I was born and raised in Suriname. At twenty I left to study abroad, and stayed. I lived and worked in the Netherlands, China, Japan, Hong Kong and Costa Rica. I married, I travelled, I saw the world. And the further I was from home, the clearer it became how much Suriname has to offer.
Suriname has no skyscrapers and no Michelin-starred restaurants on every corner. But ninety percent of the country is untouched rainforest, barely marked by human hands, with a biodiversity that still catches scientists off guard. Paramaribo, where a synagogue and a mosque stand literally side by side, and have done for centuries, in peace. Indigenous peoples, Creoles, Hindustanis, Javanese, Chinese and many other communities, all in one place, all Surinamese. Nowhere else in the world will you find a mix of cultures living so easily alongside and with one another. Warm people, wonderful food, and an atmosphere that stays with you.
During many of my experiences abroad I kept thinking: Suriname could do this too. Not by copying, but in its own way, authentic, accessible and well organised. Suriname should build on what makes it different: opening up the interior sustainably, for travellers who genuinely want to be there. Developing activities in nature. Building infrastructure that makes the beautiful interior reachable without destroying it. Investing in the things travellers care about too: modern payment systems, reliable communications, well-trained people, properly maintained sites. Tourism that respects nature and culture instead of exploiting them. And a platform that shows the world what is already here.
With more than ten years of experience in online marketing and development, I want to put what I know to work on something I really care about. Not only to bring travellers to Suriname, but to help local tour operators, restaurant and hotel owners and other people working in tourism to grow. To give small and medium-sized businesses visibility abroad. Because I believe we are stronger together. I hope many people working in tourism in Suriname will put their shoulder to it alongside me, because on your own you build a company, but together you build a country.
Grietjebie is not just a booking platform. It's a conviction.