Willemstad

Willemstad is the capital of Curaçao in the Caribbean and sits on both sides of Sint Anna Bay. The floating Queen Emma Bridge links the four neighborhoods Punda, Otrobanda, Scharloo, and Pietermaai Smal together.

The Dutch West India Company founded this harbor in 1634 as a trading post. Over the following centuries, the settlement grew into an important hub for goods moving between Europe and the Caribbean.

The name comes from Dutch Prince Willem van Oranje and appears on signs across all four neighborhoods. Visitors notice the open shopfronts in Punda, where merchants display their goods directly onto the street.

Restaurants, shops, and museums sit close together in the old center and can be reached on foot. Taxis and public buses are available for trips beyond the downtown area.

The Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue from 1674 has a sand floor inside and is the oldest continuously used synagogue building in the Americas. The sand recalls the flight of Jews from Egypt and softens footsteps when entering.

Location: Curaçao

Inception: 1634

Elevation above the sea: 37 m

GPS coordinates: 12.10800,-68.93500

Latest update: December 12, 2025 21:25