It lies on the Atlantic coast, approximately 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) west-north-west of the capital, Georgetown.

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.

[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".

Den Amstel's economy has historically been based around agriculture and horticulture, but now relies more on small businesses.

[5] Rayon Griffith, who played cricket for the Guyanese national team in the 2000s, was born in the village.