The Many Colors Of Willemstad Curacao

Dutch, Papiamentu (local dialect), Spanish and English are widely spoken in the island of Curacao. The diversity also shows up in the colors of government buildings, stores, banks, schools, private homes and hotels. Nowhere in the world will you see an array of color combinations of old Dutch inspired buildings and Caribbean accents.In Papiamentu, good morning is “bon dia” which is a combination of French and Spanish and thank you is “danki” which is almost similar to Dutch.  The name Curacao is from a orange flavored liquer made from peel of bitter oranges grown in Curacao.

UNESCO recognizes Willemstad, Curacao as one of the six World Heritage site in the Caribbean and works is underway to restore the old Jewish village unique houses. Willemstad has one of the oldest synagogues in continuous use in the Western Hemisphere. The first group of Jewish merchants came in the 1600s from Portugal and established beautiful homes in the Scharloo area of Willemstad. A group of Ashmenazi Jews came in the 20th century and established businesses in Willemstad.
Curacao is represented by over 50 nations and has African, Caribbean, European and Asian cultures and heritage. Walking through Willemstad, Curacao is a feast to the eye. Take a look at the many colors in the photos below:

Curacao is one of the three ABC islands of the Lesser Antilles, ruled by the Dutch in 1636. And it has since declared its independence about two years ago. It is an island that rarely experiences hurricanes and has only less than 30 inches of rain per year. It is the largest of the three, which includes Aruba and Bonaire.

The colors of Willemstad Curacao is a feast to the eyes. The best way to get an introduction to the Caribbean islands is through cruising. We did it with Norwegian Sun. Curacao fascinates me. Have you been there? Please comment below.