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Historic Sites in Curaçao – Be Your Own Guide

by Shelly | Apr 29, 2023 | Practical Tips

Historic Sites in Curaçao – Be Your Own Guide

Home 9 Practical Tips 9 Historic Sites in Curaçao – Be Your Own Guide
For most travelers, Curaçao may be the ideal destination for exploring beaches and enjoying an idyllic vacation in a tropical paradise. However, many are surprised to discover a destination that is equally rich in history and culture.


A Brief Overview of the History of Curaçao

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

In addition to this indigenous group, Sephardic Jews fleeing the Inquisition in Spain and Portugal also arrived in Curaçao in the 17th century. This Jewish community became the largest and oldest in the Western Hemisphere, and they founded the famous synagogue Mikve Israel-Emmanuel, which is the oldest in the Americas and is located in Punda.

In 1634, the Dutch West India Company seized the island and established the capital, Willemstad, next to the harbor. After winning the battle against the Portuguese for Fort 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 flats and plantations of Curaçao while colonial control of the island changed hands time and again: from the Netherlands to Great Britain to 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 period, the local dialect of Papiamento developed as a blend of Spanish, Dutch, African, Portuguese, and French words.

In 1815, the Treaty of Paris granted the Dutch West India Company ultimate control over Curaçao. Slavery was abolished in 1863, and the economy shifted to 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. For this reason, October 10 is celebrated as “10-10-10,” the country’s 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 Curaçao and would like to explore it on your own, here are my recommendations for the must-see sites:

Reina Emma Bridge

A stroll across the Queen Emma Floating Bridge is a must-do experience in Curaçao to soak up the Old World charm of Willemstad. Known as the “Old Lady Who Sways,” the bridge is supported by 16 wooden pontoons and two engines. Named in honor of Queen Emma of the Netherlands, this floating pedestrian bridge, built in 1888, connects the neighborhoods of Punda and Otrobanda. Every half hour, a siren signals that the bridge is about to open to allow boats to pass. The Queen Emma Bridge is one of the oldest wooden pontoon bridges in the world.

View on the map of Curaçao

WILLEMSTAD IN COLOR

The colorful Dutch colonial buildings that line the harbor of Willemstad are the symbol 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 still preserves a defensive system consisting of walls and bastions, which were connected to Fort Amsterdam. The other districts date back to the 18th century and feature a wider variety of architectural styles, such as arcades and characteristic Baroque elements, like curved roofs. Fun fact: The bright colors of Curaçao’s buildings date back to 1817, when whitewash finishes were banned because the glare from the tropical sun caused headaches.

View on the map of Curaçao

FORT AMSTERDAM

Fort Amsterdam, one of the first buildings constructed in Willemstad in 1635, served as the headquarters of the Dutch West India Company and was strategically located in the harbor of Santa Ana Bay to defend the island against Spanish troops. It is the most important of the island’s six forts, and the massive walls rising above the pier are an impressive sight. The walls are nine feet wide and feature 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 now the residence of the Governor of Curaçao and the seat of 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 Curaçaoan slaves after emancipation in 1863. The restored house museum is over 130 years old and was inhabited until the 1950s. A guide leads a 30-minute tour of the house and grounds, explaining 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 out. 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, situated on a hill with sweeping views of the valley, was one of the wealthiest plantations on Curaçao. It was also the site of the island’s most significant rebellion by enslaved Africans. In 1795, a man named Tula freed hundreds of people from neighboring plantations and led a month-long revolt against the Dutch slaveholders. Tula was captured and tortured to death, and this two-story museum chronicles the rebellion and the lives of the enslaved people. 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 island’s southern coast, there is a monument at the site where Tula was killed.

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JAN KOK COUNTRY HOUSE

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 flats, which are now home to flamingos. More than 100 enslaved workers toiled on the plantation, and the owner, Jan Kok, was notoriously cruel. Locals believe his evil spirit still haunts the main house, but renowned local artist Nena Sánchez has opened a gallery of cheerful artwork in the country house to ward off the bad vibes. This house offers an interesting glimpse into the island’s history and how it has evolved in modern times.

View on the map of Curaçao

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