Curaçao-a Dutch Caribbean Island

Curaçao, a Dutch Caribbean Island on the continent of South America, is known for its beaches tucked into coves and its expansive coral reefs rich with marine life. The capital, Willemstad, has pastel-colored colonial architecture, the floating Queen Emma Bridge, and the sand-floored, 17th-century Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue. It is also a gateway to western beaches like Blue Bay, a popular diving site. The flight from the United States is approximately six hours. The official languages are Dutch, Papiamento, and English.

Points of interest: Little Curacao, Christoffel National Park, and Museum Kura Hulanda 

On the Punda side of Willemstad is Handelskade, that picturesque stretch of pier you’ve seen on every Curaçao postcard. Colonial Dutch buildings painted in brilliant pinks, blues and yellows line the waters of St. Anna Bay. Grab a seat and a daiquiri at one of Handelskade’s outdoor cafes and watch the Queen Emma Bridge swing open to let ships into the harbor or pop in to one of the shops along the water.

If you wake up early enough, you can get your hands on fresh fish and produce at the daily floating market at Handelskade’s northern point; or, you can walk across the bridge at night to see Handelskade’s illuminated facades and reflections glinting on the bay. Regardless of what time you visit, you’re going to want to snap a picture or two. It is recommended that crossing the bridge provides the best photo angles. The waterfront and colorful buildings are beautiful and make lovely photos to share with family and friends. The Punda also has the most recommended cafes and shopping.

The shopping is not duty-free, but is duty-relaxed, meaning the shopkeepers pay low duty. And since there is a low sales tax on Curaçao, you should be able to get some fairly good deals. You will find an array of shops concentrated along Heerenstraat and Breedestraat in the Punda shopping district. Most stores are open Monday through Saturday from 8AM to noon and 2 to 6PM. When cruise ships are in port, many shops open for a few hours on Sunday and holidays as well.

Good buys include French perfumes, Dutch Delft blue china, Italian silks, Japanese and German cameras, jewelry, watches, linens, leather goods, and liquor, especially Curaçao liqueur. The island is famous for its 2.2-kilogram (5 lb.) wheels of Gouda and Edam cheeses, and you’ll also see decorative wooden shoes, lacework, woodcarvings and paintings from Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Every garment at Bamali, Breedestraat 2 (https://www.bamali-fashion.com)(tel. 599/9-461-2258), is designed and in many cases, crafted by the store owners. Based on Indonesian patterns, the airy women’s clothing is made of fine linen and silk.

Do not miss a visit to the Museum Kurá Hulanda. Initiated and developed by Jacob Gelt Dekker, the museum opened its door in April 1999. Museum Kurá Hulanda is situated right at the city-center harbor of Willemstad, where Dutch entrepreneurs once traded and trans-shipped enslaved Africans along with other “commercial goods.” This museum impressively exhibits the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade in its totality, from slave capture in Africa through the Middle Passage and relocation in the New World. Around 1636 the Dutch established the island as a center for the slave trade; merchants brought slaves from Africa into Curaçao where they were sold and shipped to various destinations in the Caribbean and South America.

Museum Kurá Hulanda further exhibits a vast collection of artifacts from continental Africa, showing the dynamic vitality and great Empires of West Africa, which is the largest collection of African artifacts in the Caribbean. The museum has recently expanded its emphasis to include other non-Western Cultures of the world, and now hosts spectacular exhibitions of the fertile Crest Region in the Middle East, Pre-Columbian Gold of Colombia, Maroon cultures of Suriname, Africans in Brazil, Santeria/Voodoo, and much more.

Museum Kurá Hulanda demonstrates that our African and diverse cultural heritage has influenced Curaçaoan and Caribbean societies until today.

Other popular adventures include the Curaçao Sea Aquarium and the area’s natural beauty can be seen at Mambo Beach and Jan Thiel Beach. Curaçao Maritime Museum and Parke Tropikal Zoo are also worth visiting. Discover the area’s water adventures with scuba diving, water skiing, and parasailing or enjoy the great outdoors with ecotours.  Golf lovers may sharpen their skills on the pristine golf courses. This is truly a lovely place to include on your travel list.