TrustCor | About | Curaçao About Curaçao TrustCor is a Panamanian registered company, with technical operations in Curaçao – one of the most secure, privacy oriented jurisdictions in the world. We spent significant time and money researching secure jurisdictions and determined traditional safe havens, such as Switzerland and Luxembourg, did not even come close to the privacy protection offered by Curaçao’s strict privacy laws. The Privacy Acts of Curaçao The Privacy Acts require compliance with the following four principles with regards to personal data: OBJECTIVE: Any storage and use of personal data must be in accordance with a clearly stated and justified objective. Personal data may not be stored and used for time periods that exceed meeting those specified objectives. ADEQUATE, PURPOSE ORIENTED, NOT EXESSIVE AND ACCURATE: Personal data is subject to the above requirements which shall be observed by the suppliers and the processors of the data. TRANSPARENCY AND RIGHT TO CORRECTION: Personal data is subject to transparency towards the consumers (data subjects). Consumers must be informed that their personal data is used with disclosure of the purpose.

The consumer has the right to, and must be given possibilities to, object to the way in which the data is collected if he/she is of the opinion that the collection and use of his/her personal data is not in accordance with applicable laws. (article 13 EVRM). The expenses involved for the consumer to have is objections heard shall not be excessive, and he/she must be able to direct him/herself to the Data Protection Board (College Bescherming Persoonsgegevens). DUE CARE: Personal data shall be supplied, processed and used in accordance with the laws and shall at all time be subject to principles of fairness and due care (article 6 LvBP/ WBP BES). Curaçao's Privacy Act Personal Data Protection Act of Curaçao On October 1st, 2013 the regulation for the processing of personal data entered into force in Curaçao. The Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) sets rules for the protection of personal data in relation to the recording and provision of personal data.

Whereas Privacy Acts are currently becoming part of the local laws in Curaçao and the BES Islands (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius en Saba), and are largely based on the principles in the laws of the Netherlands, such laws have already been adopted in the Netherlands many years ago and generally follow the principles established in the EU Privacy Directive of 1995 (Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data). Personal data encompasses all information that (could) disclose information directly tied to a natural person (“consumer”, or “data subject”). Such as the person’s characteristics, opinions or (payment) behavior. To evaluate whether data is “Personal Data”, the extent to which such data could be a factor in the way the person would be judged or treated in the community must be considered. Because the data that is stored by private communication company, such as TrustCor, could cause certain judgments about the consumer, we must adhere to the local Privacy Acts while storing and processing personal data.

In accordance with the Privacy Acts, the confidentiality and specified and limited distribution of the personal data must be ensured. The local Privacy Acts in Curaçao and the BES islands form the legal framework in which TrustCor operates. The Privacy Acts stipulate the boundaries within which the personal data which are submitted by the members are allowed to be stored, processed and shared. In addition, as part of the registration process, security protocols, the general terms and conditions and the credit application procedures, as well as requirements of the local banking laws (for the bank members) must be complied with. Privacy in Curaçao Article 12 of the constitution of Curaçao (Staatsregeling van het Land Curaçao, A.B. 2010, 86) describes the right of each individual that his/her privacy is to be respected. This principle is addressed in the Privacy Act of Curaçao (Landsverordening bescherming persoonsgegevens (AB 2010, 84). This Privacy Act is substantially the same as the Privacy Act of Bonaire and the Privacy Act of the Netherlands with the exception of certain articles that relate specifically to Europe have been omitted.

The Privacy Act of Curaçao entered into force on October 1, 2013. About Curaçao Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles Curaçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast, that forms part of the Dutch Caribbean. The Country of Curaçao, which includes the main island and the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao ("Little Curaçao"), is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It has a population of over 150,000 on an area of 444 km2 (171 sq mi) and its capital is Willemstad. Prior to 10 October 2010, when the Netherlands Antilles was dissolved, Curaçao was administered as the Island Territory of Curaçao, one of five island territories of the former Netherlands Antilles. Curaçao, as well as the rest of the ABC islands and also Trinidad and Tobago, lies on the continental shelf of South America, and is thus geologically considered to lie entirely in South America.

Curaçao's highest point is the Sint Christoffelberg 375 m (1,230 ft). The Netherlands Antilles, also referred to as the Dutch Antilles, was an autonomous Caribbean country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Although the country has been dissolved, all of its constituent islands remain part of the kingdom under a different legal status and the term is still used to refer these Dutch Caribbean islands. Dissollution of Netherlands Antilles The Netherlands Antilles was dissolved on 10 October 2010. Curaçao and Sint Maarten became distinct constituent countries alongside Aruba, which had become a distinct constituent country in 1986; whereas Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba became special municipalities within the Netherlands proper. The government of Curaçao 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. Convicted felons are held at the Curaçao Centre for Detention and Correction prison.

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\u201d. Cooperative Security Location Curaçao is a Cooperative Security Location (CSL), a U.S. military term for facilities used for regional training in counterterrorism and interdiction of drug trafficking, and also to provide contingency access to continental areas. "A CSL is a host-nation facility with little or no permanent U.S. personnel presence, which may contain pre-positioned equipment and/or logistical arrangements and serve both for security cooperation activities and contingency access." These sites were established as the Pentagon began to address regional threats primarily in Africa and Latin America following its 2004 global posture review. They are sometimes referred to as "lily pads." The establishment of such bases has accelerated under the Obama administration, especially with the pivot to the Asia Pacific region and increased operations in Africa. Economy Curaçao has an open economy, with tourism, international trade, shipping services, refining, storage (oil and bunkering) and international financial services being the most important sectors.

Curaçao's economy is well developed and supports a high standard of living, ranking 46th in the world in terms of GDP (PPP) per capita and 27th in the world in terms of nominal GDP per capita. Curaçao possesses a high income economy, as defined by the World Bank. Activities related to the port of Willemstad (like the Free Trade Zone) 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. Water and Electricity Aqualectra, a private company, and full member of CARILEC, delivers potable water and electricity to the island. Rates are controlled by the government. Water is produced by reverse osmosis or desalinization. It services 69,000 households and companies using 130,000 water and electric meters. Hato International Airport is located on the island. Its main runway parallels, and is adjacent to, the northern coast. The Queen Emma (semi-open), and the Queen Juliana are the primary bridges.

The Queen Emma pontoon bridge, 67 meters (220 ft) long, connects pedestrians between the Punda and Otrobanda districts. This swings open to allow the passage of ships to and from the port. The bridge was originally opened in 1888 and the current bridge was installed in 1939. 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 Caribbean. TrustCor's vision is to provide state-of-the-art, simple to use, privacy enhancing products and services for businesses and individuals. Using our privacy and security suite, certificate authority, global infrastructure, geo-jurisdiction advantage, and extensive expertise, will protect your digital footprint. The Dutch Caribbean - Dutch Caribbean Legal Portal Dutch Caribbean Legal Portal The Dutch Caribbean The Dutch Caribbean is the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, i.e. the countries Aruba, Curacao, St. Maarten and the islands of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba (together also referred to as the BES-islands, three individual public entities within the country the Netherlands).

DUTCH CARIBBEAN The term Dutch Caribbean refers to the islands of the Kingdom of the Netherlands that are located in the Caribbean sea. Three of the six main islands presently under Dutch sovereignty are constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands: Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten (which actually comprises only the southern half of the island of Saint Martin). The three remaining islands of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba are special municipalities of the Netherlands, which is the fourth constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (and mainly located in Europe). These are collectively known as the Caribbean Netherlands. There are also several smaller islands, like Klein Curaçao and Klein Bonaire, that belong to one of the island countries or special municipalities. All the islands have formerly been part of the Netherlands Antilles. Aruba gained autonomy decades earlier than the other islands, seceding as a separate country in 1986. Curaçao and Sint Maarten followed upon the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles in 2010, while Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba were integrated into the Netherlands proper instead.

Source: Wikipedia: Constitutional changes Until 10 October 2010 the Netherlands Antilles formed together with Aruba and the Netherlands, the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Netherlands Antilles, comprising the islands of Curacao, St. Maarten, Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius, was an autonomous country in the Kingdom. After a complex process of dismantling, the Netherlands Antilles ceased to exist as from 10 October 2010. Between June 2000 and April 2005, each of the five islands of the former Netherlands Antilles held a referendum on its future status. Curacao and St. Maarten both voted for a "status aparte". As a result thereof, Curacao and St. Maarten are separate countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, like Aruba has been since 1986. The islands of Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius, commonly referred to as the BES-islands, form a public entity (municipality) within the country the Netherlands.

Consequently since 10 October 2010, the Kingdom of the Netherlands comprises of four constituent countries: the Netherlands, Aruba, Curacao and St. Maarten, each having an autonomous status subject to and in accordance with the “Charter of the Kingdom of the Netherlands" (Statuut voor het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden). ARUBA Geography, Climate & Demographics Aruba is located in the south of the Caribbean Sea. Along with Bonaire and Curacao, these three islands are often referred to as the ABC-islands. The Aruba time zone is four hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). In the Köppen climate classification, Aruba features a tropical savanna climate. Temperature varies little from 28 °C (82.4 °F), mostly around 33°C, moderated by constant trade winds from the Atlantic Ocean, which comes from north-east. Yearly precipitation barely exceeds 400 mm (15.7 in). The capital and largest city of Aruba is Oranjestad. the population of Aruba stand at approx. 100.000 inhanbitants.

Aruba's population is estimated to be 80% mestizo and 20% other ethnicities. Recently there has been substantial immigration to the island from neighboring American and Caribbean nations, possibly attracted by the higher paid jobs. In 2007, new immigration laws were introduced to help control the growth of the population by restricting foreign workers to a maximum of three years residency on the island. Demographically, Aruba has felt the impact of its proximity to Venezuela, far more so than neighboring Curaçao and Bonaire. Much of Aruba's families are present by way of Venezuela and there is a seasonal increase of Venezuelans living in second homes. Languages The official languages are Dutch and – since 2003 – Papiamento. Papiamento is the predominant language on Aruba. A creole language spoken on Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao, it incorporates words from other languages including Portuguese, West African languages, Dutch, and Spanish. Like many islands in the region, Spanish is also often spoken. English has historical connections (with the British Empire) and is known by many; English usage has also grown due to tourism.

Other common languages spoken based on the size of their community are Portuguese, Chinese, German and French. The last is offered in high school and college, since a high percentage of Aruban students continue their studies in Europe. Currency The monetary unit of Aruba is the Aruban Florin (AWG). The official rate at which banks accept US dollar banknotes is Awg. 1,77 and checks at Awg. 1,78. The rate of exchange granted by shops and hotels ranges from Awg. 1,75 to Awg. 1,80 per US dollar. US Dollars are widely accepted in Aruba, and banks may exchange other foreign currency. Law The Aruban legal system a civil law system and is based on the Dutch model.

Instead of juries or grand juries, in Aruba, legal jurisdiction lies with the Court of First Instance on Aruba (Gerecht in Eerste Aanleg), the Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (Gemeenschappelijk Hof van Justitie van Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten en van Bonaire, Sint Eustatius en Saba) and the Supreme Court of Justice of the Netherlands (Hoge Raad der Nederlanden). The Caribbean Netherlands collectively refers to the three special municipalities (officially public bodies) of the Netherlands that are located overseas, in the Caribbean: Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba or the BES islands. Geography, Climate & Demographics Bonaire is part of the ABC islands within the Leeward Antilles island chain off the Venezuelan coast. The Leeward Antilles have a mixed volcanic and coral origin. Saba and St. Eustatius are part of the SSS islands within the "Windward Islands" (Bovenwindse Eilanden).

They are located east of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Although in the English language they are considered part of the Leeward Islands,[clarification needed] French, Spanish, Dutch and the English spoken locally consider them part of the Windward Islands. The Windward Islands are all of volcanic origin and hilly, leaving little ground suitable for agriculture. The highest point is Mount Scenery, 877 metres (2,877 ft), on Saba (also the highest point in all the Kingdom of the Netherlands). The BES time zone is four hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). The BES islands enjoy a tropical climate with warm weather all year round. The Leeward Islands are warmer and drier than the Windward islands. In summer, the Windward Islands can be subject to hurricanes. The capital and largest city of Bonaire is Kalendijk. Bonaire’s population stands at approx. 15.000 inhabitants. Most of the inhabitants are concentrated around Kralendijk. The population has a variety of ethnical background. On Bonaire fifty three per cent of the population currently residing on Bonaire was born locally, which means that nearly fifty percent of persons is born abroad.

The capital and largest city of Saba is The Bottom. has a population of approx. 1800 inhabitants who come from all over the world. The island's small size has led to a fairly small number of island families, who can trace their last names back to around a half-dozen families. The capital and largest city of St. Eustatius is Oranjestad. St. Eustatius has a population of approx. 3500 inhabitants. The population of St. Eustatius is predominantly of African descent. Languages Dutch is the official language of Bonaire, as it is part of the Netherlands. Nevertheless, Papiamentu is widely spoken and is recognized by the government of the Netherlands. The official language of Saba and St. Eustatius is also Dutch. Despite the island's Dutch affiliation, English is the principal language spoken on Saba and has been used in its school system since the 19th century. English can therefore be used in communications of and to the government. In St. Eustatius English is also recognized as an administrative language. A local English-based creole is also spoken informally.

Currency Until 1 January 2011, the three islands used the Netherlands Antillean guilder and after that all three switched to the US dollar. Law The Bes islands have a civil law system based on the legislation of The Netherlands. For many Dutch laws there is a special BES version. Legal jurisdiction lies with the Court of First Instance on Bonaire (Gerecht in Eerste Aanleg), the Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (Gemeenschappelijk Hof van Justitie van Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten en van Bonaire, Sint Eustatius en Saba) and the Supreme Court of Justice of the Netherlands (Hoge Raad der Nederlanden). CURACAO Geography, Climate & Demographics Like Aruba and Bonaire, Curaçao is a transcontinental island that is geographically part of South America but is also considered to be part of West Indies and one of the Leeward Antilles.

Curaçao and her uninhabited island Klein Curaçao ("Little Curaçao") are located in the southern Caribbean Sea, nearby the Venezuelan coast. Curaçao is the largest and most populous of the three ABC islands (for Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao) of the Lesser Antilles, specifically the Leeward Antilles. It has a land area of 444 square kilometres (171 square miles).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). The Curacao time zone is four hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Curaçao has a semiarid climate with a dry season from January to September and a wet season from October to December. 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 capital and largest city of Curacao is Willemstad. The population of Curacao stands at approx. 145.000 inhabitants. Because of its history, the island's population comes from many 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. 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. Languages The languages widely spoken are Papiamentu, Dutch, English, and Spanish. The official languages of Curacao are Dutch, English and Papiamentu. Dutch is still the language for administration and legal matters. Currency The monetary unit of Curacao is the Netherlands Antillean Guilder (ANG) and often referred to in Papiamentu as "florin" (Nafl). The exchange rate has been pegged to the US Dollar since 1971. 1 U.S. dollar = approx. 1.72 Netherlands Antilles guilders.

Law Curaçao's legal system is based on the Dutch Civil law system, with some English common law influence. Legal jurisdiction lies with the Court of First Instance on Curacao (Gerecht in Eerste Aanleg), the Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (Gemeenschappelijk Hof van Justitie van Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten en van Bonaire, Sint Eustatius en Saba) and the Supreme Court of Justice of the Netherlands (Hoge Raad der Nederlanden). ST. MAARTEN Geography, Climate & Demographics St. Maartenis located about 250km north from Continental-Guadeloupe and belongs to the so-called Northern Archipelago. Itencompasses the southern half of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin, while the northern half of the island constitutes the French overseas collectivity of Saint-Martin. The island measures 37 square miles, of which 16 square miles is Dutch territory and 21 square miles belongs to French Saint Martin.

The Atlantic Ocean lies to the isle's East, to the West is the Caribbean Sea. The island is located at 18N, 63W or 144 miles/300km Southeast of Puerto Rico, in the Leeward Islands of the West Indies, i.e. in the middle of the Northern Caribbean islands. St. Maarten/ St. Martin is the smallest inhabited sea island in the world. To the south, St Maarten is predominantly low-lying and dotted with salt pans and lagoons. Towards the center and north of the island there are hills and valleys and the terrain is more rugged. The highest point on the island is Pic Paradis with an altitude of 1,400 feet. The vegetation ranges from cacti and palm trees to hibiscus and other flowering shrubs and trees native to the Caribbean and other tropical regions of the world, and there are still some stands of forest in the hills. The St. Maarten time zone is four hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). The average yearly air temperature is 27 °C (min 17 °C, max 35 °C) and sea surface temperature 26.4 °C.

The total average yearly rainfall is 995 mm. The capital of St. Maarten is Philipsburg. The largest city is Lower Prince's Quarter. The population of the entire island is approx. 74.000 inhabitants, with 38.000 living on the Dutch side and 36.000 on the French side. Despite its small sizee over 117 nationalities reside in Saint-Martin and Sint-Maarten, the antillians, french,dutch, americans, indians, spanish, british, and more... Languages The official languages are Dutch and English. A local English-based creole dialect is also spoken. At the French side the official language is French. Currency The currency of St. Maarten is the Netherlands Antillean Guilder (ANG) and often referred to in Papiamentu as "florin" (Nafl). The exchange rate has been pegged to the US Dollar since 1971. 1 U.S. dollar = approx. 1.72 Netherlands Antilles guilders. At the French side the currency is the Euro. Law The total island of St. Maarten contains two jurisdictions (legal systems), i.e.

a jurisdiction on the Dutch part of the island, as well as a French jurisdiction. The Dutch part of St.Maarten has a civil law system and is based on the Dutch model. Instead of juries or grand juries, in Aruba, legal jurisdiction lies with the Court of First Instance on Aruba (Gerecht in Eerste Aanleg), the Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba(Gemeenschappelijk Hof van Justitie van Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten en van Bonaire, Sint Eustatius en Saba) and the Supreme Court of Justice of the Netherlands (Hoge Raad der Nederlanden). As of 10-10-2010 and under the ‘National Ordinance on Transitional Provisions on legislation and administration’ (AB 2010/30 St. Maarten) national ordinances, national decrees, directing general measures and ministerial order with general effect of the Netherlands Antilles, acquire the status of national ordinances, national decrees, directing general measures and ministerial orders with general effect of St.

Maarten. Island ordinances and island orders, directing general measures from the island territory of St. Maarten acquire the status of national ordinances respectively island orders, directing general measures, of St. Maarten. Curaçao | AMDC Law AMDC Law Locations Curaçao Curaçao is a southern Caribbean island located off the Venezuelan coast. Curaçao is rich in history and is home to the colorful Willemstad, its capital city, which has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Since the colonial times Curaçao has been a center for trade and it shows in the beautiful buildings, which adorn Willemstad’s city center and outskirts. Curaçao possesses relatively good quality infrastructure, including one of the busiest ports in the Caribbean and state of the art telecommunication networks. Political Status After the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles on 10 October 2010, Curaçao obtained its autonomous status, making it next to The Netherlands, Aruba and St Maarten one of the four constituent countries of The Kingdom of The Netherlands. The citizens of all the constituent countries within the Kingdom share one nationality, which is Dutch.

As a self-governing country within the Kingdom, Curaçao is in principle responsible of its own internal affairs. The head of state is King Willem Alexander of the Netherlands, who is represented by the Governor of Curaçao, appointed to serve six-year terms. Legislation is enacted by a 21 member Staten (in Papiamento: Parlamento) together with the Government. Members of the Staten are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms. The Government is formed by a nine-member cabinet, which is typically backed by a majority in the Staten. Legal System Curaçao is a civil law country, meaning that its laws are written (codified) into a referable system, which forms the primary source of law. The main source of private law is the Civil Code of Curaçao, which comprehensively deals with matters related to business, contracts and liability. The legal jurisdiction lies with the Court of First Instance of Curaçao, the decisions of which may be appealed to the Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curaçao, St Maarten and of Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba.

Decisions of that Court may in turn be appealed to the Supreme Court of the Netherlands in The Hague. Economy Curaçao is considered the cradle of offshore financial services and today that sector still flourishes with corporations taking advantage of Curaçao’s legal, tax and e-commerce infrastructure. Having one of the busiest harbors in the Caribbean, including dry dock and bunkering facilities, the maritime industry plays a significant role in the island’s economy. Oil refining and transshipment have also been important for Curaçao since the 1920s. Furthermore, the island has two freezone’s, one at the Willemstad harbor and one at the airport. Tourism is also a major contributor to Curaçao’s economy. Jurisdictions curacao : definition of curacao and synonyms of curacao (English) Origin of the name Map from 1562 with Curaçao indicated as Cúracao The origin of the name Curaçao is debated. The explanation gathering more consensus among the Portuguese and the Spanish is that the word derives from the Portuguese word for the state of becoming cured (curação). The reason for this is that sailors travelling for months in the sea would often contract scurvy .

It appears that in one of such long travels, a group of Portuguese sailors landed for the first time in Curação and were cured from scurvy, probably after eating fruit with vitamin C. The island was known from then on as Ilha da Curação (Island of Healing). Another 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. Another explanation is that Curaçao was the name the indigenous peoples of Curaçao had used to label themselves (Joubert and Van Buurt, 1994). This theory is supported by early Spanish accounts, which refer to the indigenous peoples as "Indios Curaçaos" which means "Healing Indians" as the aboriginals were likely already aware of the disease called scurvy and its cure from past experience as in North American natives. After 1525 the island appeared on Spanish maps as "Curaçote", "Curasaote", and "Curasaore".

By the 17th century the island was known on maps as "Curaçao" or "Curazao". On a map created by Hieronymus Cock in 1562 in Antwerp , the island was referred to as Quracao. [11] 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). Today, locally, the island is known as "Dushi Korsou" (Sweet Curaçao). History Main article: History of Curaçao Map of Curaçao in 1836 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 many things that colonists were interested in, such as gold deposits. However, the natural harbour of Willemstad proved quickly 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. In the French Dutch War following his successes at Cayenne and Tobago, the comte Jean 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 of the 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.

Dutch merchants brought slaves from Africa under a contract with Spain called Asiento . Under this agreement, large numbers of slaves were sold and shipped to various destinations in South America and the Caribbean. 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 Negro 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.

[12] Curaçao's proximity to South America translated into 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. Luis Brión , 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.

The end of slavery caused economic hardship, prompting many inhabitants of Curaçao to emigrate to other islands, such as to Cuba to work in sugar cane plantations . Other former slaves had no place to go and remained working for the plantation owner in the so called Paga Tera system. This was an instituted order in which the Negro leases a piece of land and in exchange the Negro must give up most of his harvest to the former slave master. The Negroes were once again forced to work in mass production as in the former days otherwise they would not have enough for themselves after the lord's cut. This lasted till the beginning of the 20th century. 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 fuelling 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. 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 May 30, 1969. The civil unrest fuelled a social movement that resulted in the local Afro-Caribbean population attaining more influence over the political process (Anderson and Dynes 1975). The island developed a tourist industry and offered low corporate taxes to encourage many companies to set up holdings in order to avoid rigorous schemes elsewhere. In the mid 1980s Royal Dutch Shell sold the refinery for a symbolic amount to a local government consortium. The ageing 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. [13] 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.

In 1984 the Island Council of Curaçao inaugurated the National Flag and the official anthem of the island. This was done on July 2, which was the date when in 1954 the first elected island council was instituted. Since then, the movement to separate the island from the Antillean federation has steadily become stronger. Due to an economic slump in recent years, emigration to the Netherlands has been high. Attempts by Dutch politicians to stem this flow of emigration have exacerbated already tense Dutch-Curaçao relations. Immigration from surrounding Caribbean islands, Latin American countries and the Netherlands has taken place. Panorama of Curaçao, Willemstad and Queen Juliana Bridge center Geography Like Aruba and Bonaire , Curaçao is a transcontinental island that is geographically part of South America but is also considered to be part of West Indies and one of the Leeward Antilles . Curaçao and the other ABC Islands are in terms of climate, geology, flora and fauna more akin to nearby Paraguaná Peninsula , Guajira Peninsula , Isla Margarita , Araya and the nearby Venezuelan areas of the Coro region and Falcón State .

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). Ten kilometers off the coast of Curaçao, to the south-east, lies the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao ("Little Curaçao"). Beaches Curaçao is known for its coral reefs, used for scuba diving . The beaches on the south side contain many popular diving spots. An unusual feature of Curaçao diving is that the sea floor drops steeply within a few hundred feet of the shore, and the reef can easily be reached without a boat. This drop-off is known as the "blue edge." Strong currents and lack of beaches make the rocky northern coast dangerous for swimming and diving, but experienced divers sometimes dive there from boats when conditions permit. The southern coast is very different and offers remarkably calm waters.

The coastline of Curaçao features many bays and inlets, many of them suitable for mooring. 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. Westpunt Climate Curaçao has a semiarid climate with a dry season from January to September and a wet season from October to December. 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 Omar in 2008.

A landfall of a hurricane in Curaçao has not occurred since the 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 Cesar in 1996, Joan-Miriam in 1988, and Tomas in 2010. The latter brushed Curaçao as a tropical storm in early November, dropping as much as 265 mm (10.4 in) of precipitation on the territory. [15] This made Tomas one of the wettest events in the island's history, [16] as well as one of the most devastating; its flooding killed two people and caused over NAƒ60 million (US$28 million) in damage. [17] [18] Climate data for Curaçao Source no. 2: Hong Kong Observatory (sun only). [20] Politics The Queen Emma and Queen Juliana bridges. The Groot Davelaar, one of approximately 100 plantation houses on the island.

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 '60s. 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.

[21] 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. [22] Dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles went into effect on 10 October 2010. [23] 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. [24] Education Historically, education on Curaçao, Aruba and Bonaire had been 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).

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. Recent political debate has centered on the issue of Papiamentu becoming the sole language of instruction. Proponents of making Papiamentu the sole language of instruction argue that it will help to 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. 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. [25] The main institute of higher learning is the University of Curaçao , enrolling 2,100 students.

[25] Economy Main article: Economy of Curaçao 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. Curaçao also became a centre for slave trade during the 17th and 18th centuries. In the 19th century, phosphate mining also became significant. All the while, Curaçao's fine deep water ports and ideal location in the Caribbean were crucial in making it a significant centre of commerce. Curaçao has one of the highest standards of living in the Caribbean, with a GDP per capita of US$ 20,500 (2009 est.) and a well-developed infrastructure. The main industries of the island include oil refining , tourism and financial services . Shipping, international trade and other activities related to the port of Willemstad (like the Free Zone) make a contribution to the economy. To achieve the government's aims to make its economy more diverse, significant efforts are being made to attract more foreign investments.

This policy is called the 'Open Arms' policy with one of its main features to focus heavily on information technology companies. [26] [27] [28] For its size, the island has a considerably diverse economy which does not rely mostly on tourism alone as is the case on many other Caribbean islands. 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. [29] [30] Curaçao has business ties 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 many products to European markets, [31] 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. [32] Prostitution is tolerated. A large open-air brothel called " Le Mirage " or "Campo Alegre" operates near the airport since the 1940s.

As prostitution exists in most parts of the world, Curaçao has implemented a different approach on handling prostitution. By monitoring, containing and regulating it, the workers in these establishments are given a safe environment and access to medical practitioners. Despite this, it should be noted that the U.S. State Department stated,"Curaçao, Aruba, and Saint Maarten are destination islands for women trafficked for the sex trade from Peru, Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti, according to local observers." [33] Officials in the government frequently underestimate the extent of human trafficking problems. [33] Demographics A Bulawaya dance Because of its history, the island's population comes from many 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. 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. The years before and after World War II also saw an influx of Ashkenazi Jews from Eastern Europe, many of whom were Romanian Jews .

In the early 19th century, many Portuguese and Lebanese migrated to Curaçao attracted by the financial possibilities of the island. East and South Asian migrants arrived during the economic boom of the early 20th century. There are also many recent immigrants from neighbouring countries, most notably Venezuela , but also from the Dominican Republic , Haiti , the Anglophone Caribbean and Colombia . In recent years the influx of Dutch pensioners has increased significantly, dubbed locally as pensionados. Religion 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, and other diaspora African religions. Like elsewhere in Latin America, Pentecostalism is on the rise. There are also practising Muslims as well as Hindus . Though small in size, Curaçao's Jewish community has a significant impact on history. Curaçao is home to 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. The Jewish Community of Curaçao also played a key role in supporting early Jewish congregations in the United States in the 18th and 19th centuries, including in New York City and the Touro Synagogue . Culture Curaçao is a polyglot society. The languages widely spoken are Papiamentu , Dutch , English , and Spanish . Most people on the island (85 percent) speak Papiamentu. Many people can speak all four of these languages. Spanish and English both have a long historical presence on the island alongside Dutch and Papiamentu. Spanish remained an important language throughout the 18th and 19th centuries as well due to the close economic ties with nearby Venezuela and Colombia. The use of English dates back to the early 19th century, when Curaçao became a British colony. In fact, after the restoration of Dutch rule in 1815, colonial officers already noted wide use of English among the island (van Putte 1999).

Recent immigration from the Anglophone Caribbean and the SSS islands of ( St. Eustatius , Saba and Sint Maarten )—where the primary language is English—as well as the ascendancy of English as a world language, has intensified the use of English on Curaçao. For much of colonial history, Dutch was never as widely spoken as English or Spanish and remained exclusively a language for administration and legal matters; popular use of Dutch increased towards the end of the 19th century and the early 20th century (van Putte 1999). Curaçao is one of just a handful of social language planning instances where creole language became a medium to acquire basic literacy with introduction of Papiamentu as a language of primary school education in 1993. [34] Literature 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 Local food is called Kriyoyo (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 many 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 Since 2001, the Pabao Little League baseball team from Willemstad, Curaçao has made it all the way to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania . The team features players from ages 11 and 12 who get a chance to represent the Caribbean region. In 2004 the team from Willemstad, Curaçao won the title game against the United States champion from Thousand Oaks, California . The following year the team from Curaçao made it right back to the championship game but were defeated by Ewa Beach, Hawaii after Michael Memea hit a walk-off home run to win the title game for Hawaii . In 2007 the team lost to Japan in the International Championship game. 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). In addition, Major League player and All Star Andruw Jones and Tyrone Maria , currently playing in Aruba , are Curaçaoans. The 2010 documentary film, Boys of Summer , 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 many formidable teams, including Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, and earning a spot in Williamsport. The prevailing trade winds and warm water make Curaçao a very good location for windsurfing, although the nearby islands of Aruba and Bonaire are far better known in the sport. [35] [36] 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. Similarly, the warm clear water around the island makes Curaçao a Mecca for diving.

[37] Notable residents Famous people from Curaçao include: In arts and culture ^ "Frommers Guide to Curaçao water sports. Scuba divers and snorkellers can expect spectacular scenery in waters with visibility often exceeding 30m (98 ft) at the Curaçao Underwater Marine Park, which stretches along 20 km (12.43 mi) of Curaçao's southern coastline" . New York Times. . References 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 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. , broekmans.com 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. , kitlv.nl Boskaljon, Rudolph (1958). Honderd jaar muziekleven op Curaçao . Anjerpublicaties 3.

Assen: Uitg. in samenwerking met het Prins Bernhard fonds Nederlandse Antillen door Van Gorcum. . External links Kingdom concludes new agreement with Venezuela | Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the UN, United States Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the UN, United States Kingdom concludes new agreement with Venezuela News article | June 5, 2013 The Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao and St Maarten have entered into an agreement with Venezuela to expand political and economic cooperation. Foreign minister Frans Timmermans signed the agreement in Caracas, together with Prime Minister Mike Eman of Aruba and Prime Minister Daniel Hodge of Curaçao. ‘The Kingdom’s four constituent countries are all interested in closer ties with Venezuela,’ said Mr Timmermans. ‘We want to be a bridge between Europe and Latin America. This is a relationship with huge potential: social, political and economic. This visit is an important first step.’ The four countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands have close connections to Venezuela. In terms of area, Venezuela is the Kingdom’s largest neighbour. Aruba and Curaçao are located just off the Venezuelan coast.

The countries are linked by extensive commercial relationships and family ties. Around 4,500 Venezuelans live in the Netherlands, while 1,500 Dutch nationals live in Venezuela. Among other things, the agreement seeks to deepen cooperation in the fields of agriculture, water management, the environment and energy. There is demand in Venezuela for expertise and technology in floriculture and potato farming. Shell has technology that can benefit the Venezuelan petroleum company PDVSA. Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world. Mr Timmermans also finalised a treaty between the Kingdom and Venezuela on flights involving state and military aircraft through Venezuela’s international airspace by officially submitting the notification of the Netherlands’ ratification to the Venezuelan foreign minister, Elias Jaua. After leaving Venezuela, Mr Timmermans will pay introductory visits to Aruba, Curaçao and St Maarten. As a Kingdom minister, he is responsible for the foreign policy of the entire Kingdom, including the Caribbean countries.

Aruba Versus Curacao: Caribbean Showdown Aruba Versus Curacao: Caribbean Showdown January 16, 2014 / By Matt Long A few months ago I found myself in the Caribbean working on a project with Marriott Resorts of Mexico and the Caribbean. The goal was to highlight their properties and islands and show why they’re great places to visit. Two of the islands though intrigued me especially, and given their similar histories and location I thought it would be fun to compare and contrast them and show why someone would pick one destination over the other. At first glance Aruba and Curacao seem very similar. They’re both Dutch islands, they are about 75 miles apart from each other off of the coast of Venezuela and they even have most of the same cultural influences. But believe me, the two islands couldn’t be more different. These differences aren’t a bad thing; it’s just that some travelers will prefer one over the other depending on the type of vacation experience they’re looking for. Curacao The Dutch Caribbean is a group of constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It’s a confusing legal arrangement, since they’re both independent and part of the Netherlands.

Regardless of their official status, these countries still strongly identify with the Netherlands, perhaps none more than Curacao. The Dutch West India Company founded the capital of Willemstad in the 17th century and eventually made the island the center of its Atlantic slave trade; a troubled past that still casts a shadow into the 21st century. Today of course the island depends heavily on tourism, but I was surprised to learn that European tourists were the primary visitors to Curacao. I found that intriguing since Aruba is very close, has a similar history and yet that island depends more on North American tourists. It told me there had to be a reason. Looking at the pros and cons of both islands should shed some light on that. Pros It’s hard to compare Caribbean islands because one has to accept the fact that most have beautiful beaches and resorts. They just do, so I think that has to be taken out of the equation. One then has to look for other features that make the islands different or interesting. For Curacao, the greatest pro is the capital city of Willemstad. Instead of being ignored or hidden, the city is the focal point of a trip to Curacao, as it should be.

This UNESCO World Heritage City is a beautifully preserved and historic town, famous for its multi-colored Dutch-style buildings along the waterfront. Walking through the town is a great experience, especially if you venture into the less touristy otrabande side . Cons Maybe it’s because of the influx of tourists from Europe, but I found the island to be fairly expensive. I don’t just mean the high-end boutiques, but in little ways like simple meals and taxis. I had a lunch in an admittedly touristy part of town that was completely lackluster, and yet incredibly expensive. Walking around town I found some decent looking restaurants, but not many and all were overpriced. Transportation around Curacao isn’t easy either and a cab ride from your hotel or resort to other parts of the island can be very pricey. Aruba Like Curacao, Aruba was also first under Spanish and then Dutch administration as part of the Dutch West India Company. Its size and desert-like weather conditions though meant it wasn’t given as much attention as islands like Curacao. Instead, the island existed quietly under the radar for centuries, having neither plantations or gold, until tourism took hold in the 20th century.

Pros Yes, Aruba has beautiful beaches but it also has a stunning interior that surprises most first-time visitors. Unlike many other Caribbean islands, Aruba is dry and desert-like with more cacti than palm trees. But this unusual ecosystem is what I think makes it different and ultimately a beautiful place to explore. The best activity to see more of this terrain is to rent a 4×4 for the day and take off into the interior and along the rocky north coast of the island. Massive boulders seemingly placed by giants and rocky cliffs make a day away from the beach a fun adventure. Cons Although much smaller than Curacao it’s somehow more touristy. I blame my fellow Americans for this odd differentiation. The entire beachfront is covered in wall-to-wall resorts, each offering pretty much the same thing; nice rooms and beautiful beaches. That’s fine and for most people that’s all they want on a trip to the Caribbean. What was really disappointing to me though was the capital Oranjestad. Unlike Willemstad on Curacao, there is little interesting in this city that is instead covered in shops, boutiques and tacky restaurants. Of particular dismay was the multi-level Pizza Hut. Not exactly the escape from reality most people look for.

Conclusion Like most aspects of travel, the decision as to which of these two islands to visit is entirely subjective and personal. I really enjoyed my time on both islands, but for very different reasons. Curacao appealed to me for its history and the beauty of the historic buildings in Willemstad. Even though the Curacao Marriott Beach Resort has stunning views and great beaches, I didn’t really spend much time on them. Instead I was much more interested in the island as a whole. Aruba was essentially the opposite experience for me. While a guest of the Marriott Aruba Resort , it was all about the surf and sand and while I did manage to get out and see more of the island, I much preferred to stay at the resort relaxing. So it seems to me that the islands appeal to two different types of travelers, which also may be why one is more popular with Europeans and the other Americans. Neither option is bad, choosing one over the other does not make you a good or bad tourist, it’s just a matter of personal preference. I’m positive though that whichever one you choose you will enjoy because at the end of the day you will be on an island in the Caribbean, and how bad could that possibly be?

Which island do you think you’d enjoy most? I was in the Caribbean on a project with Marriott Hotels and Resorts of Mexico and the Caribbean for which I was compensated for my time, but as always all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own. Dutch overseas territories | Pearltrees Dutch overseas territories > Tfkempo > General knowledge > Nations > Europe > The European Union > Demographics of the European Union > Member nations > Special member state territories and the European Union > Overseas countries and territories Aruba. Aruba is one of the four constituent countries that form the Kingdom of the Netherlands, along with the Netherlands, Curaçao and Sint Maarten. The citizens of these countries all share a single nationality: Dutch. Aruba has no administrative subdivisions, but, for census purposes, is divided into eight regions. Its capital is Oranjestad. Unlike much of the Caribbean region, Aruba has a dry climate and an arid, cactus-strewn landscape. This climate has helped tourism as visitors to the island can reliably expect warm, sunny weather.

History[edit] Aruba's first inhabitants are thought to have been Caquetíos Amerinds from the Arawak tribe, who migrated there from Venezuela to escape attacks by the Caribs. Europeans first learned of Aruba following the explorations for Spain by Amerigo Vespucci and Alonso de Ojeda in the summer of 1499. Bonaire. Bonaire was part of the Netherlands Antilles until the country's dissolution on 10 October 2010,[5] when the island (including Klein Bonaire) became a special municipality within the country of the Netherlands. History[edit] Original inhabitants[edit] European arrival[edit] Spanish period[edit] Dutch period[edit] The Dutch West India Company was founded in 1621. While Curaçao emerged as a center of the slave trade, Bonaire became a plantation of the Dutch West India Company. British period[edit] Emancipation[edit] From 1816 until 1868, Bonaire remained a government plantation.

Allotment[edit] In 1867 the government sold most of the public lands, and in 1870 they sold the saltpans. World War II[edit] Caribbean Netherlands. Although they are part of the Netherlands, these special municipalities will remain overseas territories[4] of the European Union at least until 2015.[5] Bonaire (including the islet of Klein Bonaire) is located east of Aruba and Curaçao, close to the coast of Venezuela. Sint Eustatius and Saba are located south of Sint Maarten and northwest of Saint Kitts and Nevis. Curaçao. Curaçao (/ˈkjʊərəsaʊ/ KEWR-ə-sow; Dutch: Curaçao;[5][6] Papiamentu: Kòrsou) is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast, that forms part of the Dutch Caribbean.

The Country of Curaçao (Dutch: Land Curaçao;[7] Papiamento: Pais Kòrsou),[8] 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. It has a population of over 150,000 on an area of 444 km2 (171 sq mi) and its capital is Willemstad. Prior to 10 October 2010, when the Netherlands Antilles was dissolved, Curaçao was administered as the Island Territory of Curaçao[9] (Dutch: Eilandgebied Curaçao, Papiamentu: Teritorio Insular di Kòrsou), one of five island territories of the former Netherlands Antilles. Etymology[edit] Map from 1562 with Curaçao indicated as Qúracao.

On a map created by Hieronymus Cock in 1562 in Antwerp, the island was referred to as Qúracao.[11] History[edit] Map of Curaçao in 1836. Netherlands Antilles. The Netherlands Antilles (Dutch: Nederlandse Antillen [ˈneːdərˌlɑntsə ɑnˈtɪlə(n)] ( ), Papiamentu: Antia Hulandes[2]), also referred to informally as the Dutch Antilles,[3] was an autonomous Caribbean country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Although the country has now been dissolved, all of its constituent islands remain part of the kingdom under a different legal status and the term is still used to refer to these Dutch Caribbean islands. Saba. Saba, including the islet of Green Island, became a special municipality within the country of the Netherlands after the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles on 10 October 2010.[5] The island has a land area of 13 square kilometres (5.0 sq mi).

As of January 2013[update], the population was 1,991 inhabitants, with a population density of 150 inhabitants per square kilometre (390 /sq mi).[1] Its current towns and major settlements are The Bottom (the capital), Windwardside, Hell's Gate and St. Johns. Sint Eustatius. The island lies in the northern Leeward Islands portion of the West Indies, southeast of the Virgin Islands. Sint Eusatius is immediately to the northwest of Saint Kitts, and to the southeast of Saba. The regional capital is Oranjestad. The island has an area of 21 km² (8.1 sq. miles). In the 2001 census, the population was recorded as 3,543 inhabitants, with a population density of 169 inhabitants per square kilometre. The official languages are Dutch and English.

Formerly part of the Netherlands Antilles, Sint Eustatius became a special municipality within the Kingdom of the Netherlands on 10 October 2010.[6] The name of the island "Sint Eustatius" is the Dutch name for Saint Eustice (also spelled Eustachius or Eustathius), a legendary Christian martyr known in Spanish as San Eustaquio and in Portuguese as Santo Eustáquio or Santo Eustácio. Sint Maarten. Sint Maarten (Dutch pronunciation: [sɪnt ˈmaːrtə(n)]) is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It encompasses the southern half of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin, while the northern half of the island constitutes the French overseas collectivity of Saint-Martin. Its capital is Philipsburg. Its population is 37,000 on 34km2. Before 10 October 2010, Sint Maarten was known as the Island Territory of Sint Maarten (Dutch: Eilandgebied Sint Maarten), and was one of five island territories (eilandgebieden) that constituted the Netherlands Antilles.

History[edit] In 1493, during Christopher Columbus' second voyage to the West Indies, upon first sighting the island he named it Isla de San Martín after Saint Martin of Tours because it was 11 November, St.

Question: Curacao, off the Venezuelan coast, is a constituent country of which European kingdom ?
Answer: NETHERLANDS