Country of Curaçao
Land Curaçao (Dutch)
Pais Kòrsou (Papiamento)
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: Himno di Kòrsou
Anthem of Curaçao
Location of Curaçao (circled in red)in the Caribbean (light yellow)
Location of Curaçao (circled in red)
in the Caribbean (light yellow)
Capital
and largest city Willemstad
12°7'N 68°56'W
Official languages
Dutch[1]
Papiamentu[2]
Demonym
Curaçaoan
Government
Constitutional monarchy
- Monarch Willem-Alexander
- Acting Governor A. van der Pluijm-Vrede
- Prime Minister Daniel Hodge[3][4]
Legislature
Estates of Curaçao
Autonomy within the Kingdom of the Netherlands
- Established 10 October 2010
Area
- Total 444 km2
171.4 sq mi
Population
- 2010 census 142,180
- Density 319/km2 (39th)
821/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2008[5] estimate
- Total US$2.838 billion (177th)
- Per capita US$20,567 (46th)
GDP (nominal) 2008[5] estimate
- Total US$5.08 billion (149th)
- Per capita US$36,200 (28th)
Currency
Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG)
Time zone
AST (UTC-4)
Drives on the
right
Calling code
+599 9
ISO 3166 code
CW
Internet TLD
.cw, .an c
a. Interim cabinet.[6]
b. Ranked as Kingdom of the Netherlands.
c. To be discontinued.
Curaçao (/'kj??r?sa?/ KEWR-?-sow; Dutch: Curaçao;[7][8] Papiamentu: Kòrsou) is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao (Dutch: Land Curaçao;[9] Papiamento: Pais Kòrsou),[10] which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao ("Little Curaçao"), is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Its capital is Willemstad.
Prior to 10 October 2010, when the Netherlands Antilles was dissolved, Curaçao was administered as the Island Territory of Curaçao[11] (Dutch: Eilandgebied Curaçao, Papiamentu: Teritorio Insular di Kòrsou), one of five island territories of the former Netherlands Antilles.
Contents
[hide] 1 Etymology
2 History 2.1 Forts
3 Geography 3.1 Flora
3.2 Climate
3.3 Geology
4 Government
5 Economy 5.1 Tourism
5.2 Financial Services
5.3 Aerospace
5.4 Trade
5.5 Prostitution
6 Demographics 6.1 Languages
6.2 Ethnicities
6.3 Religion
7 Education
8 Culture 8.1 Literature
8.2 Cuisine
9 Sports
10 Infrastructure 10.1 Bridges
10.2 Utilities
11 Notable residents 11.1 Arts and culture
11.2 Politics and government
11.3 Sports
12 See also
13 Notes
14 External references
15 External links
Etymology [edit]
Map from 1562 with Curaçao indicated as Qúracao.
One explanation is that it is derived from the Portuguese word for heart (coração), referring to the island as a centre in trade. Spanish traders took the name over as Curaçao, which was followed by the Dutch. And yet another explanation is that Curaçao was the name the indigenous peoples of Curaçao had used to label themselves.[12]
On a map created by Hieronymus Cock in 1562 in Antwerp, the island was referred to as Qúracao.[13]
Four British Royal Navy ships have been named after the Island between 1809 and 1942. All have used the unusual spelling HMS Curacoa. The last of these was a C-class light cruiser of 1917.
The name "Curaçao" has become associated with a shade of blue, because of the deep-blue version of the liqueur named Curaçao (also known as Blue Curaçao).
History [edit]
Map of Curaçao in 1836.
Main article: History of Curaçao
The original inhabitants of Curaçao were Arawak Amerindians. The first Europeans to see the island were members of a Spanish expedition under the leadership of Alonso de Ojeda in 1499. The Spaniards enslaved most of the indigenous population and forcibly relocated the survivors to other colonies where workers were needed. The island was occupied by the Dutch in 1634.
The Dutch West India Company founded the capital of Willemstad on the banks of an inlet called the 'Schottegat'. Curaçao had been ignored by colonists, because it lacked gold deposits. The natural harbour of Willemstad proved to be an ideal spot for trade. Commerce and shipping — and piracy—became Curaçao's most important economic activities. In addition, the Dutch West India Company made Curaçao a centre for the Atlantic slave trade in 1662.
The Sephardic Jews who arrived from the Netherlands and then-Dutch Brazil since the 17th century have had a significant influence on the culture and economy of the island.[citation needed]
In the Franco-Dutch War, Count Jean II d'Estrées planned to attack Curaçao. His fleet — 12 men of war, 3 fireships, 2 transports, a hospital ship, and 12 privateers — met with disaster, losing 7 men of war and 2 other ships when they struck reefs off the Las Aves archipelago due to a navigational error on 11 May 1678, a week after setting sail from Saint Kitts. On Curaçao, a Day of Thanksgiving was observed until far into the 18th century to commemorate the island's fortunate escape from being ravaged by the French.
Although a few plantations were established on the island by the Dutch, the first profitable industry established on Curaçao was salt mining. The mineral was a lucrative export at the time and became one of the major factors responsible for drawing the island into international commerce.
Dutch architecture along Willemstad's harbour.
The slave trade made the island affluent, and led to the construction of impressive colonial buildings. Curaçao features architecture that blends Dutch and Spanish colonial styles. The wide range of historic buildings in and around Willemstad earned the capital a place on UNESCO's world heritage list. Landhouses (former plantation estates) and West African style "kas di pal'i maishi" (former slave dwellings) are scattered all over the island and some of them have been restored and can be visited.
In 1795, a major slave revolt took place under the lead of the Negroes Tula Rigaud, Louis Mercier, Bastian Karpata, and Pedro Wakao. Up to 4000 slaves on the northwest section of the island revolted. Over a thousand of the slaves were involved in heavy gunfights and the Dutch feared for their lives. After a month, the rebellion was crushed.[14]
Curaçao's proximity to South America produced a long-standing influence from the nearby Latin American coast. This is reflected in the architectural similarities between the 19th century parts of Willemstad and the nearby Venezuelan city of Coro in Falcón State, the latter also being a UNESCO world heritage site. In the 19th century, Curaçaoans such as Manuel Piar and Luis Brión were prominently engaged in the wars of independence of Venezuela and Colombia. Political refugees from the mainland (like Bolivar himself) regrouped in Curaçao and children from affluent Venezuelan families were educated on the island.
In the early 19th century, Portuguese and Lebanese migrated to Curaçao attracted by the financial possibilities of the island.
Luis Brión, a Curaçao-born Venezuelan admiral.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, the island changed hands among the British, the French, and the Dutch several times. Stable Dutch rule returned in 1815, at the end of the Napoleonic wars, when the island was incorporated into the colony of Curaçao and Dependencies. The Dutch abolished slavery in 1863, creating a change in the economy. Some inhabitants of Curaçao emigrated to other islands, such as Cuba to work in sugar cane plantations.
Other former slaves had no place to go and remained working for the plantation owner in the tenant farmer system.[15] This was an instituted order in which the former slave leased land from his former master. In exchange the tenant promised to give up most of his harvest to the former slave master. This system lasted until the beginning of the 20th century.
Historically, Dutch was not widely spoken on the island outside of colonial administration; its use increased in the late 19th and early 20th century.[16]
Historically, students on Curaçao, Aruba, and Bonaire had been taught predominantly in Spanish up until the late 19th century. There were also efforts to introduce bilingual popular education in Dutch and Papiamentu in the late 19th century (van Putte 1999).
When in 1914, oil was discovered in the Maracaibo Basin town of Mene Grande, the fortunes of the island were dramatically altered. Royal Dutch Shell and the Dutch Government had built an extensive oil refinery installation on the former site of the slave-trade market at Asiento, thereby establishing an abundant source of employment for the local population and fueling a wave of immigration from surrounding nations. Curaçao was an ideal site for the refinery as it was away from the social and civil unrest of the South American mainland, but near enough to the Maracaibo Basin oil fields. It had an excellent natural harbor that could accommodate large oil tankers.
East and South Asian migrants arrived during the economic boom of the early 20th century.
The company brought affluence to the island. Large scale housing was provided and Willemstad developed an extensive infrastructure. However, discrepancies appeared among the social groups of Curaçao. The discontent and the antagonisms between Curaçao social groups culminated in rioting and protest on 30 May 1969. The civil unrest fueled a social movement that resulted in the local Afro-Caribbean population attaining more influence over the political process (Anderson and Dynes 1975).
Dutch was made the sole language of instruction in the educational system in the early 20th century to facilitate education for the offspring of expatriate employees of Royal Dutch Shell (Romer, 1999). Papiamentu was tentatively re-introduced in the school curriculum during the mid-1980s.
The years before and after World War II, Ashkenazi Jews emigrated from Eastern Europe, many of whom were Romanian Jews.
There were recent[when?] immigrants from neighbouring countries, such as Venezuela, but also from the Dominican Republic, Haiti, the Anglophone Caribbean and Colombia. In recent[when?] years the influx of Dutch pensioners ("pensionados") has increased.
Curaçao gained self-government on 1 January 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 of the late 1960s.
The island developed a tourist industry and offered low corporate taxes to encourage companies to set up holdings in order to avoid higher taxes elsewhere.
In the mid-1980s, Royal Dutch Shell sold the refinery for a symbolic amount to a local government consortium. The aging refinery has been the subject of lawsuits in recent years, which charge that its emissions, including sulfur dioxide and particulate matter, far exceed safety standards.[17] The government consortium currently leases the refinery to the Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA.
In recent years, the island had attempted to capitalize on its peculiar history and heritage to expand its tourism industry. On 2 July 1984, the 30th anniversary of the first elected Island Council, the council inaugurated the National Flag and the official anthem. Since then, the movement to separate the island from the Antillean federation has steadily become stronger.[citation needed]
In the 2000s, the political relationship with the other islands of the Netherlands Antilles, and with the Netherlands, came under discussion again. In a referendum held on 8 April 2005, the residents voted for separate status outside the Netherlands Antilles, similar to Aruba, rejecting the options for full independence, becoming part of the Netherlands, or retaining the status quo.
In 2006, Emily de Jongh-Elhage, a resident of Curaçao, was elected as the new prime minister of the Netherlands Antilles.
On 1 July 2007, the island of Curaçao was due to become a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. On 28 November 2006, the island council rejected a clarification memorandum on the process. On 9 July 2007, the new island council of Curaçao ratified the agreement previously rejected in November 2006.[18] On 15 December 2008, Curaçao was scheduled to become a separate country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands (like Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles that time). A non-binding referendum on this plan took place in Curaçao on 15 May 2009, in which 52 percent of the voters supported these plans.[19]
The Dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles came into effect on 10 October 2010.[20] Curaçao became a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with the Kingdom retaining responsibility for defence and foreign policy. The Kingdom was also to oversee the island's finances under a debt-relief arrangement agreed between the two.[21] Curaçao's first Prime Minister was Gerrit Schotte. He was succeeded in 2012 by Stanley Betrian, ad interim. After elections in 2012 Daniel Hodge became the third prime minister on 31 December 2012.[4]
Due to an economic slump in recent years, emigration to the Netherlands has been high.[22] Emigration from surrounding Caribbean islands, Latin American countries and the Netherlands has taken place.
Recent[when?] political debate has centered on the issue of Papiamentu becoming the sole language of instruction. Proponents argue that it will help preserve the language and will improve the quality of primary and secondary school education. Proponents of Dutch-language instruction argue that students who study in Dutch will be better prepared for the university education offered to Curaçao residents in the Netherlands.
Forts [edit]
When the Dutch arrived in 1634, they built forts at key points around the island to protect themselves from foreign powers, privateers, and pirates. Five of the best preserved forts can still be seen today:
Fort Waterfort (1634)[23]
Fort Amsterdam (1635)[24]
Fort Beekenburg (1703)[25]
Fort Nassau (1797)[26]
Riffort (1828)[27]
Four of these forts are placed in a 2 miles (3.2 km) radius, protecting the island primary natural harbor that once was the center of the slave trade. Waterfort, Fort Amsterdam and Riffort are less than 300 yards (270 m) apart, protecting the entrance to the harbor.
In 1957, Hotel Van der Valk Plaza Curaçao was built on top of the Waterfort.[28]
The Riffort contains restaurants, and shops. It is located on the opposite side of the Waterfort across the entrance to the harbor. In 2009, the Renaissance Curaçao Resort and Casino opened next to the Riffort.[29][30]
Geography [edit]
A map of Curaçao.
The southern coast has calm waters. The coastline has bays and inlets.
Flora [edit]
The flora of Curaçao differs from the typical tropical island vegetation. Xeric scrublands are common, with various forms of cacti, thorny shrubs, evergreens, and the island's national tree, divi-divis. Curaçao's highest point is the Sint Christoffelberg 375 m (1,230 ft). 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) off the coast of Curaçao, to the south-east, lies the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao ("Little Curaçao").
Climate [edit]
Curaçao has a tropical savannah climate (Köppen climate classification As) with a dry season from January to September and a wet season from October to December.[31] The temperatures are relatively constant with small differences throughout the year. The trade winds bring cooling during the day and the same trade winds bring warming during the night. The coldest month is January with an average temperature of 26.5 °C (80 °F) and the warmest month is September with an average temperature of 28.9 °C (84 °F). The year's average maximum temperature is 31.2 °C (88 °F). The year's average minimum temperature is 25.3 °C (78 °F).
Curaçao lies outside the hurricane belt, but is still occasionally affected by hurricanes, as for example Hazel in 1954, Anna in 1961 Felix in 2007 and Omar in 2008. A landfall of a hurricane in Curaçao has not occurred since the United States National Hurricane Center started tracking hurricanes. Curaçao has, however, been directly affected by pre-hurricane tropical storms several times; the latest which did 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. The latest, Tomas, brushed Curaçao as a tropical storm, dropping as much as 265 mm (10.4 in) of precipitation on the territory, nearly half of the annual precipitation in one day.[32] This made Tomas one of the wettest events in the island's history,[33] as well as one of the most devastating; its flooding killed two people and caused over NAƒ60 million (US$28 million) in damage.[34][35]
[show]Climate data for Curaçao (Hato Airport)
Geology [edit]
The northern sea floor drops steeply within 200 feet (61 m) of the shore. This drop-off is known as the "blue edge".
Government [edit]
Main article: Government of Curaçao
The government of takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic country. The prime minister is the head of government. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament.
The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
Curaçao has full autonomy on most matters, with the exceptions summed up in the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands under the title "Kingdom affairs".
Economy [edit]
Main article: Economy of Curaçao
Curaçao has one of the highest standards of living in the Caribbean, ranking 46th in the world in terms of GDP (PPP) per capita and 28th in the world in terms of nominal GDP per capita. The island has a well-developed infrastructure that is centered around oil refining, tourism and financial services. Shipping, international trade, and other activities related to the port of Willemstad (like the Free trade zone) also make a significant contribution to the economy. To achieve the government's aim to make its economy more diverse, efforts are being made to attract more foreign investment. This policy, called the 'Open Arms' policy, features a heavy focus on information technology companies.[37][38][39] While tourism is an important facet of the economy, industry is diverse.
Tourism [edit]
Coral reefs for snorkeling and scuba diving can be reached without a boat. The southern coast has calm waters and therefore the majority of diving locations. The coastline of Curaçao also features bays and inlets, where boats are moored.
Some of the coral reefs are affected by tourism. Porto Marie Beach is experimenting with artificial coral reefs in order to improve the reef's condition. Hundreds of artificial coral blocks that have been placed are now home to a large array of tropical fish.
The Curaçao Sea Aquarium and the Dolphin Academy share this little islet on the west coast of Curaçao, with Seaquarium Beach nearby.
The most well-known beaches of Curaçao are:[40]
Baya Beach
Blue Bay (Blauwbaai)
Daaibooi
Grote Knip (Playa Abou)
Kleine Knip (Kenepa Chiki)
Playa Forti
Playa Gipy
Playa Jeremi
Playa Kalki
Playa Kanoa
Playa Lagun
Playa Porto Marie
Playa Santa Cruz
Santa Barbara Beach
Seaquarium Beach
Westpunt
Financial Services [edit]
Curaçao history in the financial services industry dates from World War II. Some of the world’s top financial institutions have operations on the island.[citation needed] The Dutch Caribbean Securities Exchange is located in the capital of Willemstad, as is the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten. The latter is the oldest Central Bank in the western hemisphere, established in 1828.[citation needed] There are laws for a wide variety of corporate structures making it attractive to businesses.[citation needed] Curaçao has a non-offshore tax system. It adheres to the EU Code of Conduct against harmful tax practices.[citation needed] It has qualified intermediary status from the United States I.R.S.[citation needed] The island is an accepted jurisdiction of the OECD and Caribbean Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering.[citation needed] The country strongly enforces Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Funding compliance.[citation needed]
Aerospace [edit]
Beginning in January 2014, the Lynx rocketplane is expected to be flying suborbital space tourism flights and scientific research missions from a new spaceport on Curaçao.[41][42]
Trade [edit]
Curaçao trades mainly with the United States, Venezuela, and the European Union. It has an Association Agreement with the European Union which allows companies which do business in and via Curaçao to export products to European markets,[43] free of import duties and quotas. It is also a participant in the US Caribbean Basin Initiative allowing it to have preferential access to the US market.[44]
Prostitution [edit]
Prostitution is legal. A large open-air brothel called "Le Mirage" or "Campo Alegre" operates near the airport since the 1940s. Curaçao monitors, contains and regulates the industry. The government states that the workers in these establishments are thereby given a safe environment and access to medical practitioners.[45]
The U.S. State Department has cited anecdotal evidence claiming that,"Curaçao...[is a] destination island... for women trafficked for the sex trade from Peru, Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti, according to local observers. At least 500 foreign women reportedly are in prostitution throughout the five islands of the Antilles, some of whom have been trafficked."[46] The US state department has said that the government of Curaçao frequently underestimates the extent of human trafficking problems.[46]
Demographics [edit]
Languages [edit]
Curaçao is a polyglot society. The official languages are Dutch and Papiamentu.[47] The most widely spoken language is Papiamentu, a creole language spoken in all levels of society. Papiamentu was introduced as a language of primary school education in 1993, making Curaçao one of a handful of places where a creole language is used as a medium to acquire basic literacy.[48] Spanish and English also have a long historical presence in Curaçao. Spanish became an important language in the 18th century due to the close economic ties with Spanish colonies in what are now Venezuela and Colombia.[16] English use dates to the early 19th century, when the British took Curaçao and Bonaire. When Dutch rule resumed in 1815, officials already noted wide use of the language.[16] According to the 2001 Census, Papiamentu is the first language of 81.2% of the population. Dutch is the first language of 8% of the population. English is the first language of 2.9% and Spanish is the first language of 4% of the population.[49] However, these numbers divide the population in terms of first language and does not account for the high rate of bilingualism in the population of Curaçao. Most of Curaçao's population is able to converse in Papiamentu, Dutch, English or Spanish regardless of their first language.
Ethnicities [edit]
A Bulawaya dance.
Because of its history, the island's population comes from a number of ethnic backgrounds. There is an Afro-Caribbean majority of African descent, and also sizeable minorities of Dutch, Latin American, French, South Asian, East Asian, Portuguese and Levantine people. There are Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jews.
Religion [edit]
According to the 2001 census, the majority of the inhabitants of Curaçao are Roman Catholic (85%). This includes a shift towards the Charismatic Renewal or Charismatic movement since the mid-seventies. Other major denominations are the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Methodist Church. Alongside these Christian denominations, some inhabitants practice Montamentu,[citation needed] and other diaspora African religions. Like elsewhere in Latin America, Pentecostalism is on the rise. There are also practising Muslims and Hindus.
While small, Curaçao's Jewish community has a significant impact on history.[citation needed] Curaçao has the oldest active Jewish congregation in the Americas, dating to 1651. The Curaçao synagogue is the oldest synagogue of the Americas in continuous use, since its completion in 1732 on the site of a previous synagogue.
Education [edit]
Public education is based on the Dutch educational system and besides the public schools, private and parochial schools are also available. Since the introduction of a new public education law in 1992, compulsory primary education starts at age six and continues six years, secondary lasts for another five.[50]
The main institute of higher learning is the University of Curaçao, enrolling 2,100 students.[50] The comprehensive model of education is under influences from both Dutch and American's education offering. Other higher education offering on the island include offshore medical schools, language schools and academies for fine art, music, police, teacher and nurse-training.[51]
Culture [edit]
Literature [edit]
Despite the island's relatively small population, the diversity of languages and cultural influences on Curaçao have generated a remarkable literary tradition, primarily in Dutch and Papiamentu. The oral traditions of the Arawak indigenous peoples are lost. West African slaves brought the tales of Anansi, thus forming the basis of Papiamentu literature. The first published work in Papiamentu was a poem by Joseph Sickman Corsen entitled Atardi, published in the La Cruz newspaper in 1905. Throughout Curaçaoan literature, narrative techniques and metaphors best characterized as magic realism tend to predominate. Novelists and poets from Curaçao have made an impressive contribution to Caribbean and Dutch literature. Best known are Cola Debrot, Frank Martinus Arion, Pierre Lauffer, Elis Juliana,Guillermo Rosario, Boeli van Leeuwen and Tip Marugg.
Cuisine [edit]
Local food is called Krioyo (pronounced the same as criollo, the Spanish word for "Creole") and boasts a blend of flavours and techniques best compared to Caribbean cuisine and Latin American cuisine. Dishes common in Curaçao are found in Aruba and Bonaire as well. Popular dishes include: stobá (a stew made with various ingredients such as papaya, beef or goat), Guiambo (soup made from okra and seafood), kadushi (cactus soup), sopi mondongo (intestine soup), funchi (cornmeal paste similar to fufu, ugali and polenta) and a lot of fish and other seafood. The ubiquitous side dish is fried plantain. Local bread rolls are made according to a Portuguese recipe. All around the island, there are snèk's which serve local dishes as well as alcoholic drinks in a manner akin to the English public house.
The ubiquitous breakfast dish is pastechi: fried pastry with fillings of cheese, tuna, ham, or ground meat. Around the holiday season special dishes are consumed, such as the hallaca and pekelé, made out of salt cod. At weddings and other special occasions a variety of kos dushi are served: kokada (coconut sweets), ko'i lechi (condensed milk and sugar sweet) and tentalaria (peanut sweets). The Curaçao liqueur was developed here, when a local experimented with the rinds of the local citrus fruit known as laraha. Surinamese, Chinese, Indonesian, Indian and Dutch culinary influences also abound. The island also has a number of Chinese restaurants that serve mainly Indonesian dishes such as satay, nasi goreng and lumpia (which are all Indonesian names for the dishes). Dutch specialties such as croquettes and oliebollen are widely served in homes and restaurants.
Sports [edit]
In 2004, the Little League Baseball team from Willemstad, Curaçao, won the title game against the United States champion from Thousand Oaks, California. The Willemstad lineup featured Jurickson Profar, the standout shortstop prospect who now plays for the Texas Rangers organization of the MLB.
In the 2006 World Baseball Classic, Curaçaoans played for the Netherlands team. Shairon Martis, born in Willemstad, provided the highlight of the tournament for the Dutch team by throwing a seven-inning no-hitter against Panama (the game was stopped due to the mercy rule).
The 2010 documentary film, Boys of Summer,[52] details Curaçao's Pabao Little League All-Stars winning their country's eighth straight championship at the 2008 Little League World Series, then going on to defeat other teams, including Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, and earning a spot in Williamsport.
The prevailing trade winds and warm water make Curaçao a location for windsurfing.[53][54] One factor is that the deep water around Curaçao makes it difficult to lay marks for major windsurfing events, thus hindering the island's success as a windsurfing destination.
There is warm, clear water around the island. Scuba divers and snorkelers may have visibility up to 30 m (98 ft) at the Curaçao Underwater Marine Park, which stretches along 20 km (12.43 mi) of Curaçao's southern coastline.[55]
Infrastructure [edit]
Bridges [edit]
The Queen Emma (semi-open), and the Queen Juliana.
The Queen Emma pontoon bridge, 67 metres (220 ft) long, connects pedestrians between the Punda and Otrobanda districts.[56] This swings open to allow the passage of ships to and from the port.[57]
The Queen Juliana Bridge connects mobile traffic between the same two districts. At 185 feet (56 m) above the sea, it is one of the highest bridges in the world.[57]
Utilities [edit]
A private company, Aqualectra delivers potable water and electricity to the island. Rates are controlled by the government. Water is produced by reverse osmosis or desalinization.[58] It services 69,000 households and companies using 130,000 water and electric meters.[58]
Notable residents [edit]
People from Curaçao include:
Arts and culture [edit]
Izaline Calister, singer/songwriter
Peter Hartman, CEO of KLM
Ingrid Hoffmann, American television personality and restaurateur, chef on Food Network
Kizzy McHugh, a singer songwriter and television personality based in the United States
Robby Müller, cinematographer, closely associated with Wim Wenders and Jim Jarmusch
Pernell Saturnino, a graduated percussionist of Berklee College of Music
Wim Statius Muller, composer, pianist
Politics and government [edit]
Luis Brión, admiral in the Venezuelan War of Independence
Moises Frumencio da Costa Gomez, first Prime Minister of the Netherlands Antilles
Daniel De Leon, a socialist leader
George Maduro, a war hero and namesake of Madurodam in The Hague
Manuel Carlos Piar, general and competitor of Bolivar during the Venezuelan War of Independence
Tula, leader of the 1795 slave revolt
Sports [edit]
Baseball
See also: Netherlands Antilles national baseball team
Players in Major League Baseball:
Wladimir Balentien, outfielder recently playing for the Cincinnati Reds now in Tokyo Yakult Swallows[59]
Roger Bernadina, outfielder as of 2011 playing for the Washington Nationals[60]
Didi Gregorius, shortstop currently playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks[61]
Kenley Jansen, pitcher currently playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers[62]
Andruw Jones, outfielder last played in MLB for the New York Yankees; now in Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles[63]
Jair Jurrjens, pitcher currently playing for the Baltimore Orioles[64]
Shairon Martis, pitcher, playing for the Minnesota Twins[65]
Jurickson Profar, infielder for the Texas Rangers[66]
Jonathan Schoop, top prospect infielder for the Baltimore Orioles[67]
Andrelton Simmons, shortstop currently playing for the Atlanta Braves[68]
Hensley Meulens, professional baseball player and current hitting coach for the San Francisco Giants[59]
Randall Simon, first baseman[59]
Football
See also: Curaçao national football team
Vurnon Anita, a football player for Newcastle United in the English Premier League[69]
Riechedly Bazoer, footballer currently playing for AFC Ajax in the Dutch Eredivisie[70]
Roly Bonevacia, a footballer who currently plays for Roda JC Kerkrade in the Dutch Eredivisie[71]
Timothy Cathalina, football player currently playing for SV Spakenburg in the Dutch Eerste Divisie[72]
Angelo Cijntje, footballer who currently plays for SC Veendam in the Dutch Eerste Divisie[73]
Dyron Daal, a footballer who currently plays for KGF in the Vietnamese V-League[74]
Raily Ignacio, footballer who played for SV Spakenburg in the Dutch Eerste Divisie[75]
Tyrone Maria, footballer who currently plays for SV Bubali in the Aruban Division di Honor[76]
Cuco Martina, footballer who plays for RKC Waalwijk in the Dutch Eredivisie[77]
Javier Martina, footballer who plays for FC Dordrecht in the Dutch Eerste Divisie
Quentin Martinus, footballer currently playing for Ferencváros in the Hungarian NB1.[78]
Rihairo Meulens, footballer who currently plays for Almere City in the Dutch Eerste Divisie[79]
Ricardo van Rhijn, footballer currently playing for AFC Ajax in the Dutch Eredivisie.[80]
Gregory van der Wiel, footballer currently playing for Paris Saint-Germain in the French Ligue 1[81]
Jetro Willems, footballer currently playing for PSV in the Dutch Eredivisie[82]
Other sportsMarc de Maar, professional cyclist[83]
Churandy Martina, gold medalist 100 metres at the Pan American Games 2007[84]
Jean-Julien Rojer, professional tennis player[85]
See also [edit]
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Notes [edit]
1.^ "CIA The World Factbook Curaçao". cia.gov. Retrieved 2011-12-17.
2.^ [1]
3.^ , Since 27 March 2013 in a demissionary capacity until a new cabinet is formed."Cabinet Hodge Is Officially A Demissionairy Government". curacaochronicle.com. 27 March 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
4.^ a b "Curaçao heeft een tussenkabinet, dat vooral moet bezuinigen" (in Dutch). 31 December 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
5.^ a b COUNTRY COMPARISON GDP PURCHASING POWER PARITY, Central Intelligence Agency.
6.^ (Dutch) Crisis na benoeming op Curaçao, Nederlandse Omroep Stichting.
7.^ Dutch pronunciation: [kyr?'s?u?]
8.^ Mangold, Max (2005). "Curaçao". In Dr. Franziska Münzberg. Aussprachewörterbuch. Mannheim: Duden Verlag. ISBN 978-3-411-04066-7. Retrieved 2011-06-16.
9.^ Formal name according to Art. 1 para 1 Constitution of Curaçao (Dutch version)
10.^ Formal name according to Art. 1 para 1 Constitution of Curaçao (Papiamentu version)
11.^ English name used by government of Curaçao and Government of Netherlands Antilles (English is official language of Netherlands Antilles and Island Territory of Curaçao)
12.^ Joubert and Van Buurt, 1994
13.^ Cock's 1562 map at the Library of Congress website
14.^ "Curaçao History". Papiamentu.net. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
15.^ Called "Paga Tera"
16.^ a b c Dede pikiña ku su bisiña: Papiamentu-Nederlands en de onverwerkt verleden tijd. van Putte, Florimon., 1999. Zutphen: de Walburg Pers
17.^ "Curaçao refinery sputters on, despite emissions". Reuters. 2008-06-30. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
18.^ The Daily Herald St. Maarten (2007-07-09). "Curaçao IC ratifies 2 November accord". Archived from the original on 11 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-13.
19.^ "Curaçao referendum approves increasing autonomy". Newser. 2009-05-15. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
20.^ "NOS Nieuws – Antillen opgeheven op 10-10-2010". Nos.nl. 2009-11-18. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
21.^ "Status change means Dutch Antilles no longer exists". BBC News. 2010-10-10.
22.^ [www.wodc.nl/images/ob299-summary_tcm44-402600.pdf]
23.^ Waterfort
24.^ Fort Amsterdam
25.^ Fort Beekenburg
26.^ Fort Nassau
27.^ Riffort
28.^ "on top of the Waterfort"
29.^ (2011) GEA Curaçao. Ref. AR 48811 - Aqua Spa B.V. vs Renaissance Curaçao Resort & Casino (Riffort Village N.V.) - Riffort Village Exploitatie Maatschappij N.V. - Aruba Bank N.V.
30.^ Lien on Renaissance Bank Accounts. Amigoe Newspaper, 31 May 2011
31.^ "Climate Summaries". Meteorological Department Curaçao. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
32.^ (Dutch) "Doden door noodweer op Curaçao". Netherlands National News Agency. 1 November 2010. Retrieved 1 November 2010.
33.^ (Dutch) Staff Writer (2 November 2010). "Damdoorbraken in Curaçao door storm Tomas". Nieuws.nl. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
34.^ (Dutch) Elisa Koek (6 November 2010). "50 miljoen schade". versgeperst.com.
35.^ Redactie Aworaki (2 November 2010). "Twee doden op Curaçao door Tropische Storm Tomas". Aworaki.nl.
36.^ "Summary of Climatological Data, Period 1971-2000". Meteorological Department Curaçao. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
37.^ "1609_1_DEZ_Manual_binnenw.qxd" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-10-10.
38.^ Mindmagnet.com (2001-03-01). "Ecommerce at Curaçao Corporate". Ecommerceatcuracao.com. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
39.^ "Economic Data Overview". Investcuracao.com. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
40.^ By Frommer'S (2006-11-20). "Curaçao Beaches, New York Times". Travel.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2011-12-17.
41.^ Staff writers (October 6, 2010). "Space Experience Curaçao Announces Wet Lease of XCOR Lynx Suborbital". Space Media Network Promotions. Space-Travel.com. Retrieved 2010-10-06.
42.^ "Space Experience Curaçao". Home. Space Experience Curaçao. 2009-2010. Retrieved 2010-10-06.
43.^ EU Trade Program[dead link]
44.^ "USTR – Caribbean Basin Initiative". Ustr.gov. 2000-10-01. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
45.^ "Curaçao's X-Rated Resort". Global Writes. 2009. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
46.^ a b "Trafficking in Persons Report". U.S. State Dept. 2010-05-01. p. 192.
47.^ "A Language thrives in it's Caribbean Home". New York Times.
48.^ Anthony Liddicoat (15 June 2007). Language planning and policy: issues in language planning and literacy. Multilingual Matters. p. 149. ISBN 978-1-85359-977-4. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
49.^ "Households by the most spoken language in the household Population and Housing Census 2001". Central Bureau of Statistics.
50.^ a b South America, Central America and the Caribbean 2003 – Page 593. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2011-12-17.
51.^ Rosalind Latiner, Raby (2009). Community College Models: Globalization and Higher Education Reform. Springer. p. 260. ISBN 978-1-4020-9477-4. Retrieved 05-07-2013.
52.^ Boys of Summer
53.^ Curaçao's Caribbean sister islands, Aruba and Bonaire, are well known in the windsurfing world. Curaçao, which receives the same Caribbean trade winds as its siblings, has remained undiscovered by traveling windsurfers
54.^ Motion Magazine, June 2005
55.^ "Frommers Guide to Curaçao water sports". New York Times. 20 November 2006.
56.^ Curacao. "Curaçao's Landmark! - Review of Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge, Willemstad, Curacao". TripAdvisor. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
57.^ a b "Pontoon Bridge- Curacao Bridges- Queen Emma Willemstad, Dutch Queens, Landmarks". Curacao.com. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
58.^ a b "Distribution Information". Aqualectra.com. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
59.^ a b c Farid Rushdi (Analyst) (2009-03-20). "Washington Nationals Shairon Martis Ready To Fill Last Spot in Starting Rotation". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
60.^ "Nationals rookie Roger Bernadina steals the show with two homers, great catch against New York Mets". NY Daily News. 2010-05-12. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
61.^ "Gregorious, D-backs' SS of the future, shut down with elbow injury - MLB - SI.com". Sportsillustrated.cnn.com. 2013-02-12. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
62.^ Stephen, Eric (2012-10-16). "Kenley Jansen on his heart procedure, pitching, and his charity". True Blue LA. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
63.^ "Andruw Jones Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
64.^ '+comment.find('name').text()+'. "Curaçao’s Jair Jurrjens starring for Atlanta Braves". Infosurhoy.com. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
65.^ "Shairon Martis Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2013-05-19.
66.^ "Texas Rangers' Jurickson Profar won't play for Holland in World Baseball Classic - ESPN Dallas". Espn.go.com. 2013-02-18. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
67.^ "Jonathan Schoop Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. 1991-10-16. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
68.^ "Simmons makes bittersweet journey to Taiwan | braves.com: News". Atlanta.braves.mlb.com. 2013-02-23. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
69.^ By 1000awesomethingsaboutcuracao (2012-11-09). "853. Vurnon Anita | 1000 Awesome Things About Curaçao". 1000awesomethingsaboutcuracao.com. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
70.^ By Curaçao Sport (2013-01-04). "Voetbalbond Hoopt Op Riechedly Bazoer". Curaçaosport.com. Retrieved 2013-01-04.
71.^ "Roly Bonevacia". Alb.worldfootball.net. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
72.^ "Timothy Cathalina - Curaçao - Caribbean Football". Caribbeanfootballdatabase.com. 1985-01-24. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
73.^ "facts about Angelo Cijntje". Evi. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
74.^ "Dyron Daal - Curaçao - Caribbean Football". Caribbeanfootballdatabase.com. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
75.^ "Raily Ignacio - Curaçao - Caribbean Football". Caribbeanfootballdatabase.com. 1987-06-04. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
76.^ "Curaçao - T. Maria - Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
77.^ "Cuco Martina - Player profile". transfermarkt.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
78.^ [2]
79.^ "Rihairo Meulens - Player profile". transfermarkt.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
80.^ "Ricardo Van Rhijn Uniko Yu Di Korsou Den E Selekshon Oraño Djarason Den Wega Di Fogeo Kontra Italia" (in Papiamento). Notisia 360. 2013-04-02.
81.^ Radio Nederland Wereldomroep (2012-06-08). "Nederland is grootste concurrent van voetbal op Curaçao". RNW.com. Retrieved 2013-04-15.
82.^ By 1000awesomethingsaboutcuracao (2012-10-09). "879. Jetro Willems | 1000 Awesome Things About Curaçao". 1000awesomethingsaboutcuracao.com. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
83.^ Pierre Carrey. "Marc De Maar Wears First Ever Curaçao Champion's Jersey". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
84.^ Churandy Martina (2011-09-23). "Churandy Martina | Curaçao Athletics Association (CAB)". Curaçaoatletiekbond.com. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
85.^ "Jean-Julien Rojer Profile | Players | 2012 US Open Official Site - A USTA Event". 2012.usopen.org. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
External references [edit]
Habitantenan di Kòrsou, sinku siglo di pena i gloria: 1499–1999. Römer-Kenepa, NC, Gibbes, FE, Skriwanek, MA., 1999. Curaçao: Fundashon Curaçao 500.
Social movements, violence, and change: the May Movement in Curaçao. WA Anderson, RR Dynes, 1975. Columbus: Ohio State University Press.
Stemmen uit het Verleden. Van Buurt, G., Joubert, S., 1994, Curaçao.
Het Patroon van de Oude Curaçaose Samenleving. Hoetink, H., 1987. Amsterdam: Emmering.
Dede pikiña ku su bisiña: Papiamentu-Nederlands en de onverwerkt verleden tijd. van Putte, Florimon., 1999. Zutphen: de Walburg Pers
External links [edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Curaçao
Halman, Johannes and Robert Rojer (2008). Jan Gerard Palm Music Scores: Waltzes, Mazurkas, Danzas, Tumbas, Polkas, Marches, Fantasies, Serenades, a Galop and Music Composed for Services in the Synagogue and the Lodge. Amsterdam: Broekmans en Van Poppel.
Halman, Johannes I.M. and Rojer, Robert A. (2008). Jan Gerard Palm: Life and Work of a Musical Patriarch in Curaçao (In Dutch language). Leiden: KITLV.
Palm, Edgar (1978). Muziek en musici van de Nederlandse Antillen. Curaçao: E. Palm.
Boskaljon, Rudolph (1958). Honderd jaar muziekleven op Curaçao. Anjerpublicaties 3. Assen: Uitg. in samenwerking met het Prins Bernhard fonds Nederlandse Antillen door Van Gorcum.
Gobiernu.cw Official website of the government of Curaçao
Curaçao Tourism Board
Curaçao general information
Curaçao entry at The World Factbook
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