Curaçao is one of the ABC islands off the coast of Venezuela and is an
independent part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The island,
located off the north coast of the South American continent, is
geologically part of the Venezuelan mountain range of Coro. In the
Quaternary period, the island was at a lower level, and large coral
reefs formed around the core. When the terrain was later raised, the
coral limestone was preserved, and where the ring-shaped structures were
broken, deeply indented bays were formed, such as the port of
Willemstad. Due to the dry climate, the island's vegetation is dominated
by cacti, agaves and thorn bushes. The trade winds that blow all year
round make the climate pleasant for Europeans. While the south coast has
fine sandy beaches, the north side is rocky with cliffs. Some of the
bathing bays are privately owned, have sanitary facilities and charge a
small entrance fee.
Curaçao is 60 km long and 3 to 11 km wide.
Bonaire is about 48 km away, Aruba 68 km, and it is 56 km to the
mainland of Venezuela. After the First World War, a huge oil refinery
was built by Royal Dutch Shell with a capacity of 370,000 barrels per
day. The Curacao Oil Terminal can store 1.2 million barrels of oil. The
dry dock in Schottegat is one of the largest in America.
The most
important economic sector is tourism, followed by the oil refinery,
various services, transport (port) and financial services.
The island of Curaçao can be roughly divided into four
regions:
The northwest is dominated by the Christoffel National
Park, where you can go hiking.
The southeast is practically
uninhabited and has no transport links. The land is privately owned, but
government regulations prevent development.
If you divide the island
roughly in the middle at the narrowest point, then the northwest is
former plantation land with a number of small villages and more and more
plantation houses that are in danger of falling into disrepair.
In
the opposite direction in the southeast is the international airport and
the city of Willemstad with its industrial facilities around the inland
sea Schottegat.
1 Barber
2 Grote Berg
3 Hato
4 Jan Thiel
5
Lagun
6 Santa Rosa
7 Sint Michiel
8 Sint Willibrordus
9 Soto
10 Westpunt
11 Willemstad . There are several museums worth seeing in
Willemstad. The Dutch-style old town has been declared a World Heritage
Site by UNESCO.
The island was discovered in 1499 by Alonso de Ojeda,
who sailed with Columbus as a vice-admiral. Since the Spanish did not
find any precious metals on the island, they abducted the Caiquetio
Indians from the Arawak tribe who lived there and sold them as slaves,
mainly to the copper mines of Santo Domingo.
The Dutchman Johan
van Walbeeck was looking for new sources of salt on behalf of the West
India Trading Company, founded in 1621. Salt was used in Europe for
salting fish, especially herring. In 1634, the Dutch landed in Santa
Anna Bay without encountering much resistance and founded the town of
Willemstad. Peter Styvesant was governor of the island from 1642 to
1665.
At the beginning of the 17th century, Curaçao became a
transshipment point for African slaves. In the years 1635-45 alone,
around 25,000 of them were unloaded there. The slave trade was not
banned until 1863. Until the beginning of the 19th century, the island
was ruled alternately by the English and the Dutch, while the French
tried in vain to conquer it. Since the Peace of Paris in 1815, Curaçao
was firmly in Dutch hands. In 1876, some Dutch tried to sell their
Caribbean possessions to the government of the new state of VENEZUELA,
which was created in 1830. However, they did not receive a majority in
the parliament in The Hague.
In 1936, the colonies in the
Caribbean received a new parliament, called Staten. It initially had 15
members. The three islands of Saba, Sint Eustatius and Sint Maarten
could only send one member together. From 1942, the colonial status was
gradually reorganized. Willemstad became the main administrative seat
for all Dutch possessions in the Caribbean. Until 1948, only about 5% of
the total population on the islands had the right to vote, after which
universal suffrage was introduced.
In 1954, the colonies were
granted full self-government. The Staten parliament was increased to 22
members. In 1985, it was reorganized again. New elections were held, and
the elected representatives were now called senators. For the first
time, Saba and Sint Eustatius were given their own seat there. At the
same time, each island was able to choose its own national flag and
anthem.
Since October 10, 2010, Curaçao has been an independent part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, alongside the Netherlands proper, Aruba and Sint Maarten. The head of state is King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands.
Entry requirements
Citizens of an EU member state do not need a
visa for a stay of up to 90 days. Recently, all visitors to the island
have to fill out a digital entry card, the easiest way to do this is
online via Dicardcuracao. The entry card must be presented at the
airport either digitally or as a printout. Passport photo required!
By plane
Dr. Albert Plesman Airport (Curaçao International
Airport, IATA: CUR), Hato. Runway 11/29, 11,188 x 197 feet (3410 x 60
m), asphalt. Around 1 million passengers annually. Since August 2003,
Curaçao International Airport has been operated by CAP (Curaçao Airport
Partners). Since January 2009, this consortium has been led by the
Brazilian company "A-Port S.A.".
There are regular flights to and
from Europe with KLM and TUI Airlines, as well as regular scheduled
flights to North America, Colombia and Venezuela, as well as to the
other islands of the Netherlands Antilles.
By ship
There is
currently no ferry connection to the neighboring islands of Aruba and
Bonaire.
There is a regular bus service from the capital Willemstad to all
parts of the island according to a timetable. The minibuses have up to
nine seats, and the fares range between 1 and 1.5 US dollars per person.
The drivers honk at passers-by, and if you are interested, you can also
flag down a bus outside of a bus stop.
There are several taxi
companies there.
You can rent cars in the capital, at the airport
and in several hotels.
Drivers drive on the right! The maximum
speed in towns is 40 km/h, and outside built-up areas 60 km/h. Most main
roads are paved. The minimum age for renting a car is 23 years.
Using cell phones while driving is prohibited. Overtaking is permitted
on the right and left on two-lane roads. Through roads have the right of
way. If you come to a T-junction, the vehicle on the through road has
the right of way, even if it is coming from the left.
Plantation houses can be found all over the island, they are called
Landhuis. Some are well-kept and well-preserved and serve as
mini-museums or restaurants.
1 Christoffelpark
2 National Park
Shete Boka (Nationaal park Shete Boka)
On the island you can find almost every kind of water sport,
especially diving, but there are also medically useful swimming lessons
with dolphins. In two national parks you can go cycling or hiking.
Curaçao Dreams Travel, Tours & Events
1 Landhuis Chobolobo, Saliña Ariba, Willemstad. Tel.: +599 9 461
3526. Distillery for Curaçao liqueur in a 19th century mansion with
tours, tastings and a souvenir shop.
2 Aloe Vera Plantation, Kaminda
Mitologia 138. Tel.: +( 599 9) 767 5577, E-Mail: info@curaloe.com.
handmade dolls
wooden shoes
ceramics: depictions of historical
buildings
jewelry made of black coral!
In Willemstad there are branches of the large supermarkets known from
Holland, for example Albert Heijn, Vreugdenhil/Spar and Centrum. In the
northwest of the island, supplies are more limited - if you live here as
a self-caterer, you should stock up on plenty of supplies in Willemstad.
The next larger supermarket (California) is in Tera Corá, a good 20 km
from Westpunt. For the bare necessities there are smaller kiosks,
so-called mini-markets, along the main streets; including in Soto,
Barber and Westpunt. It is advisable to ask the locals about opening
times.
OpenStreetMap offers an (incomplete) map of the shops.
If you want to buy fresh fish, you can do so directly on the beach
when the fishermen land their boats. The locals have good tips on when
and where exactly.
Fruit and vegetables can be bought at the
so-called floating market in the old town (Punda district). In the
immediate vicinity you can also buy various souvenirs in a variety of
souvenir shops. A cheaper alternative is offered by the market women,
mostly of Dominican origin, in the adjacent Nieuwe markt. Here you can
negotiate very good prices for the usual souvenirs with a little Spanish
(or with hands and feet). If you prefer something a little more elegant
in chic boutiques with English-speaking advice, you should pay a visit
to the Rif Fort on the opposite side of the Queen Emma Bridge. Here
there are numerous shops and restaurants in an old fortress right by the
sea.
As starters you eat taco, small portions of cheese or ham, tequenos
are fried cheese dough sticks. Tortillas are stuffed corn dough
pancakes, and pastechis are patties with a spicy minced meat and
vegetable filling.
Callalou soup is cooked on the ABC islands
from pigs' tails, with callaloo leaves, a spinach-like vegetable.
The Dutch introduced erwten soep to the islands, it is pea soup.
Sopi de bananas is broth with plantains, sopito is a spicy fish or
vegetable soup, sopi di pisca is fish soup.
Pork is pork, stoba
di cabrito is a very spicy goulash with nutmeg and Tabasco, bitterbai
are fried meatballs.
Surf and turf is a mixture of meat and
lobster.
Balchi di pisca are fish balls, lobster is the Caribbean
lobster, salmon is salmon (to be introduced), krokèchi are fish
croquettes.
Carcó, concho or caracol is the meat of the trumpet
snail, which is used to make soup or goulash.
Kala are bean
balls, aros verde is rice that is seasoned with lots of parsley and
peas, giving it a green color. Moro is rice with beans.
Funchi
are cereal dumplings cooked in water.
Arepitas di pampuna are
small pancakes with sweet pumpkin and cheese.
Keshi Yena is baked
cheese with a minced meat filling.
For dessert you can have Bolo
di Rom, which is rum cake, or Kesio, a dessert made from caramel and
merengue kisses, meringue tarts, and Pudin di coco, a coconut pudding.
There are a number of restaurants in Willemstad, but there are also
very good places to be found outside of it, scattered all over the
island.
Located directly on the beach, Kokomo Beach not only
offers a wonderful view of the sea, but also delicious small and large
dishes in the medium price range. On Sundays there is live music and a
happy hour from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., when the restaurant is well
attended.
Some popular restaurants including reviews can be found in
the "Bars & Restaurants" section on relaxedcuracao.com.
There is only a "nightlife" in the greater Willemstad area. There you will find night bars, discos and at Hato airport even an entire village "almost" just for men.
If you rent a room on the island of Curaçao, you should always pay attention to the prices or ask whether the prices for electricity and water are included in the rent. These costs are often charged separately.
Lock the rental car, take valuables with you and do not leave them unattended on the beach. However, there is no major risk of serious crime. The small streets of Otrobanda (Willemstad) should be avoided after nightfall.
The European Health Insurance Card is not accepted.