The National Anthem

“Rise country men rise”
“The soil of Suriname is calling you”
“Wherever our ancestors came from”
“We should take care of our country”
“We are not afraid to fight. God is our leader”
“Our entire life until death - We will fight for Suriname”

The National Flag

The unity of all ethnic groups is represented by one yellow/gold star that basically stands for a golden future. The red stripe stands for progress and love, the green for hope and fertility, and white for peace and justice.

The National Coat of Arms

The coat of arms of Suriname consists of two Amerindians holding a shield. Below the Amerindians and the shield you will find the motto: “Justitia – Pietas - Fides”, which is Latin for “Justice-Faith-Loyalty”. The sailing boat at the left part of the shield symbolizes the history of Suriname when slaves were taken to the country of Africa.
The palm at the right part of the shield stands for the present as well for justice. The diamond in the middle symbolizes a hart. The five point star within the diamond stands for the five continents the inhabitants from Suriname came from.

The National Flower

The National Flower of Suriname is the “Fajalobi” (passionate love), which is mainly grown in the coastal plains in gardens. Suriname’s rainforests are home to several beautiful orchid species. As they mostly grow high in trees, their beauty can seldom be seen however. Other flowers such as the heliconia, hyacinth and passionflower, can be seen when they bloom.

Public Holidays

The Suriname Labor Legislation acknowledge a total of ten public holidays, namely:
- New Years Day : January 1
- Good Friday* :
- Easter Monday* :
- Holy Phagwha* :
- Id'ul Fitre* :
- Labor Day : May 1
- Freedom Day : July 1
- Independence Day : November 25
- Christmas : December 25
- Boxing Day : December 26
* Exact dates are annually determined according to data-accounting procedures prescribed by respective religions

General Business Hours
Commercial: 07:30 a.m. - 04:30 p.m. Monday - Friday.
07:30 a.m. - 01:00 p.m. Saturday
Government: 07:00 a.m. - 03:00 p.m. Monday - Thursday
07:00 a.m. - 02:30 p.m. Friday