King Willem III of the Netherlands abolished Slavery in Suriname and in all the Dutch colonies.

About 32,911 afro-descendent people were freed from slavery in Suriname. It was not freedom because after the abolition of slavery on 1 July 1863, they were obliged to continue to work on the plantations for 10 more years until 1 July 1873.

The liberated were allowed to choose whom they wanted to work for and they received a very low wage. They were only allowed to move with permission of the colonial and planter authorities. If they could not prove that they had a job, they were imprisoned.