History · Curaçao
History
Population since 1901
inhabitants · CBS Curaçao and UN estimatesGDP per person, long run
Maddison Project Database 2023 · World Bank from 1990 (different price base)Life expectancy, long run
years at birth · Riley, Zijdeman et al., HMD and UN WPP via Our World in DataUrbanisation
% of people living in urban areas · HYDE long run, UN since 1950Timeline
Before the common era
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Charcoal at Saliña Sint Marie points to human activity around 3700 BCE; Rooi Rincon has finds from about 2900–2300 BCE. Wikipedia
5th century
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Arawak-speaking Caquetío from north-western Venezuela live in small villages (pottery dated c. 450–1500 CE). Wikipedia
15th century
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26 July 1499. The Spaniard is the first European to visit, on 26 July 1499; about 2,000 Caquetío live on the island. Wikipedia
16th century
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By 1515 almost all Caquetío have been enslaved and taken to Hispaniola. Wikipedia
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Spain settles the island, governs it from Venezuela and uses it as a cattle ranch, the "isla inútil". Wikipedia
17th century
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A WIC fleet under Johannes van Walbeeck takes the island; the Spanish surrender in August 1634. Wikipedia
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Construction of Fort Amsterdam starts at the mouth of Sint Anna Bay; Willemstad grows from it. Wikipedia
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Stuyvesant governs Curaçao (1642–1644) before going to New Amsterdam. Wikipedia
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Sephardic Jews from Amsterdam and Dutch Brazil found Mikvé Israel, the oldest active Jewish congregation in the Americas; its synagogue dates from 1732. Wikipedia
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Curaçao becomes a main WIC depot: enslaved Africans are sold in Willemstad and shipped on to Spanish America; 24,000 people in 1662–1669 alone. Wikipedia
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The WIC makes Curaçao a free port, one of the most prosperous islands in the Caribbean in the 17th century. Wikipedia
18th century
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17 August 1795. On 17 August 1795 Tula and some 40–50 others refuse to work and demand their freedom; the revolt grows to about 2,000 people and lasts over a month. Tula is executed on 3 October; 17 August is now a day of remembrance. Wikipedia
19th century
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Britain holds Curaçao in 1800–1803 and 1807–1816 before returning it to the Dutch. Wikipedia
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Simón Bolívar stays on the island in 1812; Curaçaoans Manuel Piar and Luis Brión fight for Venezuelan and Colombian independence. Wikipedia
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1 July 1863. Slavery ends on 1 July 1863; owners are compensated, the enslaved are not. Wikipedia
20th century
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After oil is found in Venezuela, Shell builds a refinery on the Schottegat (first cargo 1918); it becomes one of the largest in the world. Wikipedia
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8 June 1929. Venezuelan rebel Rafael Simón Urbina seizes the fort and kidnaps the governor. Wikipedia
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Curaçao refines fuel for the Allies; German submarines attack tankers and the coast in 1942. Wikipedia
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15 December 1954. The Netherlands Antilles become an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Wikipedia
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30 May 1969. A labour dispute at the Shell refinery on 30 May 1969 becomes a revolt; parts of Willemstad burn. It reshapes Afro-Curaçaoan political representation. Wikipedia
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Shell sells the refinery to the Curaçao government for one guilder; Venezuela's PDVSA leases and runs it. Wikipedia
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The historic area of Willemstad, inner city and harbour, is inscribed by UNESCO. Wikipedia
21st century
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Papiamentu becomes an official language alongside Dutch and English. Wikipedia
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10 October 2010. On 10 October 2010 Curaçao becomes a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Wikipedia
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5 May 2013. The leader of the Pueblo Soberano party is shot dead on 5 May 2013. Wikipedia
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The Isla refinery goes out of commission on 31 December 2019 amid US sanctions on Venezuela and a lack of crude. Wikipedia
26 key events, curated and summarised from the linked articles (mostly Wikipedia, CC BY-SA). Tap a theme to filter.
Politics
Governor: Governor of Curaçao
7 holders on Wikidata, newest first| Mauritsz de Kort | 2025–now | |
| Frits Goedgedrag | 2010–2012 | |
| Nicolaas Johannes Laurentius Brantjes | 1921–1928 | |
| O. L. Helfrich | 1919–1921 | |
| N. van den Brandhof | 1882–1890 | |
| Abraham Mathieu de Rouville | 1866–1870 | |
| Burchard Joan Elias | 1842–1845 |
Head of government: Prime Minister of Curaçao
7 holders on Wikidata, newest first| Gilmar Pisas | Movement for the Future of Curaçao | 2021–now |
| Eugene Rhuggenaath | Real Alternative Party | 2017–2021 |
| Ben Whiteman | Sovereign People | 2015–2016 |
| Ivar Asjes | Sovereign People | 2013–2015 |
| Daniel Hodge | 2012–2013 | |
| Stanley Betrian | 2012–2012 | |
| Gerrit Schotte | Movement for the Future of Curaçao | 2010–2012 |
Culture
Languages spoken at home
% of people, main language at home · Census 2023CBS Curaçao, first results of Census 2023 (147,498 respondents); about 90% speak Papiamentu at all. Not comparable with earlier censuses, which asked per household.
Religious composition, 2010 and 2020
% of the whole population| Group | 2010 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Christians | 90.7 | 90.6 |
| Religiously unaffiliated | 5.9 | 5.9 |
| Hindus | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| Muslims | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Other religions | 0.5 | 0.4 |
| Buddhists | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| Jews | 0.2 | 0.2 |
Public holidays
next 16- 25 Dec 2026 Christmas Day· Kerstmis
- 26 Dec 2026 St. Stephen's Day· Tweede kerstdag
- 31 Dec 2026 New Year's Eve· Oudejaarsavond
- 1 Jan 2027 New Year's Day· Nieuwjaarsdag
- 8 Feb 2027 Carnival Monday· Carnaval Maandag
- 26 Mar 2027 Good Friday· Goede Vrijdag
- 28 Mar 2027 Easter Sunday· Pasen
- 29 Mar 2027 Easter Monday· Pasenmaandag
- 27 Apr 2027 King's Day· Koningsdag
- 1 May 2027 Labour Day
- 6 May 2027 Ascension Day· Hemelvaartsdag
- 16 May 2027 Pentecost· Pinksteren
- 2 Jul 2027 Curaçao National Flag and Anthem Day· Curaçao Nationale Vlag en Volkslied Dag
- 10 Oct 2027 Curaçao Day· Dag van Curaçao
- 25 Dec 2027 Christmas Day· Kerstmis
- 26 Dec 2027 St. Stephen's Day· Tweede kerstdag
UNESCO World Heritage
1 site · year inscribed- 1997 Historic Area of Willemstad, Inner City and Harbour, Curaçao · cultural
Well-known people born here
ranked by the number of Wikipedia language editions- 39 Quenten Martinus 1991 · Curaçaoan association football player
- 37 Vurnon Anita 1989 · Curaçao association football player (born 1989)
- 37 Tahith Chong 1999 · Curaçaoan association football player (born 1999)
- 32 Danny Makkelie 1983 · Dutch association football referee
- 32 Iván Kaviedes Toaquiza 1977 · Ecuadorian footballer
- 28 Churandy Martina 1984 · sprint athlete from the Netherlands Antilles
- 26 Jean-Julien Rojer 1981 · Dutch tennis player (born 1981)
- 25 Daniel De Leon 1852–1914 · American newspaper editor (1852–1914)
- 21 Liemarvin Bonevacia 1989 · Dutch athlete from Curaçao
- 20 Robby Müller 1940–2018 · Dutch cinematographer (1940–2018)
- 20 Enith Brigitha 1955 · Dutch swimmer
- 19 Emily de Jongh-Elhage 1946 · Dutch Antillean politician
- 18 Charlison Benschop 1989 · Curaçaoan footballer
- 18 Kemy Agustien 1986 · Dutch footballer
- 17 Frank Martinus Arion 1936–2015 · writer and poet (1936-2015)
- 17 Elson Hooi 1991 · Curaçaoan association football player
- 16 Terrence Agard 1990 · Dutch athlete
- 16 Odile van Aanholt 1998 · Dutch sailor
- 15 Andrelton Simmons 1989 · Curaçaon professional baseball player
- 15 Eugene Rhuggenaath 1970 · Prime Minister of Curacao from 2017 to 2021
Food
curated, with sourcesCultural exports
curated, with sources- Curaçao liqueur The liqueur is made from the dried peel of the laraha, a bitter orange; Senior & Co. distills it at Landhuis Chobolobo. Wikipedia
- Tambú An Afro-Curaçaoan drum-and-song genre with roots in slavery, once banned and now a symbol of identity. Wikipedia
- Papiamentu A creole language with Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and African roots, spoken by most of the population. Wikipedia
- Willemstad's colours Handelskade and the Dutch colonial townscape are on the UNESCO World Heritage list (1997). Wikipedia
History at a glance · Curaçao
Share living in cities
%Not available for Curaçao: Population, long run, GDP per person (Maddison), Life expectancy, long run.