Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles

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Historical sites of Curacao – Be your own guide

For most travelers, Curacao can be the ideal destination to visit beaches and enjoy an idyllic vacation in a tropical paradise. However, many are surprised to find a destination equally rich in history and culture.


Summary of the history of Curacao

The island of Curacao is located just 20 miles off the coast of Venezuela and its first inhabitants were the indigenous Arawaks. This group had migrated from South America approximately 6,000 years before even European explorers arrived. When Spanish settlers arrived on the island in 1499, they immediately enslaved the Arawaks. In 1515, many other Indians were transported by the Spanish to the island of Hispaniola (what is now Haiti and the Dominican Republic) to be used as slaves there as well.

In addition to this indigenous group, in the 17th century, Sephardic Jews fleeing the Inquisition in Spain and Portugal also arrived in Curacao. This Jewish population became the largest and oldest in the western hemisphere, and in Curacao they founded the famous synagogue Mikve Israel-Emmanuelwhich is the oldest synagogue in America and is located in Punda.

In 1634, the Dutch West India Company took over the island and established the capital of Willemstad next to the harbor. After winning the battle against the Portuguese for the fort of Elmina on the coast of Ghana (West Africa) in 1636, the Dutch became the world’s largest supplier of enslaved Africans. The captives worked in the salt mines and plantations of Curaçao while the colonial power of the island changed hands again and again: Holland, Great Britain and France throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. The influence of all these nations is reflected in the island’s cuisine, music and language. During this time, the local dialect of Papiamento developed with a mixture of Spanish, Dutch, African, Portuguese and French words.

In 1815, the Treaty of Paris granted the Dutch West India Company final control of Curaçao. Slavery was abolished in 1863 and the economy focused on oil refining with the opening of the Royal Dutch Shell Refinery on the former site of the slave market in 1918. Curaçao became an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 2010. That is why October 10 is celebrated on 10-10-10 as Independence Day.

Today, the island stands out for its surprisingly diverse culture, a reflection of its complex history. If you want to learn more about the history of Curacao and want to do it by yourself, here are my recommendations on the places you can’t miss:

Bridge
Queen Emma

A walk across the Queen Emma Floating Bridge is an essential experience in Curaçao to absorb the essence of Old World Willemstad. Known as the “Old Lady Swinging,” the bridge is supported by 16 wooden pontoons and two engines. Named in honor of Queen Emma of Holland, this 1888 floating pedestrian bridge connects the neighborhoods of Punda and Otrobanda. Every half hour, a siren announces that the bridge is about to open to allow ships to pass. The Queen Emma Bridge is one of the oldest wooden float bridges in the world.

View on the map of Curacao

WILLEMSTAD IN COLOR

The colorful Dutch colonial buildings that adorn the port of Willemstad are the emblem of Curaçao and are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which includes the historic districts of Punda, Pietermaai, Otrobanda and Scharloo. Punda, built in the 17th century, is the oldest part of the city and the only area that preserves a defense system formed by walls and bastions, which were connected to the Amsterdam Fort. The other districts date from the 18th century and have more varied architectural styles, such as galleries and characteristic baroque elements, such as curved roofs. Fun fact: the bright colors of Curaçao’s buildings date back to 1817, when white lime finishes were banned because the glare against the tropical sun caused headaches.

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FORT AMSTERDAM

Fort Amsterdam, one of the first buildings constructed in Willemstad in 1635, was the headquarters of the Dutch West India Company and was strategically located in the harbor of St. Anne’s Bay to defend the island from Spanish troops. It is the most important of the island’s six forts, and the massive walls towering over the pier are an impressive sight. The walls are nine feet wide and have four bastions. The golden-yellow structure also houses Curaçao’s oldest Protestant church, the Fort Church, built in 1769. Fort Amsterdam, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is today the residence of the Governor of Curaçao and the island’s Parliament.

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KAS DI PAL’I MAISHI

Sloping adobe walls and a thatched roof made of sorghum stalks are the hallmarks of the Kas di pal’i maishi, or sorghum stalk houses built by former enslaved Curaçaoans after emancipation in 1863. The restored house museum is over 130 years old and was inhabited until the 1950s. A guide gives a 30-minute tour of the house and grounds and explains daily life, which included a separate building for cooking and two small rooms for sleeping and family gatherings, as well as cactus fences to keep animals away. A small restaurant in the museum’s backyard serves local dishes such as Kabritu Stoba (beef stew) and piska ku funchi (fish and polenta).

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tula museum

Landhuis Kenepa, located on a hill with sweeping views of the valley, was one of the richest plantations on Curaçao. It was also the site of the island’s most important rebellion of enslaved Africans. In 1795, a man named Tula freed hundreds of people from neighboring farms and led a month-long revolt against Dutch slavers. Tula was captured and tortured to death, and this two-story museum chronicles the rebellion and the lives of the enslaved. Today, Tula is recognized as a national hero; the island commemorates his legacy on August 17, which was the first day of the uprising. On the south coast of the island there is a monument at the place where Tula was killed.

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LANDHUIS JAN KOK

Originally built in 1704 and rebuilt in 1840, Landhuis Jan Kok is one of the oldest plantation houses on Curaçao. This 852-acre plantation was once dedicated to salt production, and from the terrace you can still see the salt pans that are now home to flamingos. More than 100 enslaved laborers worked on the plantation, and the owner, Jan Kok, was very cruel. Locals believe his evil spirit still haunts the main house, but celebrated local artist Nena Sanchez has opened a gallery of cheerful artwork in the cottage to chase away the bad vibes. This house offers an interesting insight into the history of the island and how it has evolved in modern times.

View on the map of Curacao

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