List of Famous people born in Suriname
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
Jerrel "Jimmy" Floyd Hasselbaink is a Dutch professional football manager and former player who is currently the manager of League One club Burton Albion.
Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Jairzinho Rozenstruik is a Surinamese mixed martial artist and former kickboxer. He competes in the heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He currently holds the record for second fastest knockout in the heavyweight division against Allen Crowder at the UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Korean Zombie. In kickboxing, he is a former WLF Super Heavyweight Tournament Champion and a SUPERKOMBAT World Grand Prix I 2013 Runner-Up. As of 3 September 2020, he is #3 in the UFC heavyweight rankings.
Clarence Seedorf
Clarence Clyde Seedorf is a Dutch professional football manager and former player. He last was the manager of the Cameroon national team.
Edgar Davids
Edgar Steven Davids is a Dutch-Surinamese former professional footballer, and the current coach of Portuguese side, Olhanense.
Tyrone Spong
Tyrone Clinton Spong is a Surinamese-Dutch professional boxer and former kickboxer and mixed martial artist. He is the current WBC Latino Heavyweight Champion and WBO Latino Heavyweight Champion. In kickboxing, he is the former WFCA Cruiserweight champion, Glory 95kg Slam Champion and It's Showtime 95MAX World champion.
Jeangu Macrooy
Jeangu Macrooy is a Surinamese singer-songwriter. He was born in Paramaribo and has been living in the Netherlands in the eastern city Enschede in the region Twente since 2014. Macrooy's music can best be described as modern soul. His audience is in the Netherlands, Suriname, and increasingly in Belgium, France and Germany. He was due to represent the Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 to be held in Rotterdam with the song "Grow", but the contest was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He will represent the country in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 with the song "Birth of a New Age”.
Anton de Kom
Cornelis Gerhard Anton de Kom was a Surinamese resistance fighter and anti-colonialist author. He was arrested in Suriname and the protest against his arrest resulted in two deaths. De Kom was subsequently exiled to the Netherlands where he wrote Wij slaven van Suriname, a classic anti-colonial book. During World War II, he joined the resistance, was arrested, and sent to concentration camps where he died.
Dési Bouterse
Desiré Delano "Dési" Bouterse is a Surinamese politician who was President of Suriname from 2010 to 2020. From 1980 to 1987 he was Suriname's de facto leader after conducting a military coup and establishing a period of military rule.
Edson Braafheid
Edson René Braafheid is a Dutch footballer who currently plays as a left-back for USL club Austin Bold FC.
Kathleen Ferrier
Kathleen Gertrud Ferrier is a former Dutch politician of Surinamese descent and development aid worker. She served as a member of parliament of Netherlands representing the party Christian Democratic Appeal from 2002 to 2012.
Cynthia McLeod
Cynthia Henri McLeod is a Surinamese novelist known for her historic novels and whose debut novel instantly made her one of the most prominent authors of Suriname.
Jules Ajodhia
Jules Rattankoemar Ajodhia is a Surinamese politician. He is a member of the Progressive Reform Party. From 1988 to 1990, he was Justice Minister. He was also twice vice president of Suriname.
Jerry de Jong
Jerry Murrien de Jong is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a defender or defensive midfielder.
Ruth Jacott
Ruth Jacott is a Surinamese-Dutch singer.
Ronald Venetiaan
Ronald Runaldo Venetiaan served as the 6th President of Suriname.
Ivan Graanoogst
Ivan Graanoogst is a Surinamese soldier and politician. He was the acting military ruler of Suriname from 24 December 1990 to 29 December 1990, after a military coup overthrew the democratic government of President Ramsewak Shankar.
Stanley Menzo
Stanley Purl Menzo is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper, and worked as a manager of Ajax Cape Town in the South African Premier Soccer League. He is the manager of the reserve team of Beijing Sinobo Guoan in China.
Ramsewak Shankar
Ramsewak Shankar is a Surinamese politician who was the 4th President of Suriname, serving from 1988 to 1990. His government was overthrown by Dési Bouterse leading a bloodless military coup. Shankar had previously served as Agriculture & Fisheries Minister from 1969 to 1971.
Raymond Henri Pos
Raymond Henri Pos was a Surinamese diplomat and lawyer. He served as first Minister Plenipotentiary of Suriname from 29 December 1954 until 1 August 1963. Subsequently, he was appointed Dutch Ambassador of Cuba. Pos played a major role in the creation of the 1954 Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands which established the political relationship between the Netherlands and its former colonies.
Jules Wijdenbosch
Jules Albert Wijdenbosch is a Surinamese politician who was President of Suriname from 1996 to 2000. He was a member of the National Democratic Party, which held absolute power in Suriname during the 1980s. He was Prime Minister from April 1987 until January 1988, Vice President from January 1991 until September 1991, and President from September 1996 until August 2000. He is now the leader of Democratic National Platform 2000. The Jules Wijdenbosch Bridge, which connects the East of the country with Paramaribo, has been named after Wijdenbosch.