Curacao

Curaçao (Dutch Curaçao; Papiamento Kòrsou) officially Country of Curaçao (in Dutch: Land Curaçao), is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands with an approximate area of 444 km², located in the Caribbean Sea, in the northern region of South America.

It is located within the group of Leeward Islands —together with its neighboring islands of Aruba and Bonaire—, in the Lesser Antilles, in the southern Caribbean Sea, about 50 km from the northwestern coast of Venezuela. 2010 it was part of the Netherlands Antilles. Its capital and most populous town is Willemstad, located in the south of the island.

Even though it is a constituent state of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, it is not part of the European Union like other European sovereign territories. Despite this, all Curaçao citizens hold Dutch passports and therefore enjoy the same rights as citizens of the European Union.

Etymology

When Alonso de Ojeda was on the island in 1499, he named it Isla de los Gigantes after the tall people who lived there.

Américo Vespucio on the Island of Giants, during his second expedition to the New World (1499). Bry Theodor 1592 Recording

There are several versions of the origin of the name Curaçao. One of them states that when the Portuguese arrived on the island, they saw that the Spanish sailors suffering from scurvy were cured after disembarking, probably thanks to the large amount of fruit they ate. For this reason, they named the island Ilha da Curação (in Portuguese, "Island of Healing"). After the Dutch conquest the name finally remained as Curaçao. When writing the name in Spanish, the spelling ç must be replaced by an "s" or a "z", so that the forms "Curasao" and "Curaçao" have the same validity.

Another explanation is that it is derived from the Spanish or Portuguese word for "heart" (coração), referring to the island as a center of commerce. An "o" without emphasis in continental Portuguese it is generally pronounced [u], so the spelling would have changed to "curaçao". Spanish traders would have assumed the name Curaçao, followed by the Dutch.

Early European map sketches drew the island in the shape of a heart.

On Spanish maps, the island was first called Curaçote, Curasote, and Curasaure. Around 1550 the name appears as Quracao. By the time of the Dutch occupation in 1634, the spelling had ended on Curaçao, although variations continued to occur until the 18th century.

In Papiamento, the island is simply called Kòrsou. Officially the territory is called Pais Kòrsou in Papiamento, Land Curaçao in Dutch.

History

Pre-colonial period

Historical and archaeological records point to Caquetío tribes, belonging to the Arawak family, as the first settlers of the island. The first traces of human settlement in Curaçao are found in Rooi Rincón. It is an abri, a natural ledge in the rocks used by the pre-ceramic inhabitants. These first indigenous inhabitants were not familiar with pottery. The remains found consist of piles of shells, animal bone material and stone. The objects are made of stone and shell, which may have been used for various purposes. Rock drawings are also present here. The dating of these oldest remains of Curaçao is between 2900 and 2300 BC. C. Similar remains and human graves are known in San Michielsberg, between 2000 and 1600 BC. c.

Pottery remains from the ceramic period have been found in Knip and San Juan, among others. The dates are between 450 and 1500 after Christ. The material belongs to the dabajuroid culture. These people were called Caquetios. By their language, these ancient aborigines are classified as Arawak. The caquetíos lived in small settlements of up to 40 inhabitants approximately. The towns used to be located near inland bays, mainly on the south coast. The later Caquetíos lived from small-scale cultivation of, among other things, cassava, fishing, shellfish gathering, and small game. They also traded with Indians from other islands and from the mainland. Habitats have been found on Knip and Santa Barbara, among others.

Scientific attention to the first inhabitants of the Netherlands Antilles has been given since the beginning. In the 19th century, aficionado A.J. van Koolwijk conducted field studies. He also made an inventory of the island's petroglyphs. Since then, many have studied the first local inhabitants.

Spanish colonization

The discovery of the first Spanish colonizers occurred in 1499, when a Spanish expedition led by Alonso de Ojeda discovered the island during its first exploration trip to the north coast of South America. Next to him are Juan de la Cosa and Américo Vespucio, who calls it the Island of the Giants, apparently due to the tall stature of its indigenous inhabitants.

Map of Curacao in 1644

Spanish rule was maintained throughout the 16th century, a period during which its original inhabitants were transferred to the colony on the island of Hispaniola. It served as a bridge for the Spanish exploration and conquest of territories in the north of South America. The island was gradually abandoned, as the colonization of the continent progressed. Spain colonized Curaçao from 1499 for a period of approximately one century as an insular part of the province of Venezuela. Likewise, one of the oldest references to the name of the island is found in the file of the Main Public Registry of the city of Caracas (Venezuela). A document dated December 9, 1595 specifies that Francisco Montesinos, priest and vicar of "las Yslas de Curasao, Aruba and Bonaire" He conferred a power of attorney on Pedro Gutiérrez de Lugo, a resident of Caracas, so that he could collect from the Royal Funds of Felipe II the salary that corresponded to him for his office as priest and vicar of the islands.

At that time there were about 2,000 caquetíos living on the island. In 1515 almost all the Caquetíos were transported to Hispaniola as slaves. The Spanish settled on the island in 1527. However, the island was ruled from one of the Spanish-Venezuelan cities. The Spanish imported many exotic animals to Curacao. Horses, sheep, goats, pigs, and cattle were introduced to the island from Europe or one of the Spanish colonies. The Spanish also planted various exotic trees and plants.

Often it was a matter of trial and error. For this reason, they also learned to use the crops and agricultural methods of the Caquetíos. Parallel sources are known on other Caribbean islands. Not all imported exotics were equally successful. In general, the cattle performed well; the Spaniards let him roam freely through the kunuku and the savannahs. The cattle were herded by caquetíos and Spaniards. Sheep, goats, and cattle performed relatively well. According to historical sources, there were thousands of people on the island. Agriculture, on the other hand, was significantly worse. Because Curaçao's agricultural yields were disappointing, the salt pans were failing, and precious metals were unavailable, the Spanish dubbed the region the "useless island.

Catholic Church in Curacao

Over time, the number of Spaniards living on Curaçao decreased. Instead, the number of aboriginal inhabitants stabilized. Presumably, through natural growth, return and colonization, the population of the Caquetíos increased. In the last decades of the Spanish occupation, Curaçao was used as a large cattle farm. The Spaniards lived then in the surroundings of Santa Bárbara, Santa Ana and in the towns of the western part of the island. From what is known, the caquetíos lived scattered throughout the island.

Dutch colonization

The first records of Dutch settlements on the island date back to 1621, who needed to stock up on vital resources such as wood and salt. The island of Curaçao belonged to the province of Venezuela until July 28, 1634, when an expedition of the Dutch West India Company commanded by Admiral Johannes van Walbeeck, conquered its territory despite the obstinate defense made by López de Moría and Juan Matheos. The reduced Spanish colony and almost the entire population of the Arawak Indians, who refused to swear allegiance to the Netherlands, were expelled and took refuge on the coast of Venezuela.

In the middle of the XVII century, Dutch settlers and Sephardic Jews originally arrived on the island from the Iberian Peninsula, from where They were expelled first to Portugal, then to the Netherlands, and finally to northeast Brazil, where most of the Sephardim who settled in Curaçao came from. This origin of the Sephardic Jews is what explains the existence of Portuguese words, Spanish-Portuguese Sephardic surnames abundant in Jewish cemeteries and, above all, in the phonetics of Papiamento, quite similar to Portuguese, something inexplicable in the Caribbean, where there are no Portuguese colonies. With the new settlers the techniques for the cultivation of citrus fruits and the exploitation of salt pans are improved. In 1642, Peter Stuyvesant is appointed governor. With it, the island became an important trade center, and what would become one of the main slave markets for the European colonies in America, especially for Brazil, was established, a fact that gave a strong boost to economic development. from the colony.

The island was invaded by the English on two occasions, from 1800 to 1803 and from 1807 to 1816, both motivated by the Napoleonic wars in Europe. Almost simultaneously, the independence movements of the Hispanic colonies of the continent take place, with which it contributes by giving refuge to Anglophile patriots such as Simón Bolívar, and with the participation of at least two of its key figures, such as Manuel Piar, leader of the anti-patriotic revolts in the province of Guayana, and Luis Brión, who would become an admiral of Gran Colombia.

In 1829, the “Treaty of Peace, Friendship, Navigation and Commerce” was signed in London between Gran Colombia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Said treaty directly benefited Brazilian merchants and this, together with the abolition of the Inquisition in 1821, favorably conditioned the decision of the Jews of Curaçao to settle in Venezuela.

The Tula Museum recalls the sufferings of the population during the Slavery in Curacao

By the year 1863, slavery was abolished in the Dutch colonies, including the island of Curaçao, which led to a severe economic crisis. Due to this, a significant number of its inhabitants emigrate in search of employment, mainly to the island of Cuba, where they work in the sugar cane plantations. The kingdom of the Netherlands then promoted the bringing of labor from India and the Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia).

In 1903, the non-payment of a debt contracted by the Venezuelan State caused the sovereignty of this island, until then in the possession of Venezuela, to pass into the hands of one of the lending countries, namely the Netherlands. The latter, together with Germany and France, moved their war fleets in order to collect the economic debt. In this imposed negotiation, it was "agreed" that Venezuela was to hand over Curaçao, in addition to Aruba and Bonaire.

The discovery of oil fields in Venezuela, at the beginning of the 20th century, specifically, in the Lake Maracaibo basin, led Royal Dutch Shell to establish in 1918 the Willemstad refinery, one of the most important in the world for your time. This gives a new impetus to its economy, and to the arrival of a new wave of immigrants.

On June 8, 1929, anti-Gomecist Venezuelan revolutionaries stormed Fort Amsterdam and captured the Dutch governor Leonard Albert Fruytier. Subsequently, the insurgents take the American steamer "Maracaibo" and unsuccessfully invade Venezuela through La Vela de Coro.

In 1940, after the fall of the Netherlands to Nazi Germany, the British occupy Curaçao and the French occupy Aruba. Later, in 1942, they will be relieved by US troops who built military airports in Aruba ("Dakota") and Curaçao ("Hato"). The main object was the fight against the expected long-distance attacks by Nazi submarines and bombers, which corresponded to the North American orientation in the primary threat of a German invasion with the help of the German colonists in Ibero-America, in tone opposite to the vision british. The island's port, one of the main sources of fuel for Allied operations, is besieged by German submarines on several occasions.

Military exercises of the Netherlands in Curacao during the Second World War

The presence of powers other than the Netherlands causes alarm to the Venezuelan government. The proximity of these islands, traditional bases for launching incursions against Venezuelan territory, and the fact that they control the entrance to the Gulf of Venezuela more than justify this concern.

On May 30, 1963, popular uprisings took place on the island, motivated by the worldwide contraction of the oil industry and discontent resulting from social exclusion within its main industry. These uprisings reached their climax in 1969, when violent mobs burned a large number of shops in the main urban area of Willemstad, resulting in enormous economic losses.

Autonomy

By the end of the XX century and the beginning of the XXI, its voters are summoned to various referendums to decide the future political status -Administrative of the island. In the last of which its separation from the Netherlands Antilles is decided, and the search for an autonomous status for the island, within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Curaçao was separated from the Netherlands Antilles, causing its demise, as Saba, Saint Eustatius and Bonaire are now special municipalities of the Netherlands, while Sint Maarten will have the same status as Curaçao and Aruba as a constituent country of the Netherlands Kingdom of the Netherlands. Although the separation was scheduled for December 15, 2008, it was postponed to the following year.

On May 15, 2009, a referendum was held on the island to decide its status with respect to the Kingdom of the Netherlands; voters had to decide whether or not to approve the agreement negotiated in the first months of 2009 with the Netherlands for Curaçao to become an autonomous country within the Kingdom by reducing its debt, or to reject this agreement. It was eventually approved by a majority of the electorate, so the Netherlands Antilles was formally dissolved on October 10, 2010.

Politics and government

Curacao Parliament Building, located in the Punda district, Willemstad

Curaçao gained part of its self-government on January 1, 1954 as an island territory of the Netherlands Antilles. Despite this, the islanders did not fully participate in the political process until after the social movements in the late 1960s. In the 2000s the island's political status began to be debated again, as was the case for the other islands of the Netherlands Antilles, especially as regards the relationship with the Netherlands and between the islands of the Antilles.

In a referendum held on April 8, 2005, residents voted for independent status outside the Netherlands Antilles, similar to that of Aruba, rejecting options for full independence, becoming a direct part of the Netherlands, or maintain the status quo. In 2006, Emily de Jongh-Elhage, a Curaçao resident, was elected as the new Prime Minister of the Netherlands Antilles, and not just Curaçao.

On July 1, 2007, the island of Curaçao was to become an autonomous state associated with the Kingdom of the Netherlands. On November 28, 2006, the island council rejected a clarifying note on the process. On July 9, 2007, the island council of Curaçao again approved the agreement rejected in November 2006. On December 15, 2008, Curaçao was scheduled to become an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands (as Aruba since 1986 and the Netherlands Antilles until 2010). A referendum on this plan was held in Curacao on May 15, 2009, in which 52 percent of voters supported the plan for more autonomy.

Executive Branch

The Head of State is the current monarch of the Netherlands, King Willem-Alexander, who is represented on Curaçao by the Governor of Curaçao, elected for a six-year term, and who is currently Lucille George-Wout. The head of government is the Prime Minister of Curaçao, who forms, together with the Council of Ministers, the executive branch of the government. Bernard Whiteman, a member of the Sovereign People party, formed a government for the island along with three other parties.

Legislative branch

Curacao police.

On Wednesday, August 25, 2010, Curaçao voters elected the first Parliament of Curaçao (Papiamento: Parlamento di Kòrsou, Dutch: Staten van Curaçao), made up of 21 members who are elected every 4 years, and are in charge of drafting and approving laws, in addition to appointing the Prime Minister of Curaçao, with 11 seats required. The new government took office on October 10, 2010, at dissolution of the government of the Netherlands Antilles. The island's legislature approved the Constitution of Curaçao (Staats Regeling van Curaçao) on September 5, 2010.

Defense

The defense of the island is the responsibility of the Netherlands.

The island of Curacao is home to two Dutch naval bases, Parera and Suffisant. Arubaanse Militie officers complete their training on Curaçao.

On the west side of the Curaçao International Airport there are hangars for the two Bombardier Dash 8 maritime patrol aircraft and the two AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters of the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard. Until 2007 it was a naval airbase of the Royal Netherlands Navy, which operated the base for 55 years, with a wide variety of aircraft in recent years Fireflies, Avengers, Trackers, Neptunes, Fokker F-27s, P-3Cs Orions, Fokker F-60s and various helicopters. After the political decision to sell all the Orions, the air base was no longer necessary.

Naval Base of Parera

The west end of the airport is a USAF Forward Operating Location (FOL). The base houses the Air Warning and Control System (AWACS), transport aircraft, aerial refueling aircraft ("tankers") and reconnaissance aircraft. Until 1999, the USAF operated a small fleet of F-16 fighters out of the FOL. The PAE corporation runs the operations of the base at the FOL.

Recruitment

Suffisant Naval Base has facilities used for recruiting in the Caribbean. There has been no military conscription since 1997, but there has been a form of civilian conscription. This type of recruitment offers young disadvantaged West Indians the possibility of undergoing professional training.

Fight against drugs

The Dutch armed forces and the United States military collaborate closely to track and intercept international drug shipments in the Caribbean. As part of this "war on drugs," the United States has a military presence on Curaçao. This "Advanced Operations Site" (FOL) in Curaçao was created when the United States had to end its military presence in the Panama Canal. On March 3, 2000, the Kingdom of the Netherlands signed a treaty with the United States regarding the establishment of a Forward Operating Site at Curacao's international airport, Hato Airport. This Forward Operating Site does not have the status of an air force base and US flights from Curaçao are conducted without weapons.

Since then, the Hato airport has housed a permanent group of ten to fifteen Curaçaoan military, which is permanently supplemented by 300 military personnel present on a rotating basis. There are also five fighter jets, F-16s or F-15s, and three smaller reconnaissance planes stationed at the Hato airport. The activities of the United States Air Force in interdicting drug shipments at sea are supported by ships of the Royal Netherlands Navy.

Corruption and nepotism

Curaçao is a small island, where most of the influential people know each other, where many issues are dealt with informally, family ties are strong and therefore there are many conflicts of interest. The island has a long history of corruption, in which family members and friends are placed in their positions. Despite repeated calls for the introduction of a wage standard, this has been successful in Aruba, but not in Curaçao. The high level of income inequality is often cited as the cause of corruption, in addition to income inequality being a consequence of corruption: Curaçao thus finds itself in a vicious cycle of corruption and income inequality. Several Curacao politicians were sentenced to (prison) terms.

Civil Registry Building in Curacao

After 10-10-2010, Curaçao started again. The Netherlands took over the national debt of the former Netherlands Antilles, most of which came from the island territory of Curaçao. However, the national debt was already through the roof in two years, with many allegations of corruption.

State Reforms

In 1993, a first plebiscite was held on the constitutional future of Curaçao. Although the government advocated autonomy status, the population at the time overwhelmingly opted to continue and restructure the Netherlands Antilles.

After this result, the government resigned and in the new elections the then new PAR party, formed by supporters of the restructuring of the Antilles, won. The C'93 party, formed simultaneously by former FOL leader Stanley Brown, who advocated integration in the Netherlands, was unsuccessful.

Within a few years, it became clear that the restructuring did not solve Curaçao's main social and economic problems. In addition, the other smaller islands of the Netherlands Antilles are also increasingly experiencing the adverse effects of the financial problems that come with it. For this reason, debates about the continuity of the Netherlands Antilles arose again.

On April 8, 2005, a second referendum was held in which the people of Curaçao were able to express their opinion on the desired constitutional future for the island

By choosing the Autonomy option this time, the population has followed the wishes of the island's politicians. As in the 1993 referendum, almost all parties are in favor of autonomy as a country, with only the small and new Pueblo Soberano party advocating full independence. However, popular opinion varies widely, with strong support for option D, which has little or no representation in politics, especially noteworthy. Supporters of this option believe that a better and safer Curaçao requires integration with the Netherlands. They proclaim the motto "P'e Kòrsou ku nos meresé", for the Curaçao that we deserve.

Flags of the 4 countries forming the Kingdom since 2010: Aruba, the Netherlands, Curacao, and San Martín,

At a mini-roundtable in The Hague on October 11, 2006, it was agreed with the Netherlands that Curaçao would receive what is known as separate status, just like Aruba. This would make Curaçao an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. As part of this agreement, the Dutch government offered to restructure 1.18 billion (70%) of the total national debt of 1.7 billion. The agreements were summarized in a final declaration, which was subsequently the subject of a great debate in Curaçao. In the opinion of the opposition parties, of which the FOL was the most important, and of the smaller parties in the coalition, the agreements did not go far enough. The main parties of the coalition, the PAR and the PNP, defended the agreement. Ultimately, the agreement was rejected by the majority of the island council of Curaçao, after which the Executive Council fell apart and a new coalition, led by the FOL, emerged to fill the time until new elections on April 20, 2007.

For the economic and political future of Curaçao, the rejection of the agreements created a lot of uncertainty. Both in politics and among the population, supporters and detractors clashed. Opponents advocated renegotiation, but both the Balkenende III Cabinet and the new Balkenende IV came out against it, with almost unanimous support from the Lower House. Polls conducted in Curaçao show that, due to the current political turmoil, support for separation status dropped considerably, in favor of integration in the Netherlands (option D). This is probably partly due to the realization of this option: at the time of the April 2005 referendum, it was not yet known what this option might look like and was therefore not a realistic consideration for many. It was not until October 2006 that the Netherlands and the small islands of Bonaire, Saba and Saint Eustatius agreed that the Netherlands Municipalities Act would serve as the basis for this statute.

The island council elections were thus crucial and revolved entirely around the issue of final declaration. If the opponents got a majority, it would threaten an impasse. In the extreme case, with the departure of the other islands from the Netherlands Antilles, Curaçao would remain the only island in that entity, with a de facto autonomous status but also with the very high public debt of the Netherlands Antilles.

Central Bank of Curacao and San MartínBanko Sentral di Kòrsou i Sint Maarten), before 2010 called the Central Bank of the Netherlands Antilles (Banko Sentral di Antias Hulandes)

In the end, in the island council elections themselves, neither the proponents nor the opponents achieved a clear majority. However, the two parties in favor of the final declaration, the PAR and the PNP, managed to reach an agreement with the big loser, the FOL, to form a new coalition. It was agreed to vote again on the final declaration. On the night of July 6-7, 2007, after a long meeting, the Curaçao Island Council accepted the final declaration, with conditions: PAR, PNP, FOL and DP voted in favor with 12 of the 21 seats. On August 28, an agreement was signed with the Netherlands on the constitutional process, and the island council ratified it a day later with 13 votes from PAR, PNP, FOL, DP and FK. The intention was to obtain the autonomous status of "country within the Kingdom" on December 15, 2008.

In May 2008, it was definitively established in the Regiegroep of Sint Maarten, Curaçao and the Netherlands in Curaçao that the planned date of December 15 as the date of introduction of the new constitutional relations was not feasible. However, it is possible to have all the necessary legislation ready by that date, so that it can be submitted to the Dutch Parliament, the States of the Netherlands Antilles and the Island Councils of Curaçao and Saint Maarten. Therefore, a round table will be organized on December 15, 2008 to review the entire legislative package based on the criteria previously agreed in the Final Declaration.

Keeping the timetable in mind, the parties consulted the council to the Kingdom's State Council on how an acceleration of the autonomy statute could be achieved and how the legislative process could be shortened until January 2010, when new elections were held state.

The Council of State, in a so-called "informative council" to the Dutch and West Indian governments, he advised temporarily giving the Governor of the Netherlands Antilles, the Queen's representative, a central role with his own administrative powers and his own official organization. The governor can temporarily play the role of pivot thanks to an exceptional article of the Statute of the Kingdom, article 51. This article allows administrative intervention in case of mismanagement. This is not the case, by the way, according to the Council of State, but it is still possible because it is a special situation, the transition to a new constitutional model.

Following this advice in practice puts the Dutch and West Indian parliaments out of business. The Governor is only directly responsible to the State Council of Ministers. The Council of State says it is aware of this situation. But this is "a temporary situation" in which, over time, "normal accountability can take place again."

On May 15, 2009, the people of Curaçao went to the polls to express their views on the island's constitutional future in a referendum. Almost 120,000 people were able to indicate whether they were for or against the new constitutional relationship with the Netherlands. A 52% majority voted in favor of the proposed new constitutional relationship. This result made Curaçao an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Buildings in the historic part of Willemstad, the Capital of the Island

Equality and family relations

According to the constitution, the authorities must recognize and protect the family. Women and men must have the same legal status. Although the macho culture prevails among men, family relationships are characterized by matrifocality with women as the central axis. The number of households headed by women has increased. In the 1940s, Onsdagskvinnenne, the first women's organization, emerged as a subdivision of the Nashonal di Pueblo Christian Democratic Party. The Wednesday women fought for the right to vote for women, which was introduced in 1948.

The first elected representatives arrived in 1949. Lucina da Costa Gomez-Matheeuws became the first female minister in the Caribbean. In 1977 she became prime minister of the Netherlands Antilles. Subsequently, other Curaçaoan women also served as Prime Minister: Maria Liberia-Peters, Suzanne Camelia-Römer, Mirna Louisa-Godett and Emily de Jongh-Elhage. Until the early 2000s, women were underrepresented in working life. The participation of women in working life increased considerably, so that at one point there were more women than men in the workforce. Many women have precarious and low-income jobs. The proportion of women who have temporary or part-time work self-employment is higher than among men. More women than men graduate from high school and higher education institutions.

Foreign Relations

Curaçao is not part of the European Union, but as an overseas country and territory it is associated with the Union and receives development funds. The country participates in the Association of Overseas Countries and Territories of the European Union to promote common interests vis-à-vis the EU. As Dutch citizens, the people of Curaçao have the right to vote in elections to the European Parliament.

The Kingdom's joint foreign minister represents the four countries, as do the embassies and consulates. Curaçao can establish international contacts and negotiate on matters in which the country governs itself. The country can also enter into memorandums of understanding, but only the Kingdom of the Netherlands can enter into treaties and be a member of international intergovernmental organizations. International agreements can be concluded on behalf of each of the four countries or limited to them. The Kingdom may authorize a single country such as Curaçao to participate in regional organizations that allow the participation of non-sovereign states.

Curaçao is an associate member of the Association of Caribbean States, UNESCO, the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the Pan American Health Organization. The country is also a member of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), an organization that fights money laundering, and in 2011 became a member of Interpol.

Geography

Map of the island. Source: CIA.

The main city of Curacao is Willemstad.

Curaçao includes in the southeast the small uninhabited islet called Klein Curaçao (which in Dutch means "Little Curaçao"). Like most of the islands in the Caribbean Sea, Curaçao is located in the Intertropical Zone and is aligned from northwest to southeast, so the northern coasts are those of Windward, since they directly receive the effects of the trade winds, while the southern coasts are those of Sotavento, that is, those with their backs to the winds and, consequently, where the sea is perpetually calm.

Grote Knip Beach, Curacao.

The image of the erosive action on the north coast shows the effects of the Alisians that, although they are not very strong winds blow throughout the year, with greater strength in hours of the afternoon. This wave enters the calcareous platform of the north coast, where caves, natural bridges and small valleys formed by the collapse of the roofs in ancient elongated caves have been opened.

The city of Willemstad is the main port and capital of the island, as well as the capital of the Netherlands Antilles. Its historic area, city center and port, were declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1997. In this one is, among others, the Mikvé Israel-Emanuel synagogue, which is the oldest in the American continent in continuous operation (1651), the pontoon bridge and Fort Nassau, as well as Fort Amsterdam, the most important in Curaçao where the cannonball fired by the troops of Captain William Bligh is still embedded in its wall. Today the Governor's residence, various government offices and the United Protestant Church, which includes a museum, are located in the fort.

Curaçao is famous for the so-called Curaçao Liquor that is made from the rind of the island's oranges, and for celebrating one of the best-known Carnivals in the Caribbean.

Being this island an Island Territory of the Netherlands Antilles, it is part of the Overseas Countries and Territories of the European Union. It is home to the main naval facilities of the Royal Netherlands Navy in the Caribbean Sea, and provides logistical support to NATO members in the region. Additionally, a Forward Operations Base of the United States Southern Command has been in operation since 1999.

Curaçao does not have land borders, but it does have maritime borders that were established in 1978 by the border treaty between Venezuela and the Kingdom of the Netherlands that established the borders between that South American country and the then Netherlands Antilles (already dissolved).

Places

Curaçao was divided into five districts from 1863 to 1925, after which it was reduced to the two outer districts Bandabou and Bandariba and the district of the city of Willemstad. Over the years, the capital, Willemstad, encompasses the entire area surrounding the great natural harbour, the Schottegat. As a result, many previously isolated towns have grown together to form one large urbanized area. The city covers about a third of the entire island in the east. The most famous neighborhoods in Willemstad are:

• Punda, the historic center of the city with the Handelskade in the bay of Santa Ana
• Otherband, across the bay of Santa Ana
• Pietermaai, east of Punda
• Scharloo, north of Punda and Pietermaai, across the Waaigat
• Julianadorp, a suburb on the west side of the city, built around 1928 on behalf of Shell for his staff
• Emmastad, built for Shell in the '50s, after Julianadorp was full.
• Saliña is located next to Punda and has many shops and restaurants
• Brievent, a suburb in the north of the city.

Icterus icterus in Curacao

Flora

The flora of Curaçao differs from the typical vegetation of tropical islands. The Guajira-Barranquilla xeric scrub is the most notable, with various forms of cacti, thorny shrubs, evergreens, and the watapana tree, Latin name: Libidibia coriaria; called divi-divi in Aruba, characteristic of the ABC Islands and national symbol of Aruba. Brassavola nodosa is a drought tolerant Brassavola species, one of the few Orchis species present on the ABC Islands. Cacti include Melocactus and Opuntia species such as Opuntia stricta.

Wildlife

Curaçao is a semi-arid country and therefore is not home to the many tropical species of mammals, birds and lizards that are often associated with tropical forests. Dozens of species of hummingbirds, boobies, orioles and terns, herons, egrets and even larger flamingos make their home near the ponds or in coastal areas. The trupial, a black bird with a bright orange belly and white wing stripes, is common on the island and on Curaçao. The mockingbird, called Chuchubi in Papiamento, resembles the North American mockingbird, with a long greyish-white tail and a gray back. Closer to shore, look out for large-billed brown pelicans swooping like dead weight into the ocean in search of fish. Other seabirds are various types of gulls and great cormorants.

Eretmochelys sea turtle in Curacao

Of the mammals, aside from a few voles, little rabbits, and cave bats, the most notable animal on Curaçao is the white-tailed deer. This deer is related to the American white-tailed deer, or Virginia deer, which is found in places from North America to Central America and the Caribbean, and as far south as Bolivia. It can be a large deer, with some reaching 2 meters in length and 0.9 meters in height, and weighing up to 140 kg. It has a long tail with a white underside, and is the only type of deer on the island. It is a protected species (since 1926), and it is estimated that about 200 specimens live in Curaçao. They are found in many parts of the island, but mostly in Christoffel Park in the far west, where about 70% of the herd reside. Archaeologists believe that the deer was brought to Curaçao from South America by its original inhabitants, the Arawaks.

There are several species of iguanas, light green in color with bright aqua hues along their bellies and sides, basking here and there in the sun. Curaçao's iguanas are not only nice to look at, but unlike many islands that abandoned this practice years ago, they are still food for the table. Along the western end of the island's north shore are several inlets that have become home to breeding sea turtles. These turtles are protected by the Shete Boka park system, and can be visited accompanied by park rangers

Climate

Melocactus macracanthos in Curacao

Curaçao has a hot, semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSh) with a dry season from January to September and a wet season from October to December. The temperatures are relatively constant with small differences throughout the year. The trade winds cool during the day and the same trade winds warm at night. The coolest month is January, with an average temperature of 26.6 °C, and the warmest is September, with an average temperature of 29.1 °C. The average maximum temperature of the year is 31.4 °C (89 °F). The average minimum temperature of the year is 25.7 °C (78 °F). The sea water surrounding Curaçao averages 27 °C (81 °F) and is coldest (average 25.9 °C [78.6 °F]) between February and March and warmest (average 82.8 °F [28.2 °C]) between September and October.

Curaçao is outside the hurricane belt, but is still occasionally affected by hurricanes, such as Hazel in 1954, Anna in 1961, Felix in 2007 and Omar in 2008. Since the United States National Hurricane Center United States began tracking hurricanes, there has been no hurricane landfall on Curacao. However, Curaçao has been directly affected by pre-hurricane tropical storms on several occasions; the last to do so were Tomas in 2010, Cesar in 1996, Joan-Miriam in 1988, Cora and Greta in 1978, Edith and Irene in 1971, and Francelia in 1969. Tomas brushed against Curaçao as a tropical storm, dropping up to 265 mm of precipitation in the territory, almost half of the annual precipitation in a single day. This made Tomas one of the wettest events in the island's history, as well as one of the most devastating; its floods killed two people and caused more than NAƒ60 million ($28 million) in damage.

According to the Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research, average carbon dioxide emissions per person were 52 tons in 2018, the second highest in the world.

Meteo, Curaçao's Meteorological Department, provides up-to-date information on weather conditions through its website and mobile apps for iOS and Android.

Dolphins of the Curacao Aquarium.

Average Hato Airport climate parameters, Curacao
Month	Ene.	Feb.	Mar.	Open up.	May.	Jun.	Jul.	Ago.	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.	Annual
Temp. max. abs. (°C)	32.8	33.2	33	34.7	35.8	37.5	35	37.4	38.3	36	35.6	33.3	38.3
Average temperature (°C)	29.7	30	30.5	31.1	31.6	32	31.9	32.4	32.6	31.9	31.1	30.1	31.2
Average temperature (°C)	26.5	26.6	27.1	27.6	28.2	28.5	28.4	28.7	28.9	28.5	28	27.1	27.8
Temp. medium (°C)	24.3	24.4	24.8	25.5	26.3	26.4	26.1	26.3	26.5	26.2	25.6	24.8	25.6
Temp. min. abs. (°C)	20.3	20.6	21	22	21.6	22.6	22.4	21.3	21.17	21.9	22.2	21.1	20.3
Total precipitation (mm)	46.0	28.8	14.2	19.4	19.6	19.3	40.2	39.7	48.6	102.0	122.4	99.8	600
Precipitation days (≥ 1 mm)	8.6	5.8	2.8	2.4	2	3	6.3	4.6	4.6	8.1	10.9	11.5	70.6
Hours of sun	264.7	249.6	271.8	249.4	266.3	266.7	290.4	302.5	261.7	247.8	234.7	247.1	3152.7
Relative humidity (%)	78.5	78.2	77.3	78.2	77.9	77.5	78.1	77.8	78.1	79.6	80.6	79.5	78.4
Source: Curacao Meteorological Department 2012

Geology

The northern seafloor drops off abruptly to less than 60 m from the shore. This fall is known as the "blue rim".

Monte Christoffel, Curacao

Four main geological formations can be found on Curaçao: the lava formation, the Knip formation, the Mid-Curaçao formation, and the limestone formations.

Curaçao lies within the Caribbean Large Igneous Province (CLIP), and the main exposures of those extant lavas on the island consist of the Curaçao Lava Formation (CLF). The CLF consists of 5 km of pillow lavas with some basalt intrusions. The ages of these rocks include 89 Ma for lavas and 75 Ma for poikilitic sills, although some sequences may have erupted as late as 62-66 Ma, placing them in the Cretaceous. Its composition includes picite pads at the base, followed by tholeiitic lavas, then hyaloclastites and, finally, poikilitic sills. The CLF gradually rose until the Eocene-Miocene calcareous tops formed, before final exposure above sea level. On Christoffelberg and on the Zevenbergen (Seven Hills) part of the island, the Knip Formation is exposed. This formation includes deep-water deposits of calcareous sands and fine clays, overlain by siliceous chert containing radiolaria. Central Curaçao contains alluvial soils of eroded CLF and limestone.

Mountains

The highest point is Christoffelberg peak at 372 meters. Christoffelberg is surrounded by other peaks, including Seru Gracia at 297 m, Seru Palibandera (246 m) and Seru Palomba (222 m). Other mountains in the northwest of the island they are Tafelberg van San Hironimo (230 m) and hills such as Seru Male (184 m), Seru Cortape (178 m), Sint Antonieberg (172 m) and Seru Commandant (134 m).

Playa Porto Mari

Around Piscadera Bay (Piscaderabaai) west of Schottegat are "the three brothers": Seru Pretu (138 m), Veerisberg (132 m) and Jack Evertszberg (119 m).

In the southeast, towards the north coast of the island, is Ronde Klip at 131 meters. Table Mountain in Santa Barbara is located towards the south coast in the southeast of the island. It had a height of 196 to 197 meters before mining began. The open pit has changed the area considerably

Beaches

Curaçao has a large number of beaches. Most are on the south side of the island. The best known are:

• Piscadera Bay (Piscaderabaai)
• Vaersenbaai (Playa Kokomo)
• Baya Beach
• Blue Bay, Blue Bay
• Daaibooi
• Grote Knip, Kenepa Grandi
• Kleine Knip, Kenepa Chiki
  

  Boka Pistol (Boca Pistola), Shete Boka National Park, on the coast of Curacao.
• Playa Forti
• Playa Mambo
• Jeremi beach
• Beach Kas Abao
• Kalki beach
• Kanoa beach
• Playa Lagun
• Playa Porto Marie
• Playa Santa Cruz
• Playa Santa Bárbara
• Seaquarium beach
• Sint Michielsbaai, Boca Sami
• Westpunt

In total, Curaçao has 37 beaches.

Environmental Problems

Remains of the Venezuelan Ship Maria Bianca Guidesman that shipwreck in Little Curacao in the 1960s of the 20th century

The local refinery and oil processing has polluted the air, land, and sea. During World War II, excess asphalt production was dumped in a port area near the refinery. In addition to the "asphalt lake" that was created, other chemical waste has also been dumped. The area in question covers 80 hectares.

Development associated with the tourism industry, with new hotel and villa facilities, contributes to pressure on coastal areas. Untreated sewage discharge is also a problem. The species of porcupine Diadema antillarum is was affected in 1983 by a disease that may have spread to Curaçao due to shipping. As a result of the disease, the population in the entire Caribbean was reduced to 5% of the original.

Curaçao is vulnerable to climate change. This applies to both flora and fauna along the coast and built-up areas such as the capital Willemstad. Rising sea levels make Willemstad more prone to flooding. The country's first spatial plan it was adopted in 1994. It provides for continued urban growth in Willemstad, with some urban development in selected other locations on the island.

Economy

Situated around a natural bay in the south-eastern part of the island, the port of Willemstad is a fundamental part of its economy. One of the main maritime routes of the Panama Canal passes through it. It has a refinery, shipyards for Panamax-type ships, which include the largest dry dock in the region, as well as an important center for the transshipment of containers, and its Free Zone.

The main industry is the refining of oil imported from Venezuela. It is home to the Isla refinery, managed by the Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA with an installed capacity of 335,000 barrels per day, making it the third largest refinery in the Caribbean.

Service sectors, such as tourism and banking, are other pillars of its economy, since they employ the largest percentage of the population. Tourism has recovered after a crisis in the 1980s and 1990s, with more than 450,000 visitors for the year 2014.

Offshore banking continues to be an important sector within its economy, despite having experienced a significant contraction, due in part to changes in the island's fiscal policy.

Tourism

Beach on the small island of CuracaoKlein Curaçao)

Although tourism plays an important role in Curaçao's economy, it is less reliant on tourism than other Caribbean countries. Most of the tourists come from the Netherlands, the eastern United States, Venezuela, and other parts of South America and Caribbean islands. It is the Caribbean leader in cruise tourism growth, with 610,186 cruise passengers in 2013, an increase of 41.4% over the previous year. Hato International Airport handled 1,772,501 passengers in 2013 and has recently announced capital investments totaling US$48 million to transform the airport into a regional center by 2018.

The insular shelf of the island has a steep drop known as the "Blue Rim," which is often visited by scuba diving tourists. The south coast has calm waters and many small beaches, such as Jan Thiel and Cas Abou. Curacao's coastline features numerous bays and inlets that serve as popular mooring spots for boats.

In June 2017, the island was named the Best Cruise Destination in the Southern Caribbean by Cruise Critic, a leading online forum. The Destination Awards winners were selected based on feedback from cruise ship passengers who rated downtown Willemstad as "amazing" and the food and shopping as "excellent". The historic center of Willemstad is a World Heritage Site. Another draw is the city's colorful street art. At a nearby tourist center there is a sculpture garden with works by well-known Curaçaoan artists.

Some of the coral reefs are affected by tourism. On Porto Marie beach, artificial coral reefs are being experimented with to improve their condition[citation needed] Hundreds of artificial coral blocks that have been placed are now home to a wide variety of tropical fish. It is now being investigated whether runoff from hotel sewers is a partial cause of the coral reef's death.

Financial services

The history of financial services in Curaçao dates back to World War I. Prior to this period, the financial arms of local business houses functioned as informal lenders to the community. However, at the beginning of the 20th century, Curaçao became industrialized and several commercial houses created private commercial banks. As the economy grew, these banks began to take on additional roles, eventually becoming full-fledged financial institutions.

"Banco de Venezuela", in Curacao.

The Caribbean Netherlands Stock Exchange is located in the capital, Willemstad, as are the Central Bank of Curaçao and Saint Martin; the latter dates from 1828. It is the oldest central bank in the Western Hemisphere. The island's legal system supports various corporate structures and is a business haven. Although Curaçao is considered a tax haven, it adheres to the EU Code of Conduct against harmful tax practices. It has the status of qualified intermediary of the United States Internal Revenue Service. It is a jurisdiction accepted by the OECD and the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering. The country enforces regulations against money laundering and terrorist financing.

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Law

On June 30, 2014, it was considered that Curaçao should be included in the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the United States of America regarding the "Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act" of the United States of America. The Tax Information Exchange Agreement signed in Washington, D.C. on April 17, 2002 between the United States and the Kingdom of the Netherlands includes Curaçao, and was updated with respect to Curaçao in 2014, entering into force in 2016.

Trade

Curaçao trades primarily with the United States, Venezuela, and the European Union. It has an Association Agreement with the European Union that allows companies doing business in and through Curaçao to export products to European markets, free of import duties and quotas. It also participates in the US Caribbean Basin Initiative, which allows it preferential access to the US market.

Oil refinery

Refíneria Isla en Curacao

As far back as the 1920s, the Dutch company Royal Dutch Shell built a port facility with an attached refinery in the Schottegat district, initially to supply petroleum products to the Caribbean islands. The necessary crude oil came from Venezuelan deposits. In its heyday, the Willemstad plant contributed up to 9% of the island's gross domestic product. During World War II, the importance of the refinery grew considerably. However, after the war, its importance decreased again and the technical facilities deteriorated. In the 1980s, Shell sold the plant to the island government for a token guilder, which thus also inherited the technical and ecological problems and inherited charges. The island government leased the refinery to the state oil company Venezuelan company Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), which paid $20 million a year in rent.

The refinery's nominal capacity was 350,000 barrels per day, although it has not been used at full capacity since 2010. It was 64,000 barrels per day in 2010 and 178,000 barrels per day in 2015. In 2018, however, the United States imposed sanctions to the state oil company Venezolana. In 2019, when the lease contract with PDVSA expired, there were only 4,000 barrels per day with which it operated. No production was recorded for 2020. In 2019, the lease with Petróleos de Venezuela expired and was not renewed because, being a Venezuelan state-owned company, it had to withdraw from operations as a result of US sanctions. The refinery was acquired by a state-owned company from Curaçao, which, however, only wanted to take over some of the employees. As a consequence, operations were partially interrupted due to lack of supply from Venezuela. Crude oil refined in Curaçao was mainly exported to the United States and several South American countries.

Infrastructure

Queen Emma Bridge while partially open, and Queen Juliana Bridge in Willemstad, Curacao

Energy

The state company Aqualectra is responsible for supplying electricity as well as supplying drinking water. Electricity is produced by generators, supplemented by wind power plants. In 2012, the total installed capacity was 180 MW, of which Aqualectra produced 130 MW, 20 MW was oil refinery surplus, and 30 MW came from wind power. In 2015, 87% of electricity was produced with imported fossil fuels, while the remaining 13% came from wind power. The first wind power plant was installed in 1993. The island has good resources for renewable energy. The installation of new wind turbines increased the share of wind power to 30% of electricity consumption in 2017. Solar power has been installed on a smaller scale.

Transportation

Curaçao International Airport (CUR) connects Curaçao with Europe, North and South America and the Caribbean. The airport was formerly known as Hato International Airport, after the Hato plantation on whose grounds the airport was established. Due to the recently created oil refinery and the increasing interest of the Dutch in visiting the Caribbean possessions, in the 1920s the desire for an airport arose. It was eventually built by the West Indies government and put into operation in 1934.

During World War II, the airport became one of the busiest in the entire Caribbean, as it was also used by the US Air Force for patrol flights against enemy submarines.

With the development of air tourism, the need for a more efficient international airport grew from 1960. Thus, in the 1960s, a master plan was drawn up for an international airport whose runway was already dimensioned for the new Boeing jumbo jets 747. Since 1977, the new airport has operated under the name of Curaçao International Airport. Since the 2006 expansion, the airport can accommodate up to 1.6 million passengers.

Netherlands Coast Guard aircraft in the Caribbean, International Airport of Curacao

Since the airport's reopening after the corona-related closure in 2020, there are daily direct connections to Amsterdam, Miami, New York, Sint Maarten, various Caribbean islands and parts of Venezuela, and Bogotá in Colombia. KLM flies daily from Amsterdam to Curaçao, among other destinations, with a Boeing 777-200 (as of November 2021). TUI Airlines Nederland, part of TUI Airlines, also offers flights from Amsterdam to Curaçao several times a week with a Boeing 787 (as of March 2015). From November 2011 to the end of September 2017, Air Berlin flew weekly non-stop from Düsseldorf to Curaçao with an Airbus A330-200 aircraft. This connection was the only direct flight from Germany to Curaçao. Since November 2018, Condor offers a direct flight from Frankfurt to Curaçao once a week. As of December 2021, there are no direct flights from Germany.

The Queen Emma Bridge, a 168-meter-long pontoon bridge, connects pedestrians between the districts of Punda and Otrobanda. This bridge swings open to allow boats to pass to and from the harbour. The bridge originally opened in 1888 and the current bridge was installed in 1939. It is better known and is often referred to by locals as 'our swinging old lady'.

The Queen Juliana Bridge connects mobile traffic between the same two districts. With a height of 56 meters above sea level, it is one of the highest bridges in the Caribbean.

Demographics

According to data from the local Central Statistics Office, the population data is as follows:

Plaza Almirante Luis Brion, Willemstad, Curacao.

Ethnicities

The people of the island of Curaçao have very diverse origins. Most of them are descendants of West African and Afro-Caribbean peoples, coming from neighboring islands in the Caribbean Sea. They are followed in importance by descendants or original citizens of the Netherlands. Then there are the main foreign colonies established on the island from Venezuela, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Suriname, Jamaica, Portugal, India, China, Guyana, Indonesia, among others.

Languages

The official languages are Dutch, the mother tongue of around 10% of the population, and Papiamento, the mother tongue of around 75% of the population (mix of Spanish and Afro-Portuguese). Papiamento belongs to the family of creoles (creole) languages of the Caribbean Sea, and is characterized by being a mixture of European and African languages. Other languages in general use are Spanish and English. Most of the population of Curaçao is able to converse in at least four languages, namely Papiamento, Dutch, Spanish and English.

The most widely spoken language is Papiamento, a creole with Spanish, African, Portuguese and Dutch influences, which is spoken at all levels of society. Papiamento was introduced as a primary language of instruction in 1993, making Curaçao one of the few places in the Caribbean where a creole language is used as a means of acquiring basic literacy. Likewise, Spanish and English have a long historical presence in Curaçao. On the one hand, Spanish became an important language in the 18th century due to close economic ties with Spanish territories. in what are now Venezuela and Colombia, and several Venezuelan television channels are received. There are also important communities of Venezuelans, Colombians and Dominicans, among other Spanish-speaking nationalities. On the other hand, the use of English dates back to the early 19th century, when the British took over Curaçao, Aruba and Bonaire. When Dutch rule resumed in 1815, officials already noted widespread use of the language, later bolstered by the importance of American tourism.

According to the 2011 census, Papiamento is the first language of 75.6% of the population. Dutch is the first language for 9.4%, Spanish for 8% and English for 4.5%. However, these figures divide the population according to the first language and do not account for the high rate of multilingualism of the population of Curaçao.

Basilica of Santa Ana, Willemstad

Religion

Christianity, introduced by European colonizers during the 16th century, is the predominant religion on the island. According to 2011 estimates, Catholics are the largest Christian denomination, representing around 72.8% of the population. They are followed by: the Pentecostal Church (6.6%), various Protestant groups (3.2%), the Adventist Church (3%), Jehovah's Witnesses (2%) and evangelical denominations (1.9%). For their part, Jehovah's Witnesses are (2%), 3.8% of the population belongs to another creed, and another 6% claimed to have no religion.

The Diocese of Willemstad covers the entire territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean, which includes Aruba, Curaçao, Saint Martin, and the islands of Bonaire, Saint Eustatius, and Saba. The diocese is also a member of the Episcopal Conference of the Antilles. Though small, the Curaçao Jewish community has had a significant impact on the island's history. Curaçao has the oldest active Jewish congregation in the Americas, dating back to 1651. The Curaçao Synagogue is the oldest in continuous use in the Americas, having been completed in 1732 on the site of an earlier synagogue. In addition, there are Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jewish communities. In the year 2000, about 300 Jewish people lived on the island

University of Curacao Dr. Moses Da Costa Gómez

Education

Education is based on the Dutch education system. Until recently, all instruction was provided in the Dutch language only. Bilingual primary education in Papiamento (local and main language) and Dutch is now also available. Private and parochial schools are also present on the island. The Curaçao International School and the Curaçao American Preparatory School or "CAPS" (Curaçao American Preparatory School) offer education for English-speaking immigrants.

Higher education in Curaçao, as in the rest of the Netherlands Antilles, is good by regional standards. The main institute of higher education is the University of Curaçao (University of Curaçao Dr. Moises Frumencio da Costa Gómez or UoC), there is also the Caribbean International University (CIU).

Culture

The culture of Curaçao is the product of the combination of the different ethnic groups that inhabit the island and that formed a unique heritage. The Arawaks, Dutch, Spanish, West Indians, Venezuelans, and Africans left their mark on the art, gastronomy, festivals, customs, and traditions of modern Curaçao residents.

National Archive of CuracaoNationaal Archief Curaçao)

Literature

Despite the island's relatively small population, Curaçao's diversity of languages and cultural influences has spawned a remarkable literary tradition, primarily in Dutch, Papiamento, and Spanish. The oral traditions of the Arawak indigenous peoples have been lost. West African slaves brought Anansi tales with them, thus forming the basis of Papiamento literature. The first work published in Papiamento was a poem by Joseph Sickman Corsen entitled Atardi, published in the newspaper La Cruz in 1905. Narrative techniques and metaphors characterized by magical realism tend to predominate in all Curaçao literature. Curaçaoan novelists and poets have contributed to Caribbean and Dutch literature. The best known are Cola Debrot, Frank Martinus Arion, Pierre Lauffer, Elis Juliana, Guillermo Rosario, Boeli van Leeuwen and Tip Marugg.

Authors who wrote in Dutch found it easier to find a professional publisher than authors who wrote in Papiamento. The first literature in Papiamento appeared at the turn of the century XX. However, the ban on Papiamento in schools in 1936 encouraged writers to write in Dutch. The attitude towards Papiamento changed further in the 1950s and the language was accepted as a literary language.

Since there were few publishers, many authors printed their texts on their own initiative. Back then it was mainly shorter collections of poetry and drama.

Several authors are multilingual. Frank Martinus Arion wrote Dutch fiction and Papiamento poetry. Key Papiamento authors include Luis H. Daal, Pierre Lauffer, and Elis Juliana. Other Dutch-language writers include Cola Debrot, Boeli van Leeuwen and Tip Marugg.

Gastronomy

Since much of the food products are imported, Curacao cuisine contains a wide variety of European and American ingredients. Some of the best-known dishes of Curacao cuisine include: Erwtensoep, a soup of peas, pork, ham and sausage; nasi goreng, beans cooked with pieces of meat and chicken; bami, long noodles accompanied by vegetables and meat; saté, meat skewers with peanut sauce, also called peanuts in some countries; and the rijsttafel, rice to accompany various dishes. The most popular drink is Curaçao liqueur.

El Licor Curaçao

The local food is called Krioyo (pronounced the same as Creole) and features a mix of flavors and techniques that compare to Caribbean and Latin American cuisine. The usual dishes in Curaçao are also found in Aruba and Bonaire. The most popular dishes are: stobá (a stew made with various ingredients, such as papaya, beef or goat meat), Guiambo (okra and seafood soup), kadushi (cactus soup), sopi mondongo (tripe soup similar to the one made in Venezuela), funchi (corn paste similar to fufu, ugali and polenta) and lots of fish and other shellfish. The ubiquitous garnish is fried plantain. Local rolls are made according to a Portuguese recipe. All over the island there are snèks serving local dishes and alcoholic beverages in a similar way to English public houses.

The ubiquitous breakfast dish is pastechi: fried pasta with fillings of cheese, tuna, ham or minced meat. In festive times, special dishes are consumed, such as hallaca and pekelé, made with salted cod. A variety of kos dushi are served at weddings and other special occasions: kokada (coconut sweets), ko'i lechi (condensed milk and sugar sweet) and tentalaria (peanut sweets). Curaçao liqueur was developed here, when a local experimented with the rinds of the local citrus known as laraha. Surinamese, Chinese, Indonesian, Indian and Dutch culinary influences also abound. There are several Chinese restaurants on the island that serve mostly Indonesian dishes, such as satay, nasi goreng, and lumpia (which are Indonesian names for the dishes). Dutch specialties such as croquettes and oliebollen are widely served in homes and restaurants

Curaçao liqueur, named after the island, is made from the peels of bitter oranges (Pomeranzen) that grow on the island. The shells are macerated and soaked in alcohol, which releases the aroma and color. The liquor is available in transparent form or in the colors red, orange, green and blue. In addition to straight liquor, the liquor factory also sells blends with coffee, chocolate, rum/raisins, and tamarind. The liquor produced on the island cannot be compared to what is often called "Blue Curaçao" in Europe.

Seafood, Dutch and Creole specialties are served. La Parilla de Marisco is a varied seafood dish. Stoba dishes come from Creole influences, that is, dishes with stewed meat. For European palates, suppa iguana, a clear soup with iguana meat, requires a bit of adaptation.

Museums

Entrance to the Museum of Curacao in Willemstad.

The Museum of Curaçao is the oldest in the country. It has art collections as well as furniture, colonial objects and ethnographic objects. The Kurá Hulanda Museum is located in the Kurá Hulanda Hotel in Otrobanda and has exhibits on the slave trade, West African history, pre-Columbian gold artifacts, Mesopotamian artifacts, and Antillean art. The Curaçao National Carnival Museum opened its doors in 2012.

Kas di Pal'i Maishi is a slave housing complex that, since 1991, has paid attention to the living conditions of the island's Afro-descendant population. In 2007, a museum named after the leader of the 1795 slave rebellion was opened. The Tula Museum is housed in the plantation manor house where the rebellion began and documents the slave community. The 2010 Savonet museum is also located on a plantation and is dedicated to the lives of all the groups that have lived on the site, from the earliest inhabitants to the present day.

The Jewish Museum opened in 1970 and is housed in two buildings adjacent to the Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue. The 1991 Fortkerk Museum is housed in part of the 1769 church in Fort Amsterdam. It concentrates on the history of Dutch Protestants on the island.

The Willemstad Maritime Museum is housed in a building from 1729 and opened in 1998. There is also a postal museum, a numismatic museum and a telecommunications museum. The Octagon Museum is dedicated to the relationship between the Venezuelan liberator Simón Bolívar and Curaçao, where Bolívar took refuge on the island in 1812.

The National Foundation for Archaeological and Anthropological Memory Management (NAAM) is a foundation for the preservation of the cultural history of Curaçao and the other islands that formerly belonged to the Netherlands Antilles. The NAAM has a collection of more than 20,000 archaeological and anthropological objects.

Heritage

Fort Piscadera in Curacao.

The Old Town of Willemstad was included in 1997 on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The World Heritage site consists of four districts in old Willemstad, Fort Amsterdam from 1634, the Waterfort fortifications, originally designed in 1634, and Riffort, built in the 1820s.

The reason is that the Old Town is an example of a particularly well-preserved Dutch commercial and administrative city from colonial times. The historic city center consists of four districts. Punda, Scharloo and Pietermaai are on the east side of the strait, while Otrobanda is on the west side. The older buildings are inspired by 18th century Dutch architecture XVII, characterized by narrow houses with high facades facing the street. Around half of the buildings in the old quarters were listed in the 1990s.

In 2011, four plantations in western Curaçao were proposed as World Heritage Sites as examples of slave-society era structures. Plantations include stately buildings, slave quarters, outbuildings, archaeological sites, and memorials.

Music and dance

The musical traditions of the island have reflected the divided society. While the majority of African descent have expressed themselves through African-influenced forms of music and dance, such as the tambú, the wealthy upper class identifies with European music and dance.

The African-inspired music and dance form tambú emerged during slavery and was originally linked to syncretic religious practice. The authorities fought the tambú, which was also condemned by the Catholic Church. After 1969, the restrictions were lifted.

Ka’i Organ of Curacao

The waltz, polka, and mazurka were popular among diverse Protestant groups, Jews, and wealthy Catholics in the 19th century. Quadrilje was also popular among Sephardic Jews. A separate Curaçaoan waltz developed, with a distinctive rhythm. Composer Jan Gerard Palm, who is called the father of Curaçaoan classical music, developed Antillean music in the 19th century. Grandsons Rudolph Palm, Jacobo Palm, and John Palm were also composers, as were several other members of the Palm family.

During the interwar oil boom, popular music was influenced by other Caribbean countries, especially Cuba, and styles such as guaracha, danzón, habanera, and bolero. For this music, instruments such as the three-string guitar (arbol), the double drum (bongo) and the marimbula, tabla or box with metal reeds, were used.

In the 1930s, singing with Papiamento text and the African-influenced form of tomb music experienced a boom. The influence of Latin American rhythms created the calypso-tumba. Boy Dap and Rudy Plaate were important artists in the 1950s who sang in Papiamento.

The influence of Cuban music lasted until the 1950s. Musical ensembles, called conjuntos, with rhythm instruments, two trumpets, bass, and piano, were expanded with more trumpets, trombone, flute, or saxophone. In the 1960s, beat music gained influence, and the electric guitar and organ replaced the trumpets. Smaller orchestras, called combos, also saw the light of day. The music was largely based on Caribbean or North American models.

The expansion of the tourism industry created new opportunities for orchestras, but initially people of African descent from Curaçao were discriminated against because of the color of their skin, and hotels used musicians from Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and Panama instead. In reaction to discrimination, Asosiashon di Músiko was founded in 1968. The events of 1969 also had consequences for musical life. Artists like Rignald Recordino made a name for themselves, beginning in 1975 with the band Double RR Super. At carnival time, tumba was played. In 1971, an annual tumba festival began.

In the 1990s, Gilbert Doran combined the styles of merengue, soca, and cadence into a new style he called kombiná rhythm. The style remained popular well after the turn of the millennium and spread to Bonaire and Aruba, as well as the expatriate communities of the Netherlands.

Parties

Media

Curaçao has various means of communication in several of the languages spoken on the island:

• 

  Curacao Radio Station Building
  Newspapers:
  • The Press (in Papiamento).
  • Curaçao Chronicle (in English).
  • Extra (in Papiamento).
  • Curaçao Magazine (in Papiamento).
  • Last news (in Papiamento).
  • Vigilante (in Papiamento).
  • Bala (in Papiamento).
  • Bolletin (in Papiamento).
  • Caraïbische uitgave van de De Telegraaf (in Dutch).
  • Antilliaans Dagblad (in Dutch).
  • Amigoe (in Dutch).
  • Curacao News (in Spanish).
  • The Curacao Newspaper (in Spanish).
  • The printed weekly The Caribbean compass (in Spanish with news in Papiamento and a section for the Portuguese community).

• Television:
  • TeleCuraçao. - State
  • BVN (in Dutch).
  • TV11 (in Papiamento).
  • Kanal 24 - Dutch.

• Radio:
  • Dolfijn FM (in Dutch).
  • Paradise FM (in Dutch).
  • One FM (in Dutch).
  • Radio Hoyer I (in Papiamento).
  • Radio Hoyer II (in Dutch).
  • Radio Nederland (in Dutch).
  • Kórsou FM (in Papiamento).
  • Top FM (in Papiamento).
  • Radio Krioyo (in Papiamento).
  • My 95.7 FM (in Papiamento).
  • Radio Mas 99 (in Papiamento).
  • Radio New Song (in Papiamento).
  • Hit 100.3 (in Papiamento).
  • Radio Direct (in Papiamento).
  • Radio Direct Live (in Papiamento).
  • Radio Delta (in Papiamento).
  • 88 Rock Korsou (in Papiamento).
  • Easy 97.9 FM (English).
  • Z86 AM (in Papiamento).
  • Simia FM (in Papiamento).
  • Class FM Curacao 95.1 FM (English).
  • Radio 88.9 FM (in Papiamento).
  • Rumbera Network 107.9 (in Spanish).

Architecture

The island has diverse architectural styles that reflect the influence of the various rulers of the Region, including Spain, the Netherlands with more modern elements under Western influence mainly from the United States and other European countries. This ranges from colonial buildings, ruins to modern infrastructure.

Fuerte Beekenburg, Caracas Bay, Curacao

Strongs

When the Dutch arrived in 1634, they built forts at key points on the island to protect them from foreign powers, corsairs and pirates. Six of the best preserved forts can still be seen today:

• Strong Amsterdam
• Fort Beekenburg
• Strong Nassau
• Waterfort
• Riffort (1828)
• Fuerte de la Bahía de Piscadera (constructed between 1701 and 1704)

In 1957 the Hotel Van der Valk Plaza Curaçao was built on the Waterfort.

The Riffort contains restaurants and shops. It is located on the opposite side of the Waterfort, facing the entrance to the port in Otrobanda. In 2009, the Renaissance Curaçao Resort and Casino opened its doors next to the Riffort.

In Punda it was built in the same way as in the Dutch cities surrounded by walls, with narrow houses with high facades facing the street. Until the end of the century XIX, the houses were built with a triangular pediment where the year of construction was placed. The oldest house preserved with such a year of construction is from 1693. On the ground floor there were commercial premises, and then above this warehouse or residential floors. In the 18th century corridors were added to lower the interior temperature. The houses were originally whitewashed, but in 1817 the tradition began to paint them in different colors, often red, blue, yellow, and various shades of green.

Building of the Industrial Bank of Venezuela in Curacao

In the 18th century, a building style called Curacao Baroque developed with the use of arch forms. The Sephardic Synagogue and the Penha Building are examples of this style, which was also used in some of the plantation manor houses. By the end of the century XVIII, there were over 100 such cottages, located on a hill or other prominent spot on the plantation.

Across the country, Catholic churches were built in the 19th century in combination with a simple school and around these towns grew as Barber, Sint Willibrordus, Santa Maria, Santa Rosa, Montagne and Westpunt.

On plantations there used to be simple houses for slaves. These are called kas di yerba or kunuku and were influenced by African building traditions, such as kas krioyo, the houses for craftsmen and workers on the outskirts of Willemstad.

Beyond the 19th century, the style of construction became simpler, often with a simple pediment with a ornament on the upper part. Neoclassical architecture made itself felt in the second half of the XIX century.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Dutch architects brought the Art Deco style to the island. It was built as in Miami Beach, with the Cinelandia buildings (1941) and the West-End cinema.

The boom that accompanied the oil refinery motivated the construction of new residential areas for office workers and workers. In the 1930s, Dutch-style apartment buildings were built at Negropont near the refinery, and Emmastad and Groot Kwartier received a total of 450 new residential buildings. After World War II, 160 air-conditioned civil servants' villas were built in Julianadorp modeled after Dutch East Indies bungalows, while more affordable worker housing was built in Surinamendorp and Suffisantdorp.

Modernist architecture also found its way to Willemstad, such as the tollbooth erected in 1935, school buildings (such as the Kolegio Alejandro Paula) and Brazilian-inspired residential buildings designed by Ben Smit. Dutch architect Gerrit Rietveld's only tropical work can be found on the island in the form of Mgr. PI. Verriet Institute for Handicapped Children, erected in 1949.

After 1969, Yu di Kòrsou (Children of Curaçao), a new generation of Curaçao-born architects educated abroad, took over. Tom Janga designed the campus of the University of the Netherlands Antilles. The company PLAN D2 was behind the Seru Fortuna development. Willy Juliana has designed villas in search of a more local style. The Janga public library, the Kura Hulanda Hotel and a street of residential buildings in Otrabanda are examples of projects that in size, expression and color seek to unite new architecture with the traditional construction style.

The architect Carel Weeber returned to the island in 2005 after working in the Netherlands since 1955.

Sports

Stadium Johnny Vrutaal (Otrobanda, Willemstad).

As in the vast majority of islands in the Caribbean, one of the most popular sports on the island is baseball, even having its own team for many years disputing the Baseball World Cup under the name of the Netherlands Antilles together with Aruba, until the Kingdom of the Netherlands dissolved this territory in 2010; however, since 2006 the players from Curaçao, together with those from Aruba, had already been participating with the Netherlands national team in the World Baseball Classic and in the latest version of the World Cup, where they were champions.

The territory has had its own soccer team since 2011, taking over the heritage of the old Netherlands Antilles team. The Ergilio Hato Stadium, also known in Papiamento as Centro Deportivo Korsou, CDK, located in Willemstad, is the largest sports facility in the country, with a capacity for 15,000 spectators; it was named after a prominent local soccer player. The national team, reinstated with the change in the island's political status, is primarily made up of players born in the Netherlands with origins in Curaçao. The selection is controlled by the Curaçao Football Federation and attached to Concacaf and FIFA. It has made significant progress in recent years, ranking (according to FIFA ranking) as the 8th best team on the continent. All this was the product of his great achievements, such as winning the 2016 Caribbean Cup, and qualifying for the 2017 and 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup.

Due to its climate, other sports related to tourist activities such as windsurfing and diving are also practiced on the island.

The Netherlands Antilles had its own National Olympic Committee from 1950 until 2011. After that country dissolved in 2010, the committee lost recognition from the International Olympic Committee in 2011. Thus, Liemarvin Bonevacia, Philipine van Aanholt and Reginald de Windt participated as independent participants in the 2012 London Summer Olympics.

Stadium Ergilio Hato

The Atletiek Bond of Curaçao brings together the country's twelve athletics clubs. In April 2017, the country hosted the CARIFTA Games for the first time, where it won, among other things, its first gold.

The men's national rugby union team is organized in the Curaçao Rugby Federation, which is also a member of the North American Rugby Union.[309] The national team has twice participated in the North American Rugby Championship (3rd Division), but failed to qualify for the championship in 2017.

From 2002 to 2014, the Amstel Curaçao Road Cycling Race was held on the island.

Sportsmen from Curaçao include road cyclist Marc de Maar, tennis player Jean-Julien Rojer, and sprinters Churandy Martina and Liemarvin Bonevacia.

The national stadium is the Stadion Ergilio Hato (Ergilio Hato Stadium), also called Sentro Deportivo Kòrsou (SDK, Curaçao Sports Center), located northeast of Willemstad. The stadium is used for soccer and athletics, and was the venue for the 2017 CARIFTA Games.

Celebrity Curaçaoans

• Gabriëla Dos Santos, Miss Curacao 2022 and top 5 in Miss Universe 2022.
• Chantal Wiertz, Miss Curacao 2020 and top 21 in Miss Universe 2020.
• Akisha Albert, Miss Curacao 2018 and top 10 in Miss Universe 2018.
• Chanelle de Lau, Miss Curacao 2016, Miss Curacao International 2017 and the finalist of Miss International 2017.
• Kanisha Sluis, Miss Curacao 2015 and top 10 in Miss Universe 2015.
• Verna Vásquez, Miss Curacao 1997 and top 6 in Miss Universe 1997
• Anne Marie Braafheid, first finalist in Miss Universe 1968, the beauty queen of Curacao who has gone farther in Miss Universe
• Manuel Piar, General in Venezuelan chief of priestly origin, procer of the Independence of Venezuela. Within the annals of Venezuelan republican history is recognized as "The Liberator of Guayana".
• Luis Brión, a priest-Venezuelan military who fought in the Venezuelan War of Independence, reaching the rank of Admiral of the War Navy of Venezuela and Great Colombia.
• Andruw Jones, professional baseball player of the Great American Leagues. Currently player of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of the Japanese Professional Baseball League.

Andruw Jones with Texas Rangers uniform in 2009.

• Churandy Martina, Olympic and professional athlete, speed racing specialist of 100 and 200 metres smooth. Compete for the Netherlands since the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles.
• Jean-Juliën Rojer, professional tennis player. Specialist in doubles. Semifinalist of the Australian Open and winner of seven double tournaments of the ATP tour circuit.
• Hensley Meulens, professional baseball player of the Great American Leagues
• Vurnon Anita, footballer of the Newcastle United and the national selection of the Netherlands.
• Gregory van der Wiel, Dutch footballer of Cagliari.
• Marc de Maar, Dutch professional cyclist. American professional cyclist team member UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team.
• Peter F. Hartman, Dutch executive, president and CEO of KLM, and vice president of Air France-KLM.
• Jurickson Profar, professional baseball player of the San Diego Fathers in the Great Baseball Leagues.
• Egberton Rulove “Roelly” Etienne-Winklaar, professional physicist IFBB.
• Leandro Bacuna, soccer player
• Juninho Bacuna, soccer player
• Cuco Martina, soccer player
• Kenley Jansen, professional baseball player, big league pitcher who plays for Los Angeles Dodgers, team he debuted with in 2010.
• Didi Gregorius, New York Yankees player of the Great Baseball Leagues born in the Netherlands of healing origin.
• Tahith Chong, football player, current Manchester United player in the Premier League.