Curaçao

The Dutch Antilles

General Information

In the middle of the Caribbean ocean lie the five islands called: Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Maarten. Together these islands form the Dutch Antilles. The 64 kilometre long and 5 to 14 kilometres wide island is the largest island of the Antilles . The surface is 444 square kilometre’s. Curacao lies 90 kilometres from Venezuela and is situated only 12 degrees from the equator.

Climate

The climate on the island is sunny and warm throughout the entire year due to the proximity to the equator. The average temperature is 27 degrees Celsius. The rain season, which lasts from October until February is well known because of its short but heavy rain showers. These showers occur mostly in the night and the early morning and are followed by sunny weather during the day.

Population

Curacao is an excellent example of a multicultural society. The island holds about 170.000 inhabitants which originate from 40 different countries. The population from before 1916 consisted of mainly Dutch, Portuguese, Jews and descendants of African slaves. The oil industry made sure that Curacao was an economical success. This resulted in making Curacao an attractive destination for immigrants from all over the world. The typical Antillean culture originates from a mixture of Caribbean, European, African and Latin American influences. Some distinct parts of Antillean culture are the language (Papiamento), the music and the traditional Antillean dishes.

Willemstad

Willemstad, next to the capital, is the only real city the island holds. It has been the economical and cultural centre of the island for quite some time. The two oldest districts of Punda (‘the point’) and Otrabanda (‘the other side’) are separated by the Santa Ana bay, a small channel that leads to the busy port of Schottegat. Around 1880 an American business man built a floating pontoon named the Queen Emma Bridge. From this bridge there is a lovely view to the Queen Juliana Bridge. This bridge towers over the bay at an amazing height of 56 meters.