The island of Curaçao is located in the Caribbean, not even 13 miles from the coast of Venezuela. With a surface of 487 square mile Curaçao is the largest island of The Dutch Antilles. On January 1st 2008 the number of inhabitants was 140.000 habitants.
The capital Willemstad is also the capital of The Dutch Antilles and is surrounded by the largest natural harbor of the Caribbean.For its location and tropical climate Curaçao is very popular among Americans, Europeans, South Americans and Canadians visitors. The average temperature is 82˚F/29˚C with a fresh north eastern wind. Hurricanes are rare on the island because it is locate outside the so called ‘hurricane belt’. Tourism, the oil refinery, off-shore banking and salt production are the main economic sectors. Because of the modern infrastructure with outstanding communication facilities towards the US and Europe and large cities in the world, the island serves as a economic heart of the Caribbean.
History
The original inhabitants of Curaçao were the Arowakken, also known as the Taino’s. The start of the Spanish period began with the discovery of Curaçao in 1499 by Alonso de Ojeda. They claimed the Tiano’s as slaves and removed them to Hispaniola, now known as The Dominican Republic and Haiti. They brought horses, sheep’s, goats, pigs and cattle from Europe to Curaçao, and also several exotic trees and plants. It was a disappointment that the turnover of the salt production, production of sugar cane, cotton and other tropical plants did not pay off. This has led to the name “isla inutil”, meaning useless island.
In August 1634 the West Idies Company (WIC) signed the dispossession of the island to the Spanish near San Juan. The West Idies were looking for operating base for trade and piracy. Curaçao was by its favorable location, in relation to the Spanish colonies, an ideal location. Besides that Curacao has the best natural harbor of the Caribbean.
Curaçao served as center of slave trade in 1665. West-African slaves were brought to Curaçao to regain strength. Only a small part of the alleged slaves remained behind on the plantations, where the majority were traded in Central and South America.
In 1791 West Indian Company went bankrupt. From that moment on Curaçao became a Dutch colony. Several years later, the slaves rose up, led by Tula. Tules has played major role in the history of Curaçao. In the year 1863 slavery abolished on Curaçao.
During the twentieth century oil was found in Venezuela. Shortly after, in 1914 Shell started an oil refinery in the center of Curaçao. In 1985 Shell had to closes its doors, since then the refinery has bin rented out to the Venezolean oil society PDVSA.