Residence and a Barn on the Surimombo Plantation, Dirk Valkenburg, 1708
Drawings of the Palmeneribo, Waterland and Surimombo Plantations. With the viewing instructions that Valken burg noted on his drawings, Witsen was able to take a virtual walk around his plantations. There are hardly any people in the drawings, except possibly Valkenburg himself on the doorstep of the residence on Surimombo. The artist seems to have a particular eye for the buildings and for the sluice, which was important to regulate the water level. The sugar cane fields are also missing. For Witsen, Valkenburg was not only a link between the two worlds, but also a filter.