Curacao Day: July 2, 2010
Curaçao celebrates Curaçao Flag Day as a public holiday.
The local inhabitants of the island of Curaçao commemorate the founding of the island by the Spanish sailor Alonso de Ojeda in 1499.
History of Curaçao Flag Day
The Arawak Amerindians were the original inhabitants of Curacao. The Spanish were the first Europeans to see the island under the leadership of Alonso de Ojeda on this day in 1499. The indigenous populations were exported to other colonies where the Spanish needed workers. In 1634, the Dutch occupied the island. The Dutch West India Company founded the capital of Willemstad on the banks of an inlet called ‘Schottegat’. Settlers previously ignored Curaçao because it lacked gold deposits. However, Willemstad’s natural harbor soon proved to be an ideal place for trade.
With the discovery of oil in 1914, the island’s fortunes changed dramatically. Royal Dutch Shell and the Dutch government built extensive oil refining facilities, thus creating a plentiful source of employment for the local population and stimulating a wave of immigration from neighboring countries. Far from the social and civil unrest of the South American mainland, Curaçao was an ideal site for the refinery but close enough to the oil fields of the Maracaibo basin. The excellent natural harbor provided excellent accommodation for large tankers. The company brought wealth to the island. Large housing projects were provided, and Willemstad was able to develop its own infrastructure.
Curacao joined the rest of the Caribbean in a strong clamor for independence after World War II. Instead, what it got was autonomous status as an entity within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Curacao, along with Bonaire, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten, came to be known as the Netherlands Antilles. The administrative center is in Willemstad, where it remains today. Aruba was later separated from the other five islands. Today, the kingdom only has three remaining partners: the Netherlands, the five islands of the Netherlands Antilles, and Aruba.
In recent years, the island has capitalized on its unique history and heritage to develop its tourism industry.
Curaçao Flag Day Traditions, Customs and Activities
Every year the island of Curaçao comes alive with various folk activities and cultural events on Curaçao Day.