Location Caribbean, 56km (35 miles) north of Venezuela.
Area 444 sq km (171 sq miles).
Population 224,000 (UN 2005).
Population Density 504 per sq km.
Capital Willemstad. Population: 125,000 (UN estimate 2001, including the suburbs).
Government Part of the Netherlands Antilles; dependency of The Netherlands. The Netherlands Antilles consist of Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St Eustatius and St Maarten. The capital of the island group is Willemstad, Curaçao. The Netherlands Antilles, Aruba
and The Netherlands each have equal status within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, as regions autonomous in internal affairs. The Dutch monarch is locally represented by a governor, while the Netherlands Antilles are represented in the Government of the Kingdom by a minister plenipotentiary. Foreign policy and defense matters are decided by a Council of Ministers of the Kingdom, including the Plenipotentiary, and executed under the authority of the Governor. The internal affairs of the islands are administered by the Central Government of the Netherlands Antilles, which is based in Willemstad, Curaçao, and responsible to the Staten, or Legislative Assembly. Curaçao may elect by non-compulsory adult suffrage 14 out of 22 members to the Staten. Routine local affairs on each island group (Bonaire, Curaçao and the Windward Islands) are managed by an elected island council presided over by a lieutenant governor.
Language Dutch is the official language. Papiamentu (a mixture of Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, English, Arawak Indian and several African languages) is the lingua franca; English and Spanish are also widely spoken. There are 55 different nationalities.
Religion The majority of the population is Roman Catholic, with Protestant minorities, both evangelical and other low-church denominations. There is also a Baha’i temple and a synagogue.
Time GMT - 4.
Electricity 110/130 volts AC, 50Hz.
Head of Government Prime Minister Etienne Ys since 2002.
Head of State HM Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands, represented locally by Governor Frits Goedgedrag since 2002.
Telephone Country code: 599.
Mobile Telephone Roaming agreements exist with international mobile phone companies. Handsets can be hired at the airport post office. There is a 5% tax.
Internet There is an Internet cafe in Willemstad.
Media
Post Airmail to Western Europe takes four to six days.
Press • Newspapers include La Prensa (daily)and Amigoe (daily in Dutch). • English-language newspapers include the Bonaire Reporter (weekly), Business Curaçao and The Daily Herald (Sint Maarten) .
Radio • Radio stations include Radio Hoyer,Easy FM and Dolfijn FM.
Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.
2007 1 Jan New Year’s Day. 19Feb Carnival Monday. 6-9 AprEaster. 30 Apr Queen’s Birthday. 1 May Labor Day. 17 May Ascension. 2 Jul Curaçao Flag Day. 21 Oct Antillean Day. 25-26 Dec Christmas. 2008 1 Jan New Year’s Day. TBCCarnival Monday. 21-24 MarEaster. 30 Apr Queen’s Birthday. 1 May Labor Day. 1 May Ascension. 2 Jul Curaçao Flag Day. 21 Oct Antillean Day. 25-26 Dec Christmas.
Contact Information:
Diplomatic representation Curaçao is part of the Netherlands Antilles, represented abroad by Royal Netherlands Embassies (see The Netherlands section).
Office of the Minister Plenipotentiary of the Netherlands Antilles PO Box 90706, Badhuisweg 173-175, 2597 JP The Hague, The Netherlands Tel: (70) 306 6111. E-mail: serphos@kymna.nl
Curaçao Tourism Development Bureau in the UK c/o Axis Sales & Marketing Ltd, 4212 Finchley Road, London NW3 6HJ, UK Tel: (020) 7431 4045. Website: www.curacao-tourism.com
Caribbean Tourism Organization in the UK 22 The Quadrant, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1BP, UK Tel: (020) 8948 0057. Website: www.caribbean.co.uk
Curaçao Tourist Bureau in the USA 5810 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, Florida 33137 USA Tel: (305) 285 0511 or 1 800 328 7222. Website: www.curacao.com
The iExplore Community offers travel guides to thousands of destinations, first-hand travel reviews and vacation pictures from everyday travelers like you.
