Public education is based on the Dutch educational system. Until recently, all instruction was provided in Dutch. Now, bilingual primary education in Papiamentu and Dutch is also available. Private and parochial schools also exist on the island. The International School Of Curaçao provides education for English-speaking immigrants.

Higher education in Curaçao, as in the rest of the Netherlands Antilles, is good relative to regional standards. The main institute of higher learning is the University of the Netherlands Antilles (UNA)

The original inhabitants of Curaçao were Arawak Amerindians. The first Europeans to see the island were members of a Spanish expedition under the leadership of Alonso de Ojeda in 1499. The Spaniards exported most of the indigenous population to other colonies where workers were needed. The island was occupied by the Dutch in 1634. The Dutch West India Company founded the capital of Willemstad on the banks of an inlet called the ‘Schottegat’. Curaçao had been previously ignored by colonists because it lacked many things that colonists were interested in, such as gold deposits. However, the natural harbour of Willemstad proved quickly to be an ideal spot for trade. Commerce and shipping — but also piracy — became Curaçao’s most important economic activities. In addition, Curaçao came to play a pivotal role in one of the most intricate international trade networks in history: the Atlantic slave trade.

The Dutch West India Company made Curaçao a center for slave trade in 1662. Dutch merchants brought slaves from Africa under a trading agreement with Spain called Asiento. Under this agreement, slaves were sold and shipped to various destinations in South America and the Caribbean. At the height of the trade, large numbers of slaves were traded here.

The origin of the name Curaçao is still under debate. One explanation is that it is derived from the Portuguese word for ‘heart’ (coração), referring to the island as a centre in trade. Spanish traders took the name over as Curaçao, which was followed by the Dutch. Another explanation is that Curaçao was the name the indigenous peoples of Curaçao had used to label themselves (Joubert and Baart, 1994). This theory is supported by early Spanish accounts, which refer to the indigenous peoples as “Indios Curaçaos”.

Whatever the origin of the name, after 1525 the island appeared on Spanish maps as “Curaçote,” “Curasaote,” and “Curasaore.” By the seventeenth century the island was generally known on all maps as “Curaçao” or “Curazao”.

On a map created by Hieronymus Cock in 1562 in Antwerp, the island was referred to as Quracao.

The name “Curaçao” has become associated with a particular shade of blue, and is sometimes used as an adjective, because of the deep-blue liqueur named “Blue Curaçao”.

Temperature is not an issue when planning a trip to sunny, dry Curaçao, since the average year-round daily high is 82°F (28°C) and constant trade winds keep humidity low. If rain falls, it’s usually in November or December. The island lies below the hurricane belt, so there’s usually no need to worry about being blown away while on vacation. If you’re planning on diving, the most popular sites are at their calmest between September and December. If partying is more your scene, Carnival (February) is a great time to visit, but book early and expect higher prices.

As with most of the Caribbean, the peak tourist season is between December and April, but this has more to do with the weather in North America and Europe than it does with the weather on Curaçao. It’s therefore best to visit outside this period, when tourists are thin on the ground and room rates tend to be 30-50% less than those charged during the busier months.

Willemstad is the territorial capital of the Netherlands Antilles. Located at 12°7′N 68°56′WCoordinates: 12°7′N 68°56′W, on the island of Curaçao, it has an estimated population of 125,000. The city consists of two quarters: Punda and Otrobanda. They are separated by the St. Anna bay, an inlet that leads into the large natural harbour called the ‘Schottegat’.

Punda was established in 1634, when the Dutch captured the island from Spain. The original name of Punda originally was de punt in Dutch. Otrobanda, which was founded in 1707, is the newer section of the city and is considered to be the cultural center of Willemstad. Its name originated from the Papiamentu otro banda, which means “the other side.” Punda and Otrobanda are connected by Queen Emma Bridge, a long pontoon bridge. The city center of Willemstad boasts an array of colonial architecture that is influenced by Dutch styles. The city center, with its peculiar architecture and beautiful harbour entry, has been made a UNESCO world heritage site.

Due to its location near the South American oilfields, its political stability and its natural deep water harbor, Willemstad became the site of an important seaport and refinery. Willemstad harbor is one of the largest oil handling ports in the Caribbean. The refinery, originally built and owned by Royal Dutch Shell in 1915^[1], was sold to the Curacao government for one guilder in 1985 ^[2] and is now leased to PDVSA, the state owned Venezuelan oil company.

The city also is a tourist destination and contains several casinos.

Willemstad is served by Hato International Airport, which is the home base of Insel Air, Curacao’s airline.

Pabao Little League has also appeared is the last 5 Little League World Series.

MLB All-star Andruw Jones hails from Willemstad. MLB Atlanta Braves pitcher Jair Jurrjens also hails from Willemstad. MLB Seattle Mariners outfielder Wladimir Balentien hails from Willemstad as well.

Curaçao is an island in the southern part of the Caribbean Sea off the north coast of Venezuela. The island is the largest and most populous of the three so-called ABC islands (for Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao) of the Lesser Antilles — specifically the Leeward Antilles — and is currently part of the Netherlands Antilles, a self-governing part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Curaçao’s capital is Willemstad.

Curaçao has a land area of 444 square kilometres (171 square miles). At the 2001 Netherlands Antilles census, the population was 130,627 inhabitants, which means a population density of 294 inhabitants per square kilometre. In 2004 the population was estimated at 133,644 inhabitants. Curaçao lies outside the hurricane belt, but can still occasionally be impacted by hurricanes, such as Hurricane Felix.