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Willemstad

Capital and the largest city of Curaçao

  • 5 min read
  • 7 chapters
Handelskade in Willemstad, Curacao. This is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Photographed by user Coolcaesar on September 27, 2024. This photo was taken with a camera whose clock was still set to Pacific
Coolcaesar · CC BY 4.0

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History

Punda was established in 1634, when the Dutch West India Company captured the island from Spain. The original name of Punda was de punt ('the point') in Dutch. The city was constructed as a walled city. It soon developed into one of the major centres of the Atlantic slave trade which triggered a rapid population growth. In 1674, the Curaçao synagogue was built by Sephardic Portuguese Jews from Amsterdam and Recife, Brazil who had settled in the city as traders. In the late 17th century, there were over 200 houses within the city walls.

In 1675, it was decided to construct the town of Pietermaai outside of the enclosed city. It was to be separated from the city by an area of about 500 m (550 yd) in which construction was not allowed so as not to obstruct the cannons in Fort Amsterdam.

The name "Willemstad" (William Town) is in honour of William II, Prince of Orange (1626–1650) and/or William III, Prince of Orange (1650–1702), is first recorded in 1680.

In 1707, the suburb of Otrobanda was founded. Otrobanda would become the cultural centre of Willemstad. Its name originated from the Papiamentu otro banda, which means "the opposite side". The suburb of Scharloo followed, however Willemstad continued to experience growth. By 1818, the population of Willemstad had grown to 9,536 people. On 13 May 1861, a decision was made to demolish the city walls, and build residential houses in the gap separating Willemstad from Pietermaai.

Around 1925, the booming oil and phosphate industry further stimulated growth, and resulted in the creation of new neighbourhoods. Between 1945 and 1955, Julianadorp and Emmastad were created by Royal Dutch Shell to house the new workers. In 1985, the oil refinery which employed 12,000 people was closed down by Shell. The Government of Curaçao decided to buy the refinery for ƒ 1.00 and take responsibility for all future pollution claims. In 1986, it was leased to the Venezuelan PDVSA, and reopened on a limited scale. In 2017, the PDVSA was hit by punitive sanctions of the United States Government, and attempts have been made to seize the refinery.

On 30 May 1969, the Curaçao uprising, a strike at a subcontractor of the oil refinery, turned into a riot. The riot resulted in two deaths, 300 arrests and a part of the historic centre being burnt down. The Netherlands Marine Corps was sent to Willemstad and the entire city centre was closed down.

In 1997, the centre of Willemstad and its former suburbs were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the 21st century, a largescale program of renovation started.

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