkmaar has regional significance as a government post and a medical centre. The [Moravian Church](/wiki/Moravian_Church "Moravian Church") (EMEA) is an important center of Christian consignment among the Hindus, and started when P.M. Legêne arrived in Alkmaar. The church was built in 1923, partly financed by fundraising from the Netherlands. A children's home was also setup.

In the 18th century Alkmaar became a notable [coffee](/wiki/Coffee "Coffee") producing location. Construction of the plantation was consigned to James Hengeveldt in 1745\. After the completion of Fort at New Amsterdam in 1746, the land at the mouth of the [Commewijne River](/wiki/Commewijne_River "Commewijne River") was cleared to make way for the plantation which opened in 1747\.[National Archives of Suriname](http://nationaalarchief.sr/geschiedenis/plantages/beneden-commewijnerivier/alkmaar/) ,  Charles Godeffroy then took over the plantation. In 1884, the plantation ceased its operation due to low sugar prices. In 1894, the government bought the grounds in order to distribute it to small farmers. The motivation was to entice the indentured workers from [Java](/wiki/Java "Java") to remain in Suriname. The Javanese still form the largest ethnic group. In 1908, there were 699 farmers producing 20,000 kg of cacao, 50,000 kg of rice, and 57,000 bunches of bananas.

The village and former [sugarcane](/wiki/Sugarcane "Sugarcane") factory of [Mariënburg](/wiki/Marienburg%2C_Suriname "Marienburg, Suriname") is located close to Alkmaar. The villages of [Johan \& Margaretha](/wiki/Johan_%26_Margaretha "Johan & Margaretha") and [Frederiksdorp](/wiki/Frederiksdorp "Frederiksdorp") on the other side of the river, can be reached by a ferry from Mariënburg. The coffee plantation [Katwijk](/wiki/Katwijk%2C_Suriname "Katwijk, Suriname") is located in Alkmaar.


Can a sugarcane factory contribute to the local economy beyond its own production?