Page 16 - Discover Curacao
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HISTORY
Curaçao was first discovered by European explorers in 1449. Alonso de
Ojeda, a lieutenant to Christopher Columbus, was so impressed by the
physical stature of the islanders that he called it ‘isla de los gigantes’ (island
of the giants). Less than 20 years later, the name ‘Curaçao’ first appeared
on a Portuguese map. The most likely explanation is that the Spanish had
then named it ‘Corazon’ (heart). The Portuguese turned this into Curaçau
or Curaçao in their own language. Today the island is endearingly dubbed
‘Dushi Kòrsou’ (Sweet Curaçao) by the locals.
Decolonization came in 1954, when the Netherlands Antilles gained equal
status within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In 2010, the Netherlands
Antilles was dissolved and Curaçao became autonomous within the Kingdom
of the Netherlands.
