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Sadly there is not much known about the first inhabitants of Curacao. Excavations on the island have revealed that before the arrival of the Spanish explorers, in the pre-Columbian age, the island had been populated for hundreds of years by Indians. They were the Caiquetio-Indians, a primitive people. The Caiquetio-Indians arrived from the coast of Venezuela. Their culture was identified through objects that were found in different places on the island. They survived with agriculture, fishing and hunting. Not only artifacts were found, also rock paintings were found in the caves at “Hato”, certainly worth a visit.
Curacao was discovered in 1499 by the Spanish Alonso de Ojeda. It was called “Isla de los Gigantes” – Island of the Giants – by the Spanish, because of the height of the natives on the island. No gold or silver was found and because of the arid climate it was not suitable for plantations. Soon after the Spanish declared the island as “Isla inutil”, - Worthless island -. Around 1634 the Dutch were able to capture the island from the Spanish and used it as part of the West Indian Company (W.I.C.), which was a trading company.
The W.I.C. was able to capture it pretty easily as the Spanish didn’t offer much resistance. The majority of the Dutch on the island worked for the W.I.C. and the government, later on also private companies and Dutch civilians came for the trade. The Dutch were mainly Protestant. The W.I.C. instructed the Dutch to turn Curacao into a plantation colony. All the attempts of the W.I.C. to develop agriculture and cattle on Curacao failed because of the rocky soil and very dry climate. Navigation and slavery became the main financial resources on the island for the W.I.C.
In 1651 the first immigration of Sefardian Jews came to Curacao. They also they were instructed by the W.I.C. to turn the island into a plantation colony. This attempt failed as well; this time due to a lack of tools and slaves mainly, the cooperation of the Company was very poor. This first wave of Jews had set the base for the second wave of Sefardian Jews coming to the island. The second wave came due to the fall of Recife in 1654, The Netherlands were no longer in power in Brazil. They established themselves at the settlement of “Schottegat” where you can find the “Jodenkwartier” which means a Jewish neighborhood (an isolated establishment, with a place to pray and a cemetery; the Jews could work out their internal disputes as well in that place). Some of them also settled in “Willemstad” (Capital of the island). In “Punda” you can visit the synagogue, and who wants to learn more about the Sefardian Jews, should visit the museum, it is truly worth it.
After the first white people came to Curacao, came the Africans. The slaves came from West-Africa. The majority of the slaves on Curacao had their origins in the Gulf of Guinea, from Loango (Formerly part of the great Kingdom of Congo) and also the slavery coast ( Now Guinea and Benin). The Africans were divided according to their duties. The plantaton owners a made difference between house slaves and plantation/cattle slaves.
Curacao became the center of slavery trade. A visit to the slavery museum of “Kura Hulanda” in “Otrabanda” is a must go!, Here you will get a guided tour through the island’s history.
The plantations on Curacao were not more than a few big country houses with some land around them. Plantations of food crops and cattle were the daily business. A trip along the “landhuizen” (Country or plantation houses) is a must. On the island you can buy a map with routes that have several country houses along the road.
The Africans played an important role in the society of Curacao, especially in the exchange and blending of culture. The island’s population is a big mixture of different cultures. At this moment there are more than 51 nationalities on the island.
In the year 1915 the oil company Shell was established on the island. In May of 1918 the C.P.I.M. (Curacao Petroleum Industry Society) was founded, which was the name of the Shell refinery until 1959. In 1920 the oil industry developed very fast and started to play a major role in the island’s economy. Because of this development of the oil company, there was all of a sudden more work and better salaries. The oil industry was able to pay more salaries and lots of employees came from different areas. Areas such as agriculture, the fishing industry and cattle raising were affected and decayed. Because of the refinery’s fast growth and its economical activities the labour reserve became very low. The island was forced to employ people from abroad. There was a new stream of immigrants coming from all over South-America and the Caribbean. These new immigrants came to the island in stages, first in 1925 workers came from Aruba, Bonaire and the other Dutch colonies in the area such as St. Martin, Saba and St. Eustatius). After this stream people came from Venezuela and other English speaking places such as Surinam. Because of the immigration years 1945-1950 the population increased drastically.
Other people that came to work on the island for Shell were the Dutch themselves and Portuguese coming from Madeira and Portugal.
Not only were immigrants coming to work for the oil industry, there were also immigrants coming for the trade such as; Libyans, Portuguese, Chinese, Indians, and Ashkanian Jews.
Through history Europeans, West Africans, South and North Americans and immigrants from the Caribbean territory contributed to the island’s rich culture. Despite these influences, people on Curacao have created their own Creole culture which is typical of Curacao. Even though there are 51 nationalities living on Curacao, there is a strong feeling of solidarity among the population, which you can experience in the areas of music, dancing and festivals on the island.
You have to feel and experience Curacao.
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