Introduction
[Audio]The island of Curaçao was first colonized by the Spanish in the 16th century. The Dutch took over in 1634. The Dutch built the city of Willemstad as the administrative capital of the Dutch West India Company. In the 18th century, the main population of Willemstad was Dutch Protestant and Iberian Jewish merchants, and African slaves who worked in households and warehouses, or who were awaiting shipment or sale to Caribbean and American plantations.
Architecture in Willemstad
[Audio]Willemstad’s downtown buildings are mainly from the 18th century, with additions and changes made up until the present day, and these unique houses have long been a source of local and international attention, notably in the 19th century by the Soublette photography studio, who made and promoted postcards of the city’s buildings, and still now, when the architecture is marketed to cruise ship tourists as making this a unique destination in the Caribbean.
