Paramaribo's Central Market in the 2020s

This master's thesis examines the market culture of the Central Market in Paramaribo as a vibrant example of everyday heritage. The market plays a central role in the culture and economy of Suriname and offers a diverse range of products and services. Despite its historical and social significance, the market hall faces significant challenges, including a deteriorating building and reduced appeal, which threaten both its economic viability and its cultural value. A participatory approach, focused on dialogue and actions during fieldwork, is applied to explore the appreciation and sustainability of the market culture. The emphasis is on capturing the market hall over time and highlighting contemporary valuations. This involves describing how historical, place-bound, cultural, intergenerational, social, and socioeconomic values contribute to the current significance of the marketplace.

By applying Pierre Bourdieu’s concepts of habitus, field, and capital, the thesis provides insight into how market life functions as a platform for the creation and exchange of cultural, social, and economic capital. Cultural capital refers to the knowledge, traditions, and skills passed down within the market culture; social capital involves the networks and community ties that are built; and economic capital encompasses the financial resources and economic activities generated and supported by the market hall. These forms of capital are appropriated and converted in various ways by the market workers.

This work highlights the necessity of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, particularly the market culture of the Central Market. Recommendations include strengthening symbolic capital to enhance the market hall’s appeal, fostering social capital to support networks and knowledge transfer, and implementing participatory policies for future management. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the functioning of the market hall and provide a foundation for its reinforcement within sustainable heritage management.