CA Country Anthems

Suriname National Anthem History

God zij met ons Suriname

Suriname's national anthem, "God Be With Our Suriname," originated from an 1893 Sunday School song and was officially adopted in 1954. It uniquely features lyrics in both Dutch and Sranan Tongo, reflecting its linguistic heritage.

Suriname God zij met ons Suriname

Suriname

Language
Dutch
Anthem
God zij met ons Suriname
Duration
0:54
Status
Today, the anthem is performed with the Dutch verse by Hoekstra sung first, followed by de Ziel's Sranan Tongo lyrics as the second verse.

History timeline

  1. 1876

    Johannes Corstianus de Puy composed the melody that would later be used for the national anthem.

  2. 1893

    Cornelis Atses Hoekstra wrote "Suriname’s Trotsche Stroomen," a Sunday School song, set to de Puy's music.

  3. 1954

    The song "God zij met ons Suriname!" was officially adopted as the national anthem of Suriname.

  4. 1959

    Poet Henry de Ziel (Trefossa) penned new Sranan Tongo lyrics and revised the existing second verse.

  5. Later

    The performance order changed, with Hoekstra's Dutch verse sung first, followed by de Ziel's Sranan lyrics.

The anthem notably combines lyrics in two languages, Dutch and Sranan Tongo, and began its life as an 1893 Sunday School song.