The government building ( niderl. Gouverneurshuis ) is the official residence of the government and President of Suriname . Located on Independence Square (Onafhankelijkheidsplein), next to the National Assembly, the building of Congress, the Court, and the Ministry of Finance. The residence building is the most striking example of Dutch colonial architecture in Suriname and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Paramaribo .
| Presidential palace | |
| Government building | |
|---|---|
| Gouverneurshuis | |
 | |
| A country |  Suriname |
| City | Paramaribo |
| Building | 1730 |
History
The first building was built on this site in the 17th century , made of wood, like many buildings in Paramaribo . The current stone palace was built in 1730 , when the former Governor General of Suriname, Charel Emilius Hendrik de Cesso, took charge of the project to expand the palace. Before the overhaul of 1780, commissioned by Governor General Bernard Texier, the palace was rebuilt, but slowly fell into decay. When Texier took office, he decided to settle here on Gravenstraat 6. A large gallery and a third floor were added during the reconstruction. In 1911 , the palace was expanded to its current size, with the addition of a portico and terrace. Ten years later, the western wing was completed. The building received many decorative additions, for example, arched balcony beams and a relief coat of arms of Suriname on the pediment of the main facade.
Previously, a statue of Queen Wilhelmina stood at the palace. On the eve of independence on November 25, 1975, she was taken to Fort Zealand , due to fear of damage. The palace is a symbol of independence, and has since been better known as the “Het Presidentieel Paleis."
The palace is currently used for state and diplomatic receptions.
Gallery
Palace in 1915,
1955
The historical coat of arms of Suriname on the pediment
View of the palace and the main flagpole
Palace illumination at night
Independence Square