Page 222 - The Dutch Caribbean Isles
P. 222
Curacao: History and Interesting Facts
B ut Vespucci was Italian, and de Ojeda C uraçao was mostly uninhabited until T he Dutch government instated the ex-
was Spanish, so it’s more likely that the Dutch West India Company, which plorer Peter Stuyvesant as governor of
the island was named Corazón, which is was a government-backed company in the island in 1642. Stuyvesant soon began
the Spanish word for “heart,” and that later Holland, seized it in 1634. In the 1640’s, establishing plantations on the island with
the name was converted to the Portu- St. Annabaai became the site of a harbor the famous landhuizen structures, which
guese spelling. The historical accuracy the town: Willemstad. The town that grew were the popular plantation houses of the
European naming of Curacao is somewhat between 1676 and 1732 was to remain 18th and 19th centuries. Many landhuizen
questionable, but makes for an interesting practically unchanged until 1860. Willem- plantation houses are still around today.
story about the island. stad’s harbor area formed a melting pot They are popular tourist attractions well
of cultures. Seafarers from every corner of worth checking out because they are a
A fter de Ojeda and his crew arrived the globe gathered here. Crews were paid great part of Curaçao’s history. The natural
on Curaçao, more Spanish explor- off after each voyage. It was then up to the harbor of Willemstad proved to be an ideal
ers flocked to the island. The Spaniards men to look after themselves until they spot for trade. Commerce and shipping
enslaved most of the Arawak as their labor could find a new ship. Many seamen lived — and piracy—became Curaçao’s most
force. They sometimes forcibly relocated on Curaçao and most were either slaves, important economic activities. In addition,
the survivors to other colonies where freed slaves or mulattos. Curaçao became in 1662 the Dutch West India Company
workers were needed. But by the begin- the main base for Dutch privateers. The made Curaçao a centre for the Atlantic
ning of the 16th century, they realized that prosperity of the island owed much to slave trade, often bringing slaves here for
the island didn’t have enough fresh water these privateers. Moreover, they provided sale elsewhere in the Caribbean.
to sustain large scale farms and that there an essential protection against attacks by
was little to no gold on the island. As a enemy privateers.
result, the Spanish abandoned Curaçao,
claiming it was useless.
