{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox settlement | official_name = Lelydorp | other_name = | native_name = {{nativename|srn|Kofi Djompo}} | nickname = | settlement_type = Resort and town | motto = | image_skyline = Lelydorp-Kofidjompo.jpg | imagesize = 250px | image_caption = From top, left to right: Monument Lelydorp; bird's-eye view of Midtown Mall; I Love Kofidjompo Monument | image_flag = | flag_size = | image_seal = | seal_size = | image_map = Wanica Ressorts Suriname Neutral.png | mapsize = 250px | map_caption = Map showing resorts in Wanica District.{{legend|#b3ff40|Lelydorp}} | pushpin_map = | pushpin_label_position = bottom | pushpin_mapsize = 300 | pushpin_map_caption = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|Suriname}} | subdivision_type1 = District | subdivision_name1 = Wanica District | subdivision_type2 = | subdivision_name2 = | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = | leader_name = | established_title = | established_date = | area_magnitude = | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 149 | area_land_km2 = | population_as_of = 2012 | population_footnotes = | population_note = | population_total = 18663 | population_density_km2 = auto | timezone = AST | utc_offset = -3 | timezone_DST = | utc_offset_DST = | coordinates = {{coord|5|41|48|N|55|13|0|W|region:SR|display=inline,title}} | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 9 | elevation_ft = | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code = | blank_name = | blank_info = | website = | footnotes = }}
'''Lelydorp''' ({{langx|srn|Kofi Djompo}}) is the capital city of Wanica District, located in Suriname's north. With a population of 18,663 (2012), it is the second largest city in Suriname, after Paramaribo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&dat=32&geo=-199&srt=n2pn&col=ohq|title=World Gazetteer/ Suriname}}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
==History== thumb|Lelydorp Playground thumb|Regional Hospital Wanica ===Pad van Wanica=== For centuries the Pad van Wanica (Wanica path) has been the only road that leads Paramaribo to the south. The establishment of the road is unknown, but it is speculated that the original inhabitants formed the path. After the road was established parcels were issued on either side. The oldest part of this road is the northern part, which is closest to Paramaribo. The land issued there date from the early 18th century, with plantation names such as: Hermitage, Zorg en Hoop, Flora, Duisburg, Onverwacht, Goede Verwachting, Ephraimszegen, Nieuw Weergevonden, etc.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.suriname-heritage-guide.com/|title=Lelydorp Geschiedenis|access-date=30 November 2021|website=Suriname Heritage|language=nl}}</ref>
Around 1790, a new series of land grants were given that ended on the south of the path, starting with ''Braamshoop'' and ending with ''Halfhideslust'' followed by ''Klein Nieuwzorg''. These new grounds were used almost exclusively as timber grounds.
===Kofi Djompo=== thumb|ILoveKofidjompo Monument thumb|Lelydorp Monument Lelydorp was originally called ''Kofi Djompo'' but was renamed by Cornelis Lely (the Dutch governor of Suriname in 1905) and since then it is known as ''Lelydorp''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.surinameview.com/districten/wanica/|title=Wanica|access-date=28 May 2020|website=Suriname View|language=nl}}</ref> Lely was responsible for many large water construction projects in the Netherlands.
The original name ''Kofi Djompo'' is said to refer to a maroon rebel leader called Kofi, who escaped by jumping over a creek.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.villalelydorp.com/geschiedenis-villa-lelydorp-suriname.html|title=Geschiedenis Lelydorp ǀ Villa Lelydorp Apartments|website=Villa Lelydorp|access-date=9 May 2020|language=nl}}</ref> Kofi means "born on Friday" (Kofi Annan, for example, was born on a Friday). Djompo means "jump".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://surinameholidays.nl/woensdag/|title=Woensdag – Het belang van namen (van de dagen) in Suriname|website=Suriname Holidays|access-date=10 May 2020|language=nl}}</ref> The hamlet started to grow when the Lawa Railway was constructed,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Encyclopaedie van Nederlandsch West-Indië - Page 448 - Lelydorp|website=Digital Library for Dutch Literature|url=https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/benj004ency01_01/benj004ency01_01.pdf|date=1916|access-date=5 May 2020|language=nl}}</ref> but was mainly dependent on agriculture with cassave and asparagus beans as the main crops.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dbnl.org/tekst/binn011sran01_01/binn011sran01_01_0007.php|title=Sranan. Cultuur in Suriname page 53|website=Digital Library for Dutch Literature|access-date=10 May 2020}}</ref>
===Modern day Lelydorp=== Lelydorp is considered a big village instead of a city. Wanica has a population of about 118,000 and an area of about 440 km<sup>2</sup>.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.statoids.com/usr.html|title=Districts of Suriname |website=Statoids|access-date=10 May 2020}}</ref> With a population of this size, Wanica is one of Suriname's most populated and most urbanised districts. Lelydorp is the main resort of the district with many shops, offices, and businesses, but still needs a clear city structure and has many agricultural areas close to the centre and neighbourhoods.<ref name="planning_office">{{cite web|url=https://www.planningofficesuriname.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/STRUCTUUR-ANALYSE-IV.pdf|title=STRUCTUUR ANALYSE DISTRICTEN 2009-2013|website=Planning Office Suriname|access-date=22 May 2020|language=nl}}</ref>
Lelydorp is also the most important halfway stopping point between Paramaribo and Zanderij, where the Johan Adolf Pengel Airport is located. Its population consists of a mixture of Javanese, East Indian, Creoles, and Europeans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spangstaging.com/2019/abs/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/census8etn.pdf|title=Census 2012|website=Stang Makandra|access-date=9 May 2020|archive-date=23 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211223031229/https://spangstaging.com/2019/abs/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/census8etn.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Between 1890 and 1939 many people from Java settled into the area. Names of roads and streets in Lelydorp, like Sumatraweg, Celebesweg and Tawangsarieweg, are typical original names from Indonesia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indischebuurten.nl/buurten/lelydorp-suriname|title=Lelydorp, Suriname|website=Indische Buurten.nl|language=nl|access-date=10 May 2020}}</ref> The Saramacca River divides Lelydorp from Saramacca.
Lelydorp is home to the "Caribbean Centre", a conference center founded by Bhai.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.starnieuws.com/index.php/welcome/index/nieuwsitem/50398|title= Cultuurkenner James Ramlall is niet meer |website=Star Nieuws|access-date=10 May 2020|language=nl}}</ref> On 16 July 2010, the Neotropical Butterfly Park opened.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.butterflyparksuriname.com/website/nieuws.asp?menuid=10&id=6|title=Feestelijke opening Neotropical Butterfly Park|access-date=10 May 2020|language=nl|archive-date=31 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211231025418/https://www.butterflyparksuriname.com/website/nieuws.asp?menuid=10&id=6|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 7 February 2020, the Regional Hospital Wanica opened in Lelydorp.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Regionaal Ziekenhuis Wanica gaat eerste fase in |url=https://www.starnieuws.com/index.php/welcome/index/nieuwsitem/56948|website=Star Nieuws|access-date=9 May 2020|language=nl}}</ref>
==Notable people== * Chan Santokhi (1959), President of Suriname, politician and former chief of police.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.vhpnederland.nl/ressortvergadering-te-lelydorp/|title=Ressortvergadering te Lelydorp|website=VHP Nederlands|access-date=10 May 2020|language=nl}}</ref>
==Twin city== Lelydorp maintains international relations with the twin city of Lelystad.
==See also== * Santigron, a Maroon village in the Lelydorp resort.
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Lelydorp|position=left}}
{{Resorts of Suriname}}
Category:Lelydorp Category:Resorts of Suriname Category:Populated places in Wanica District