Jr. Herman van Cappelle

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Jr. Herman van Cappelle

1857–1932

A Dutch geologist and explorer whose work opened a window onto Suriname’s landscape, peoples, and storytelling traditions. Best known for leading a scientific expedition into the Nickerie interior and for writing about West Indian myths and legends, he moved easily between science and folklore.

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About the author

Born in Amsterdam on October 2, 1857, Herman van Cappelle was a Dutch researcher who worked across several fields connected with Suriname, including geology, biology, and cultural anthropology. His wide-ranging interests gave his writing an unusual mix of scientific observation and curiosity about local history and belief.

He is especially associated with a geological and biological expedition to the Nickerie valley in 1900. That work led to publications such as De binnenlanden van het District Nickerie (1903), Au travers des forêts vierges de la Guyane Hollandaise (1905), and Essai sur la constitution géologique de la Guyane Hollandaise (1907), which helped document the region’s interior and natural environment.

Van Cappelle also became known for Mythen en sagen uit West-Indië (1926), a book that shows another side of his interests: the myths and traditional stories of the Caribbean and Suriname. He died in Amsterdam on August 24, 1932, leaving behind work that linked field research with a genuine interest in culture and oral tradition.