National Car Rental ΓÇö Anton Dragtenweg
An international-brand rental desk on Paramaribo's riverside embassy row, built for travelers who want to drive deeper into Suriname.
Why Go
Suriname's magic hides outside Paramaribo ΓÇö the wooden plantation houses of Commewijne, the rainforest edge at Brownsberg, the Nickerie rice fields ΓÇö and none of it is easy to reach on public buses. National's Anton Dragtenweg branch is the calm, English-speaking counter that hands you the keys and a real map, so you can go find it.
The Experience
The office sits at #49 on Anton Dragtenweg, the leafy riverfront road that runs north out of the historic center past the Courtyard by Marriott, embassies, and a string of the city's better restaurants. It's a noticeably quieter setting than the downtown chaos of Domineestraat ΓÇö you can actually pull in, park, and do paperwork without a tuk-tuk beeping at your bumper. Staff work in Dutch, English, and Sranan Tongo; the fleet leans on small hatchbacks and mid-size sedans well suited to the narrow colonial streets of Paramaribo and the two-lane highways out to Albina and Nieuw-Nickerie. Because it's a global Enterprise Holdings brand, the reservation, insurance, and loyalty side (Emerald Club) behaves the same as it would in Miami or Amsterdam ΓÇö a relief in a market where a lot of local rentals still run on WhatsApp and handshake deposits.
What to Try
Book the smallest vehicle you can live with ΓÇö Paramaribo's centrum was laid out in the 1600s and parking spots are compact. If you're crossing to Commewijne or heading east toward Albina, ask specifically about tire condition and the spare; the coastal East-West Link has stretches of aggressive potholes after the rainy season. For airport arrivals, compare this downtown desk with National's Johan Adolf Pengel (PBM) counter ΓÇö picking up in town the morning after you land often saves you a night of airport-surcharge pricing.
Insider Tip
Suriname requires a USD 500 credit-card hold and 24-hour advance notice for after-hours pickup or drop-off, so don't wing it. Also: driving is left-hand-traffic (a colonial holdover), fuel stations get sparse east of Meerzorg and west of Boskamp ΓÇö top up in Paramaribo before any day trip, and keep small SRD notes for the Jules Wijdenbosch bridge and roadside warungs.
The Practical Stuff
Address: Anton Drachtenweg 49, Paramaribo. Phone: +597 855-0890. Payment: Visa, Mastercard, or Amex in the main renter's name ΓÇö no debit or cash deposits. Bring your home driver's license plus passport; an IDP is recommended but not always demanded. Sister airport desk (KG04) at PBM handles late-night arrivals with prior arrangement.
Pair It With
- Flavors Restaurant (Courtyard by Marriott) — Three doors down at Dragtenweg 52-54 ΓÇö the easiest sit-down meal to bookend a rental pickup, and their breakfast buffet is a solid pre-road-trip fuel-up.
- Restaurant De Watertuin — Riverside garden dining a short walk up the same street; ideal for returning the car in the late afternoon and rewarding yourself with a cold Parbo by the water.
- Fort Zeelandia & the Historic Inner City — A ten-minute drive south puts you at the UNESCO-listed old town ΓÇö do this loop first to get comfortable with Paramaribo traffic before heading out of the city.
- Commewijne Plantation Loop — The single best reason to have a rental in Suriname: cross the Wijdenbosch bridge and spend a day between Frederiksdorp, Mari├½nburg, and Peperpot with no tour-bus schedule.