Where oh Where Wednesday: Curaçao

Many people have a certain picture in their mind when they think of a Caribbean island. Palm trees blowing softly in a warm wind as the seas gently roll in onto the sandy beaches which invite you to sit with a drink in your hand enjoying the sun. And some islands in the Caribbean probably fit this description. But I was surprised by the description of Curaçao given by inhabitants. 

Curaçao is one of the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao) which are part of the kingdom of the Netherlands but lie just off the coast of Venezuela. Curaçao may have gotten its name early in its colonization in the 16th century because sailors who were left there with scurvy recovered after eating vitamin C rich fruit om the island. The island was then the island of healing. Another reason given for the name of the island is that this was the name of the indigenous people who lived there. 

During the 80 years war with the Spanish in the 17th century, the mighty Dutch navy took the islands from the Spanish. From that point forward the Dutch East India Company (the VOC) started colonizing the island. The capital, Willemstad, was established and settled. The city, and the island, were perfect for commerce of all types, including piracy. And of course the slave trade was well represented. 

The city of Willemstad is now a world heritage site and tourist destination. Its colorful houses show up in many pictures or movies about the Caribbean. The population of about 150,000 are from ethnicities. The slave trade, trade with South American countries, indigenous populations and all sorts of European peoples make as colorful a mix as the buildings along the blue seas. 

What surprised me the most was hearing that most of the country is quite desolate and dry. In the 20th century when Venezuela found oil, Shell set up a refinery on the island. But there is also a salt winning further inland. The coast looks like an ideal tourist destination, but driving into the middle of the island brings you to dry areas with cactus and stone. 

Many inhabitants of Curaçao come to the Netherlands to study or further their economic situation. The island inhabitants were first part of the Netherlands Antilles, but are now simply part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Although the Antilles guilder is used as currency, everyone is familiar with the euro. In the city and on the island people speak Papiemento and English, although many will also be able to speak or understand Dutch. 

The link between Curaçao and Maastricht is personal for us. Although a disgraced governor of Curaçao found a job in Maastricht back in the 19th century, we made a link when we helped a young family move to Maastricht from The Hague at the beginning of the 21st century. We also have worked together with a sister in the church in Eindhoven who is originally from Curaçao. Through her we also have contact with brothers and sisters in Alabama who have good contact with the church in Willemstad. You can find more information about the church in Willemstad at this link .

Where oh Where Wednesday - Colonies of Belgium and Netherlands

Last week we talked about colonization. The Dutch were busy early on - during the Golden Age. Although we might not always recognize it, we run into remnants of that time and expansion in many places. Hoboken, Harlem, Bushwick and Flushing in New York (which was first New Amsterdam) are good examples. But Australia was also first known as Newe Holland and New Zealand is very clearly from the Dutch “Nieuw Zeeland”. 

But names are not colonies. As mentioned the Dutch colonized in many places around the world due to their commerce and trade. Indonesia was a major colony in Asia. In the new world, the Dutch colonized Surinam (the north of South America) and several Caribbean Islands. 

Indonesia fought for their independence. Surinam became independent but is still dependent in many ways. The Caribbean islands - Aruba, Saint Martin and Curaçao were all part of the kingdom of the Netherlands until most recently when Curacao became its own country. 

In the Netherlands you can still feel the influence of these times in some of the food and peoples in the country. When Indonesia fought for freedom, some Indonesians fought with the Dutch and had to flee to the Netherlands. They brought their culture with them. The Dutch enjoy Indonesian meals and have made them their own - a bit like Americans have assimilated Mexican meals into “American” culture. Loempia, spicy sambal and rice (including a "rice table") are all considered very Dutch any more. As well as a good “cup of Java” (Java is in Indonesia) - coffee. 

Food from the Antilles has also been popular, although perhaps less of a recognized cuisine. Most recently the Dutch have had to deal with various parts of their history colliding when “zwarte Piet”, the black helper of Saint Nicholas, was taken more and more as a symbol of racism by Dutch people of Surinam or Caribbean heritage. “Black Pete” has been around for hundreds of years. But is it appropriate? That is the question some are still dealing with. 

On the Belgian side, it was all about Congo in deep dark Africa. Although the Belgians did not truly bring any of the African cuisine with them to the “home country”, they did bring chocolate. And, like in the Netherlands, there are some, though far fewer, who have raised questions about “Zwartte Piet” who is also part of the Belgian Christmas tradition. 

In the area we work - the south of the Netherlands and East of Belgium - we do not have as much contact with people of color as one might have in the large cities of Rotterdam or Brussels, for example. But these days our world is a global place. The congregation in Maastricht has members of all colors and backgrounds. Albania, Armenia, Belgium, Brazil, Curaçao, Ecuador, Germany, Netherlands, Nigeria, Ukraine and the United States (with its diversity) are all represented. God’s family is amazing!