About Curaçao

The first thing that comes to mind for many when they hear the name Curaçao is the world-famous Curaçao liqueur. For others, it conjures memories of sun-drenched holidays on golden beaches, the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean Sea and the ever-present cooling breeze. Curaçao offers all this – and so much more.

Shaped by its turbulent history, Curaçao has become a true melting pot of languages and cultures. The island’s original Caquetio inhabitants were decimated by the Spanish, whose conquest brought disease, violence and forced labour. When the Dutch seized the island in 1634, they made Curaçao a centre of the transatlantic slave trade. Many Africans were forcibly transported here, either to be sold on to other colonies, or to work as enslaved labourers on the island’s plantations.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the construction of the oil refinery triggered a new influx of people from across the globe – from Madeira, Suriname and Lebanon to Venezuela, Colombia, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and numerous English-speaking Caribbean islands. Each of these communities left its mark, enriching Curaçao’s cultural fabric and shaping the island’s present-day diversity.

Papiamentu is the mother tongue of the vast majority of Curaçao’s people – a Creole language that, from the very beginning, was spoken and embraced across all layers of society. Today, it holds a prominent place among the world’s Creole languages. Owing to the island’s small size and outward orientation, Curaçaoans are strikingly multilingual: alongside Papiamentu, most people speak Dutch, English and Spanish with ease.

The arts have also flourished here. Curaçao has produced celebrated artists such as Yubi Kirindongo, who pioneered the use of recycled materials long before it became an international trend. The island is brimming with cultural treasures, both famous and hidden. Visit the historic synagogue in Punda, alongside the beautiful Jewish Historical Museum. Immerse yourself in traditional tambú music at the Museo di Tambú Shon Cola, or discover how the European organ was transformed into something uniquely local at the museum dedicated to the legendary builder of the ka’i orgel, Serapio Pinedo.

The Kura Hulanda Museum offers a compelling exploration of the transatlantic slave trade as well as the diverse civilisations of the African continent. The island’s layered history also lives on in its many plantation houses, including Landhuis Kenepa, Landhuis Bloemhof and the Mongui Maduro Museum in Landhuis Rooi Catootje, next door to the Children’s Museum. Whatever your interest, Curaçao has something to captivate you – especially for those drawn to culture and history.