Den Amstel

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Den Amstel
village
Den Amstel is located in Guyana
Den Amstel
Den Amstel
Location in Guyana
Coordinates: 6°51′N 58°15′W / 6.850°N 58.250°W / 6.850; -58.250Coordinates: 6°51′N 58°15′W / 6.850°N 58.250°W / 6.850; -58.250
CountryFlag of Guyana.svg Guyana
RegionEssequibo Islands-West Demerara
Population
 (2012)[1]
 • Total938
Time zoneUTC-4
ClimateAf

Den Amstel is a village in Guyana's Essequibo Islands-West Demerara region. It lies on the Atlantic coast, approximately 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) west-north-west of the capital, Georgetown. The village has a population of 938 people as of 2012,[1] who are predominantly Afro-Guyanese.[2]

History[]

Den Amstel is situated on the site of a coffee plantation of the same name, which was established by a Dutchman, John Craig, and named after the river Amstel in the Netherlands. The plantation was abandoned midway through the 19th century, owing to repeated flooding, and subsequently purchased by a syndicate of 125 ex-slaves, who gained ownership in 1854. In 1892, Den Amstel was united with the neighbouring village of and granted municipal government for the first time, as part of the Den Amstel/Fellowship Village District.[3] Fellowship was historically the more important of the two villages, with Den Amstel being described as "a very under-developed settlement with a few scattered houses and dense bushes and foliage".[4] Until the closure of the line in 1974, the village had a platform on the Demerara–Essequibo Railway (running from Vreed-en-Hoop to Parika).[3] The railway has since been replaced by a paved highway. Den Amstel's economy has historically been based around agriculture and horticulture, but now relies more on small businesses. The southernmost portion of the village includes a 400 acres (1.6 km2) rice plantation.[2]

Sport[]

The Den Amstel Cricket Club is a member of the West Demerara Cricket Association, which is in turn affiliated with the Demerara Cricket Board, one of the three constituent members of the Guyana Cricket Board.[5] Rayon Griffith, who played cricket for the Guyanese national team in the 2000s, was born in the village.[6] However, a 2014 Guyana Chronicle article reported that cricket had declined in popularity, in favour of football.[4] The Den Amstel Football Club is a member of the West Demerara Football Association, and qualified for the Guyana Super League on at least one occasion.[7]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "2012 Population by Village". Statistics Guyana. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  2. ^ a b Roxanne Clarke (4 September 2011). "The World Beyond Georgetown: Den Amstel" – Stabroek News. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  3. ^ a b Jacqueline Allen-West. "The History of Den Amstel & Fellowship" – Guyana Under Siege. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  4. ^ a b Alex Wayne (15 March 2014). "Den Amstel: A village with a strikingly rich history" – Guyana Chronicle. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  5. ^ West Demerara Cricket Association – Guyana Cricket. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  6. ^ West Indies / Players / Rayon Griffith – ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  7. ^ (4 March 2012). "WDFA congratulates Den Amstel Football Club" – Guyana Chronicle. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
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