Willemstad

Punda was established in 1634, when the Dutch West India Company captured the island from Spain. The original name of Punda was de punt in Dutch. The city was constructed as a walled city.[2] It soon developed into one of the major centres of the Atlantic slave trade which triggered a rapid population growth.[3] In 1674, the Curaçao synagogue was built by Sephardic Portuguese Jews from Amsterdam and Recife, Brazil who had settled in the city as traders.[4] In the late 17th century, there were over 200 houses within the city walls.[2]

In 1675, it was decided to construct the town of Pietermaai outside of the enclosed city. It was to be separated from the city by an area of about 500 metres in which construction was not allowed as not to obstruct the canons in Fort Amsterdam.[5] In 1707, the suburb of Otrobanda was founded. Otrobanda would become the cultural centre of Willemstad. Its name originated from the Papiamentu otro banda, which means "the opposite side".[6] The suburb of Scharloo followed, however Willemstad continued to experience growth.[3] By 1818, the population of Willemstad had grown to 9,536 people.[7] On 13 May 1861, a decision was made to demolish the city walls, and built residential houses in the gap separating Willemstad from Pietermaai.[3]

Around 1925, the booming oil and phosphate industry further stimulated growth, and resulted in the creation of new neighbourhoods.[8] Between 1945 and 1955, Julianadorp and Emmastad were created by Royal Dutch Shell to house the new workers.[9] In 1985, the oil refinery which employed 12,000 people was closed down by Shell. The Government of Curaçao decided to buy the refinery for ƒ 1.00 and take responsibility for all future pollution claims. In 1986, it was leased to the Venezuelan PDVSA, and reopened on a limited scale.[10] In 2017, the PDVSA was hit by punitive sanctions of the United States Government,[11] and attempts have been made to seize the refinery.[10]

On 30 May 1969, the Curaçao uprising, a strike at a subcontractor of the oil refinery, turned into a riot. The riot resulted in two deaths, 300 arrests and a part of the historic centre burnt down. The Netherlands Marine Corps was sent to Willemstad and the entire city centre was closed down.[12] In 1997, the centre of Willemstad and its former suburbs were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[13] In the 21st century, a large scale program of renovation started.[14][15]

Willemstad in the late afternoon

The University of Curaçao is the national university of Curaçao and located in Willemstad.[24] The Avalon University School of Medicine is located in Willemstad. The Caribbean Medical University[25] is also located in Willemstad, close to the city centre.

Ergilio Hato Stadium

Major League Baseball players Jair Jurrjens, Wladimir Balentien, Jurickson Profar, Andruw Jones, Ozzie Albies, Kenley Jansen and Jonathan Schoop are from Willemstad.

Noted tennis doubles player Jean-Julien Rojer was born in Willemstad.

In 1985, Willemstad hosted the Curaçao Grand Prix for Formula 3000. The race was won by Danish racing driver John Nielsen. Pabao Little League has appeared in nine Little League World Series, winning in 2004. They were crowned the International Champions in 2005, 2019, 2022, and 2023. In 2008, another Pabao Little League team won the Junior League World Series, after winning the Latin America Region, then defeating the Asia-Pacific Region and Mexico Region champions to become the International champion, and finally defeating the U.S. champion (West Region), Hilo American/National LL (Hilo, Hawaii), 5–2.

• Kemy Agustien, footballer[28]
• Ozzie Albies, Major League Baseball player
• Tahith Chong, footballer
• Rebecca Cohen Henriquez, activist[29]
• Guliano Diaz, former professional footballer
• Luigison V. Doran, footballer
• Jan Helenus Ferguson, Colonial governor of the Dutch Gold Coast[30]
• Elson Hooi, footballer[31]
• Andruw Jones, baseball player[32]
• George Maduro, World War II resistance member and recipient of the Military Order of William
• Manuel Piar, general-in-chief of the army during the Venezuelan War of Independence
• Jean-Julien Rojer, tennis player
• Gerrit Schotte, 1st Prime Minister of Curaçao
• Jonathan Schoop, baseball player[33]
• Kenley Jansen, Major League Baseball pitcher
• Luis Brión, admiral during the Venezuelan war of independence

• 
  Colorful historic part of Willemstad
• 
  Buildings in historic area of Willemstad
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  Banco di Caribe
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  Historic Area of Willemstad, Inner City and Harbour was declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997
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  Queen Emma floating bridge in Willemstad
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  Queen Emma Bridge by night
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  Penha Building, built in 1708
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  The Queen Juliana Bridge over St. Anna Bay in Willemstad, Curaçao

• Benjamins, Herman Daniël; Snelleman, Johannes (1917). Encyclopaedie van Nederlandsch West-Indië (in Dutch). Leiden: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers.