Curacao Capitals

Willemstad is the current capital city of the Republic of Curacao. It also served as the capital of the Netherlands Antillles until 2010 when the Antilles was dissolved. Willemstad was founded on the Schottegat’s banks by the Dutch West India Company. At the time of its establishment, the natural habour served as a trade and commerce center. The Atlantic trade thrived so well in the city that Willemstad became a capital city in 1634. Willemstad is located on the south coast of Curacao, near the Carribean Sea.

The population of Willemstad was approximately 150,000 as of 2013. Most of Curacao's residents live in Willemstad - approximately three quarters of the total population. The inhabitants of the capital include people from different ethnic backgrounds such as the Afro-Caribbean (majorly from African descent), the Dutch, Levantine people, Latin American, East and South Asian, Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jews, and the French.

Willemstad offers various attraction sites for foreigners and locals alike. The city is rich in culture and diversity. Willemstad offers impressive old magnificent buildings built with the architectural work of Dutch and Spanish styles. The city’s unique architecture led to it being honored by UNESCO as one of the World Heritage Sites of the world. Several casinos within the town plays a great role in tourism. Willemstad also has numerous museums such as the Octagon Museum, the Curacao Maritime Museum, the Curacao Museum, and the Museum Kura Hulanda. The museums offer storage for historical documentaries of the brutal slavery in the New World and the Jewish Cultural-Historical Museum. Gallery Alma Blou, established in the 17^th century, offers the largest collection of local artists' work. Furthermore, Landhuis Chobolobo, where liqueur is manufactured in five different colors from the peels of Valencia oranges, also forms one of the tourist attractions in the city.

The city enjoys a tropical savannah climate. On average, the temperatures are warm with the city experiencing dry periods in between the months of March and June. August is the warmest month while January is the coolest month in Willemstad. On the other hand, based on the rainfall received, March is the driest month and December is the wettest month.

This page was last modified on May 1st, 2018

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Published on 2019-11-06


Capital	Willemstad
Languages	Papiamento (official) (a creole language that is a mixture of Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, English, and, to a lesser extent, French, as well as elements of African languages and the language of the Arawak) 81.2%, Dutch (official) 8%, Spanish 4%, English (official) 2.9%, other 3.9% (2001 census)
Ethnic Groups	Afro-Caribbean majority; Dutch, French, Latin American, East Asian, South Asian, Jewish minorities
Religion	Roman Catholic 72.8%, Pentecostal 6.6%, Protestant 3.2%, Adventist 3%, Jehovah's Witness 2%, Evangelical 1.9%, other 3.8%, none 6%, unspecified 0.6% (2011 est.)
Government	Parliamentary
Independance	None (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Area	444.00 km²
Land Area	444.00 km²
Population	149,035.00 Largest concentration on the island is Willemstad; smaller settlements near the coast can be found throughout the island, particularly in the northwest
Location	Caribbean, an island in the Caribbean Sea, 30 nm off the coast of Venezuela
GDP(PPP)	$3,128,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$15,000.00 (USD)
Export Commodities	Its main export is petroleum products.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include crude petroleum, food, and manufactures.
Climate	Tropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds, results in mild temperatures; semiarid with average rainfall of 60 cm/year
Terrain	Generally low, hilly terrain

Curacao Capitals

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