With an island as culturally diverse and historically rich as Curacao, there’s certainly no shortage of fun Curacao facts to discover.

So if you’ve ever wondered what makes this fascinating little Dutch-Caribbean island tick, wonder no more! Here are 33 quirky and interesting facts about Curacao to make you appreciate this lovably rugged island even more.

How many of these Curacao fun facts can you check off your current roster of knowledge?

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Although many people think of it as a singular island, one of my favorite fun facts about Curacao is that it actually consists of two! The main island that people are typically familiar with is Curacao, while the second is the smaller, uninhabited island of Klein Curacao.

Also known as “Little Curacao,” this tiny island paradise is located about 26 miles off the coast and can only be reached by boat.

Located in the Caribbean, Curacao is the third island of the acronym “ABC” and the largest of the Netherland Antilles.

The ABC islands include:

1. Aruba
2. Bonaire
3. Curacao

The island of Curacao is not its own independent country, though it does have authority over some internal affairs.

Instead, it’s recognized as an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. As such, the government of the Netherlands handles foreign relations and defense matters on behalf of the island. The citizens of Curacao also have equivalent rights to the Dutch in terms of their ability to live and work in the EU.

If you’re traveling to Curacao from the United States, you’re in luck! Although the official currency of Curacao is the Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG), US dollars are accepted everywhere on the island!

The exchange rate is typically $1USD = 1.75 ANG.

Euros also tend to be readily accepted on the island.

As of May 2, 2022, the population of Curacao was determined to be 165,319 residents. The majority of locals live in the Willemstad vicinity.

If you’ve ever wondered why the colors of the Curacao flag are blue and yellow, wonder no more! The blue is meant to symbolize the sea and sky, while the central yellow represents the sun.

As for the two stars, the larger of the two is meant to stand for Curacao, while the smaller one is for Klein (“Little”) Curacao.

If you’ve ever worried about traveling to the Caribbean due to concerns about hurricane season, here’s some good news for you! Given Curacao’s positioning on the Leeward Antilles island chain, the island is located outside the Hurricane Belt. As a result, the winds here (though sometimes strong), are rarely cause for concern.

While it’s impossible to guarantee optimal conditions every day, if you’re traveling here from January until September, you can take advantage of the island’s dry season.

With a rich military history, the island of Curacao is currently home to eight forts which have withstood the test of time. However, while the total number of forts is eight, there are six which are best known, as they’re the most well-preserved:

1. Fort Amsterdam
2. Fort Beekenburg
3. Fort Nassau (now one of the top restaurants in Curacao)
4. Fort Waakzaamheid
5. Rif Fort
6. Waterfort

There are nearly 40 wonderful beaches on Curacao. Since some are private hotel beaches, this number can vary (generally between 35 and 36) depending on who you ask.

The awesome thing about Curacao is that no two beaches are alike. Instead, there’s something for every kind of traveler, whether you like lively hotspots, secluded coves, or something in between.

Curacao has some of the best diving sites not only in the Caribbean, but in the world! With nearly 60 amazing spots on the island ranging from reefs to wrecks, Curacao is suitable for divers of all experience levels.

Plus, in addition to numerous diving sites, the wonderful Curacao diving resorts on the island can make for the ultimate underwater experience!

With diving being such a popular island activity, shipwrecks and other underwater wrecks are a big point of interest on the island.

The island’s favorite underwater wrecks include:

• Tugboat Beach
• Saga Tugboat Wreck (near Jan Thiel Bay)
• Airplane Wreck (at Santa Martha Bay)
• Wreck of Catherine (Black Sand Beach, Santa Cruz Plantation)

The most famous shipwreck is probably the one at Tugboat Beach, one of the best diving beaches of Curacao.

Nature enthusiasts rejoice because Curacao is home to not just one, but two national parks: Shete Boka National Park and Christoffel National Park! Both parks are located on the northern end of the island.

Shete Boka runs for over six miles along the north coast and serves as an important nesting site for turtles. The park includes 10 pocket bays for turtles as well as Boka Pistol, a narrow inlet that shoots water backwards in the air when hit by ocean waves.

Christoffel National Park is a nature-protected area that’s home to Christoffelberg, Curacao’s highest peak.

Make sure to add these awesome national parks to your bucket list of the best things to do in Curacao!

The name “Curacao” is a derivative of the word “coracao,” a Portuguese word meaning “heart.”

While there’s no definitive proof as to why this is, many believe it’s because Curacao was formally considered the heart of trade.

Although a variety of languages are spoken on the island, Curacao’s official language is a blended one known as “Papiamento.” This language is a fusion of Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutch (and includes hints of French and English).

In addition, Dutch and English are often considered the other two official languages on the island. Also, it’s not at all uncommon to hear the locals speaking multiple languages.

Dutch, in particular, is the official language for all legal matters on the island.

Given its fusion of languages and the fact that it was invaded by people from various parts of the world, Curacao is a true cultural melting pot.

There’s also a strong history of Sephartic Jews on the island, who settled alongside the Dutch.

Today, there’s actually a whopping 65+ different nationalities living on the island.

As you explore the island of Curacao, chances are, you’ll come across the Papiamento word “dushi” at least once. So…what does it mean?

Although “dushi” can have multiple meanings, it’s typically used to mean “sweet,” “nice,” or “good” when referring to a pretty place, a tasty dish, or a congenial person.

Don’t be surprised to see this word on everything from signage to artistic murals.

Since the island is largely ruled by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Curacao’s public education system is based on that of the Dutch, the official language that courses are offered in.

In addition, Curacao offers an impressive array of higher education opportunities at its language schools, art-based academies, and off-shore medical school.

One of the unfortunate Curacao facts that’s difficult to accept is that the island was considered the center of the Atlantic Slave Trade in 1662. At that time, slaves were shipped to Curacao from destinations throughout Africa and the Caribbean to work on plantations and salt mines.

Although a slave revolt broke out in 1795, unfortunately, the Dutch eventually stopped it, continuing the practice of slavery until it was finally abolished in 1863. Today, you can step back in time to learn about the history of slavery on the island at the Kura Hulanda Museum.

One of the benefits of such a varied culture is the delicious and diverse cuisine you’ll find on the island, from Dutch street food to fresh seafood.

Be sure to check out the best restaurants in Curacao before your trip so you don’t miss out on the delicious and eclectic tastes of the island.

Although it pains me to say this, iguana is considered a delicacy in Curacao! It’s typically served as “stoba yoana” (a.k.a iguana stew).

Supposedly, this dish tastes like chicken – but you won’t see me testing this theory anytime soon!

Curacao is home to the laraha, a bitter Seville orange that was brought to the island from Spain back in the 1500s.

While these oranges were initially rendered useless due to their exceptionally bitter taste, it was later discovered that a unique aromatic oil could be extracted from the unripe peels. This oil eventually became the base for present-day Curacao liqueur!

In 1947, the distillery of Landhuis Chobolobo became the sole company to use the native lahara fruit in its liqueur, earning it the “genuine” title on its alcohol labels.

Did you know that the brilliant blue coloring you see in Blue Curacao liqueur is actually flavorless? Curacao liqueur is naturally colorless, so despite appearances, Blue Curacao tastes exactly the same as its original and clear counterpart. So regardless of whether the bottle you purchase has clear or blue liqueur in it, the drink will taste like the bitter laraha orange peels that flavor it!

In reality, blue (or green or red or orange) food coloring is added to this popular liqueur purely for marketing purposes, as people are typically more enticed to purchase alcohol with brilliant colors.

While tap water can sometimes be sketchy to order depending on where you are in the world, it’s perfectly suitable for drinking in Curacao! That’s because in Curacao, water is distilled directly from the sea.

Alternatively, for a refreshing kick, you can ask for your water “awa di lamunchi,” which will include a bit of sugar and a splash of lime.

As of 1997, the historic district of Willemstad was added to the coveted UNESCO World Heritage List.

Willemstad is acknowledged for its historic city (which was once a significant colonial trading center and administrative settlement) as well as its harbor.

“Most colorful Caribbean capital” isn’t a status that Willemstad takes lightly! With just one look, you’ll quickly see that Curacao’s capital doesn’t just have one or two vibrant streets.

Instead, the whole city is bursting with color! Given its Instagrammable appearance, it’s no wonder many people consider Willemstad to be one of the best areas to stay in Curacao.

If you’re visiting present-day Willemstad, you may be surprised to know that this vibrant city wasn’t always so colorful. In fact, the heavily-saturated buildings you see today were actually once stark white!

So why did the city transition from eggshell to Fruit-Loop coloring?

Although there’s no definitive consensus on this, the popular theory is that Curacao’s governors ordered that the buildings be painted in pastel colors to reduce sun glare. Since white is a reflective color, just imagine how painful the glare must’ve been in a destination as sunny as Curacao!

The Dutch were initially attracted to Willemstad’s natural deep-water harbor, which is highly protected.

Once a significant port for trade, today the harbor is primarily used to support the city’s thriving Caribbean-cruise market.

The Queen Emma Bridge is probably the most iconic landmark in all of Curacao.

Known by the locals as the “Swinging Old Lady,” this floating pontoon/pedestrian bridge spans across the St. Anna Bay, connecting the Punda and Otrabanda neighborhoods.

It’s held in place by an impressive 16 pontoon boats and has two diesel-driven propellers/motors. These enable the bridge to freely swing open parallel to the shore, allowing boats to pass by.

As you’re driving around Curacao, don’t be surprised if you run into quite a few flamingos!

The island is actually a protected habitat for these precious pink birds, who thrive in the waters of Curacao’s saltwater flats.

The two most popular flamingo-spotting sites on the island are Saliña Sint Marie and Saliña Sint Michiel.

Speaking of large birds, did you know that the island is also home to an ostrich farm?

While on the farm, you can also elect to take a safari tour and/or dine at the on-site eatery, Restaurant Zambezi.

While ostriches may sound a bit quirky, how about beach-going boars? If the idea of sharing sand with two sunbathing boars sounds like your idea of a great afternoon, head to Playa Porto Mari for a beach day you’ll never forget!

This spot is a favorite resting place for two very large beach pigs who roam freely on the island. While you’ll be hard-pressed to find them wading in the water, if you arrive between 4 and 5 PM, you just may see them working on their tans!

Of the seven main turtle species worldwide, Curacao is home to three of them: the green sea turtle, the loggerhead, and the hawksbill.

These are all an endangered and highly-protected species on the island. From the nesting sites along Shete Boka National Park, to Playa Piskadó (the favorite beach for snorkeling with turtles), to Klein Curacao, you may have several opportunities to observe these majestic creatures in their natural habitats.

Have you ever wondered what’s up with those strange, crooked trees on the island? Well, they’re called divi-divi trees (a name as interesting as the tree it describes)!

The unusual shape of these trees is caused by intense trade winds that blow in off the coast, causing the trees to grow in a single direction.

Well, there you have it, folks! You’re now equipped with 33 quirky and interesting Curacao facts to whip out at social gatherings! (Or to add to your mental Encyclopedia.)

Regardless of what you do with this interesting information, I hope you’ve learned something new about this diverse little Caribbean island!

Which of these Curacao facts surprised you the most? Let me know in the comments below! 

Interested in uncovering more of Curacao’s hidden gems? Check out my other guides:

• Best Areas to Stay in Curacao: Essential Neighborhood Guide & Top Hotels
• 12 Awesome Diving Resorts for an Epic Caribbean Escape
• 25 Awesome Things to Do in Curacao
• 15 Best Beaches of Curacao: Hot Spots to Hidden Gems
• 10 Best Restaurants in Curacao for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• 10 Fun Things to Do in Jan Thiel, Curacao’s Lively Beach Neighborhood