Natuur

• The salty plains of Rif St. Marie in Banda Abou, in our immediate vicinity, with the pink flamingos.
• Rancho Alegre: number one in horse riding on Curacao. Under the guidance of a guide, you will explore nature in South American horses, through cactus fields and along fruit trees, enjoying the awesome views. Look for more information on their facebook page.
• Visit the Curaçao herbal woman: Dinah Veeris. www.dinahveeris.com

Action

Climbing the 375 meter high Christoffelberg. Tickets are available at Landhuis Savonet, opposite the entrance to the park. www.christoffelpark.org

Swimming with dolphins at the Seaquarium Curaçao. www.curacao-sea-aquarium.com

Quad drive along the rocky rugged north coast. www.curacao-atv.com

A paradise for kitesurfers at St. Joris Bay, in the northeast of the island.

With a mini submarine explore the underwater world. www.aquafari.net

With a boat from Landhuis Sta. Cruz to the blue cave to snorkel

For golf lovers there are three professional golf courses, including Blue Bay and Sta. Barbara.

The Ostrich-farm with restaurant at St. Joris Bay. Aloe Vera Plantage is also located nearby.

Take a boat trip to the tropical island of Little Curaçao, including barbecue, drink, sunbathing and snorkeling in crystal clear waters.

Diving: Curaçao is a walhalla for diving enthusiasts. Both beginners and advanced can get their heart here. Good diving schools near us: www.portomariesports.com and www.diversrepublic.org on the beach of Daaiboo Bay.

Country houses  

In Chobolobo country house there is a liquorice shop; Access is free, and you take a walk through the history of the liqueur token, the famous Blue Curacao comes from here. Of course there is an opportunity to taste and buy a bottle.

Landhuis Habaai features an art gallery with coffeshop.

Jan Kok Country House also contains a gallery of colorful contemporary art, made by former miss universe Nena Sanchez.

Landhuis Bloemhof is a cozy country house with all kinds of artistic activities. During our visit, an artist was making a temple for all faiths made of thorns. In the garden all kinds of installations.

In Ascencion country house every first sunday of the month can be enjoyed from a kind of fair with music, good food and all kinds of artistic activities. The products are also sold in stalls in the galleries.

Paint a chichi, at Serena`s artfactory. She is at the st. Joris Bay, but also has a shop in Punda, where typically curacao women figures can be painted.

Lunch in Willemstad

 In Salina restaurant de Dames, in the promenade shopping center.

In Otrobanda restaurant Gouverneur de Rouville, with stunning views of the so-called Handelskade, and the st. Annabaai, and of course the Queen Emma Ponton Bridge.

In Pietermaai beach club Saint Tropez.

Wandu cafe, in Punda, a hip location where many creatives come.

Reastaurants near Corazon Apartments in Banda Abou

`De Buurvrouw`, on the road to west point, near Grote Berg, Seru Grandi area.. Bistro like, very welcoming service and good value for money.

Inn the 12 suns, at the kaminda San Sebastian

Restaurant of country house Klein Santa Martha in Soto

Bistro E`Laternu on the road to Soto

Beachclub Character with restaurant, in Coral Estate

Toko Williwood, renowned for the Kabrito citizen

Beachclub Port Marie, lunch at the beach, no dinner!

Restaurant Lagun, overlooking Lagun’s beautiful bay.

Restaurant Daniel, in country house Daniel on the road to westpunt.

Restaurants in Willemstad

Ginger in Pietermaai, good but pricey Thai in the heart of the upcoming Pietermaai district

Di Zabbia is a good Italian in the middle of the Riffort in Otrobanda. On weekends accompanied by live music and performances that invite you to dance in the courtyard. They work through the week with a good selection menu: A delicious steak Bali is served for Naf 18.50.

Saint Tropez, also for swimming at the pool and for lunch; Hip & trendy audience

Kokomo Beach, recently also a restaurant for the evenings, butespecially known for the full-moon parties organized there

The Netherlands and Curacao, a short history

In the early centuries after the year zero, Curacao was inhabited by the Arawak Indians, from the Venezuelan Orinoco River Area. In the caves at Hato, to be visited, there are still paintings that indicate the first signs of human occupation.

In the days of explorations, the first contact with people from Europe was the Spaniard Alonso de Ojeda who “discovered” the low-winded islands in 1499. From this Spanish era, the name of Corazon (heart) originates for Curacao.

The Dutchman Johan van Walbeek conquered the islands in 1634 on the Spaniards, and from that time the main defensive fortresses, such as the fort Amsterdam, the Riffort and the fort Beekenberg, date to. The major need for salt for the herring industry was the main reason for intake.

Curacao was developed by the Dutch into an agricultural colony and trade center.

The West Indian Company brought people from Africa to trade on Curacao as  slaves.

This happened throughout the eighteenth century. After that time, the slaves continued to work on the plantations present, and not until 1863 slavery was abolished. The black Tula has played an important role in this; He came from the plantation Knip in rebel, and became the hero of Curacao.

With the arrival of Shell on the island in 1918, there were better economic times for all layers of the population.

After the Second World War, the Dutch Antilles, and also Suriname, were given an equivalent place within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with the entry into force of the Statuut. Colonialism had become definitive history.

In the present century, Curacao gained even more independence.