Curaçao Travel Guide

Curaçao — Country and Tourist Information

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Country Facts

Location: Caribbean, 56km (35 miles) north of Venezuela.
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 50 different nationalities.
Area: 444 sq km (171 sq miles).
Time Zone: GMT - 4.
Electricity: 110/130 volts AC, 50Hz.
Population: 135,000 (2008)
Population Density: 126 per sq mile.
Capital City: Willemstad. Population: 125,000 (UN estimate 2001, including suburbs).
Government: Automous. Part of the Netherlands Antilles (consisting of Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St Eustatius and St Maarten) and a dependency of The Netherlands.
Head of Government: Prime Minister Emily de Jongh-Elhage, since 2006.
Head of State: HM Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands, represented locally by Governor Frits Goedgedrag since 2002.
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.

Recent History

In April 2005, a Curaçao referendum saw 65 per cent of residents vote for their island to step out of the Dutch Antilles government to become a so-called Status Aparte.

Curaçao became an autonomous associated state, under the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in July 2007. Dissolution was scheduled for December 2008 but is now due to take place in October 2010. Over the past few years there has been little political unity between the five islands.

Communications

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. Some hotels have Wi Fi for guests.

Media

Post

Airmail to Western Europe takes four to six days.

Press

English-language newspapers include the Bonaire Reporter (weekly), Business Curaçao and The Daily Herald (Sint Maarten).

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
25 Dec - 26 Dec Christmas

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
14 Feb Carnival Monday
22 Apr - 25 Apr Easter
30 Apr Queen’s Birthday
1 May Labor Day
2 Jun Ascension
2 Jul Curaçao Flag Day
21 Oct Antillean Day
25 Dec - 26 Dec Christmas

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
13 Feb *Carnival Monday
6 Apr - 9 Apr Easter
30 Apr *Queen’s Birthday
1 May Labor Day
17 May Ascension
2 Jul Curaçao Flag Day
21 Oct Antillean Day
25 Dec Christmas
* Date to be confirmed.