PK6-color.pub

Patrimonio Kultural
~ cultural heritage ~
HISTORIC AREA OF WILLEMSTAD, INNER CITY AND HARBOR –CURAÇAO, NETHERLANDS ANTILLES
WORLD HERITAGE SINCE DECEMBER 1997
Page 2
Contents
(by the editor)
When Why What
of the historic Area of
Willemstad, Inner City and
Harbor, has been included
on the World Heritage List
of UNESCO
DESIGN SEMINAR
with international participation
May 11 –16, 1997
In May 1997 an international Design
Seminar had been organized by the ICAW.
This seminar was a follow up of a work-
shop in June 1995 for local experts con-
cerning the future development of Willem-
stad as World Heritage City (Patrimonio
Kultural 1995-1)
This Design Seminar was intended to
reach a broad public, especially at the
lectures and final presentation, while the
workshop days were more focussed on a
select group of talented, mostly younger
architects and urban designers from the
Netherlands and Curaçao, with further
participants from amongst others Aruba
and Surinam.
Contents:
Program (page 6)
Lecturers and participants (page 7)
Summary of some lectures (page 8,10)
Presentation of the results (page 12)
A follow up (page 19)
ICAW-Advice 1997 (page 20)
WORLD HERITAGE
JOURNEY
A compilation of World Heritage Sites are
listed in this and next issues of Patrimonio
Kultural (page 22).
WEBSITE
www.willemstad.org/icawna
Willemstad, World Heritage City, is pre-
sented by the ICAW, the executive office,
in a special for the World Heritage re-
servedinternetdomain,“willemstad.org”
which also contains the icawna site with
links to other Curaçao and international
sites and organizations for World Heritage.
The process towards the final decision of
the World Heritage Committee on De-
cember 4, 1997 has been a long one.
While the Foundation for Preservation of
Monuments (Stichting Monumentenzorg)
as a pioneer already started with restora-
tions in the 50's against all odds, their at-
tempts could not really turn the tide con-
cerning a structural approach to the preservation of Historic Willem-
stad as a whole. In the 80's the deterioration of the historic inner city
was at an alarming stage; urgent action was necessary. Then in 1988
the protocol of co-operation "Action Willemstad" between Curaçao,
the Netherlands Antilles and the Netherlands was signed, and the
ICAW initiated together with the Curaçao Department for Urban
Planning (DROV) an integral policy for preservation of Monuments
for the Island Territory of Curaçao (Monumentenplan 1990). This had
to be seen as a first step towards an infrastructure that in the end
would bring Willemstad on the World Heritage List. The Monuments
Plan (DROV-1990), in the context of a Development Plan, and the
Island Ordinance for Preservation of Monuments were shortly thereaf-
ter ratified by the Government of Curaçao in 1990.
New organizations were born:
- The Monuments Fund, which would provide the necessary financial
means for restoration by subsidies and low-interest loans;
- The Willemstad Renewal Corporation (NV.Stadsherstel Willemstad)
as a corporation that structurally would restore and fill in larger blocks
and areas, preferably where private initiative and others could not or
did not want to develop;
The government itself, in its role as guide and implementer of the gen-
eral preservation policy, founded: The Monuments Office (policies)
and the Monuments Council (independent advisory body).
(Patrimonio Kultural no. 1996-3, page 11)
In 1993 the implementation phase was in a stage that seemed to justify
further action towards the nomination of Willemstad as World Heri-
tage. Therefore, in 1995 the ICAW prepared the submission for the
tentative list of World Heritage, which through the Government of
Curaçao and the Kingdom of the Netherlands arrived in Paris in July
1996. This submission was accepted, after which the final nomination
process could start.
In close cooperation with all bodies and partners on all levels of the
Kingdom, the final nomination dossier was prepared by the executive
office of the ICAW on Curaçao in 1995/1996. Finally, through the
formal channels of government, this dossier was delivered in a big
yellow box –the yellow symbolizing the general color of the Cura-
cao’monuments–at the World Heritage Center in Paris, on June 30,
1996, one day before closing time. After this, the evaluation process
of the World Heritage Center through its advisory bodies as ICOMOS
(International Council for Monuments and Sites) started. In December
1996 the ICOMOS representative visited Curaçao for the evaluation
mission, where the ICAW-office of Curaçao was guide to a full under-
When Willemstad World Heritage
Patrimonio Kultural
Published by ICAW-NA, executive office
of the Interregional Committee Action
Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles.
Scharlooweg 51 –Curaçao NA
Ph: (5999) 465-4688 / fx. 465-4591
Editor: JJ. van der Harten MsArch MBA
© All rights preserved, no copy or duplication is
allowed without written permission from the Editor.

Patrimonio Kultural
Page 3
standing of the justification
of the nomination, in good
and bad developments of
past and present times. After
that, the ICAW organized
the International Design
Seminar in May 1997 which
successfully gave a strong
signal to the international
and local community, that
the development of Historic
Willemstad was a serious
matter for the Curaçao’
community.
After the positive advice
of the World Heritage Bu-
reau, the final inclusion
was approved without
any negative remark by
the World Heritage Com-
mittee on December 4,
1997 in Naples, Italy
The most important question to be answered to achieve inclusion on the World Heritage List, is the justification
that makes the nominated cultural heritage unique in the eyes of the world. Therefore criteria have to be met
(Patrimonio Kultural 1995-1, Tentative List). These criteria are also the anchor points for future decisions about
and evaluation of all kinds of developments in the World Heritage area: decisions to be made especially about
the physical circumstances of the development. Townscape and architecture are key-factors because they are the
main qualities of the World Heritage decision of Willemstad. And because townscape and architecture are the
tangible expressions of the social and cultural environment this city has been created in its present state.
Therefore the World Heritage Bureau specifically mentioned in its advice to the World Heritage Committee the
criteria that forms the basis for the inclusion as described in the operational guidelines for implementation of the
World Heritage Convention:
(ii) exhibits an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the
world on developments in architecture, monumental arts or town-planning and landscape design; or
(iv) be an outstanding example of a type of building or architectural ensemble or landscape which illus-
trates (a) significant stage(s) in human history; or
(v) be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement or land-use which is representative of a
culture (or cultures), especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change.
The World Heritage Bureau further mentioned:
"The historic area of Willemstad is a European colonial ensemble in the Caribbean of outstanding value and
integrity, which illustrates the organic growth of a multicultural community over three centuries and preserves
to a high degree significant elements of the many strands that came together to create it. "
The criteria are further elaborated in the Nomination Dossier for Willemstad of June 1996. Especially the justifi-
cation chapter goes in on the circumstances and comparisons of the Heritage, both in good and bad develop-
ments. Thus the key-words for development criteria can be found in these descriptions: architecture, monumen-
tal art, town-planning, landscape, ensemble, cultural representation, organic growth, multicultural community
and the many strands that create it. Together they form the social, cultural, economical, urban, monumental and
architectural townscape of Historic Willemstad, to preserve and to develop in the future, in a way, that Willem-
stad can fully comply with and compete within the family of World Heritage Cities. Much still has to be done!
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Why Willemstad World Heritage

Patrimonio Kultural
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PICTURE
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The World Heritage Area of Willemstad is located
within the, in the Island Development Plan of Cura-
çao (EOP) as protected described, historic area of the
inner city (red dotted line). These borders are west-
ward: the Sta. Famia Church, northward: the Romulo
Betancourt Boulevard (the Queen Juliana Bridge),
eastward: the area behind the Julianaplein. and south-
ward: the coastline including the border of the shal-
low reef.
The Historic Area of Willemstad is thus a legal pro-
tected zone, in which approximately 675 historic
buildings are listed as protected monuments (ca. 50%
of the total buildings, map page 3).
The whole area is declared World Heritage. It has
been specified in zones and most significant proper-
ties per zone. The zones are graded in accordance
with the value of history and authenticity of the urban
morphology and its monuments.
There are 3 types of zones: the Core Area (purple) is
most significant in historic and authentic value of
urban structure and architecture. The Transmission
Areas (green) are more significant as an urban and
architectural representation of the history of social-
cultural development of a multi-cultural community.
The Bufferzones (white) are more distorted in his-
toric morphology and buildings (Waaigat area) or
function as a natural (northern Rif-border) or physi-
cal border (eastern and western zones).
It is clear that the whole of Historic Willemstad as
World Heritage City is more than the sum of the
parts. The social and cultural expression of the total
historic area is the key that binds all the parts in an
harmonious ensemble. Therefore it is important that
developments in all areas comply to the existing
monumental quality, in architecture and in urban de-
sign and development. Where necessary, even careful
reproduction is better than an expression that does
not involve the cultural character of the architecture
or distorts the fine scale of the historic townscape.
Large scale projects and building mass need therefore
to be avoided. The EOP and the Monuments Ordi-
nance could give enough anchor points to comply,
however, they are not meant to create the overall
needed quality: they can only partially guide the re-
sult. And when the stage of political or juridical deci-
sion making has been reached, it is already too late.
Other criteria, economic, social, juridical etc. will
then be involved in that decision. They will never
(Continued on page 24)
What of Willemstad is World Heritage

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Curaçao’nationalheritageisthesettingforaseriousviewon
design and planning in a broader perspective of
sustainable development.
THE HISTORIC AREA OF
WILLEMSTAD
“WITHEXCELLENCE”
MAY 11-16, 1997
DESIGN SEMINAR
with international participation
(KLM-Aero photo)
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Patrimonio Kultural
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DESIGN SEMINAR WITH INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION
ORGANIZATION:
ICAW-NA secretariat, Curaçao
JJ. van der Harten MsArch MBA
PROGRAM
SUNDAY, MAY 11, 1997
OPENING SEMINAR
19:30 General introduction
19:45 Welcome by Mr.S.M.Betrian,
pres.ICAW, governor of Curacao
20:00 Introduction by Prof.Drs. A.J. van
der Staay,Vice-Pres.ICAW
20:30 Introduction seminar programme
20:45 Opening by the Gouvernor of the
Netherlands Antilles,Z.E.Mr.J.M.Saleh
MONDAY, MAY 12, 1997
LECTURES
8:00 Subscription participants
8:45 Introduction speakers
9:00 Mr. Herb Stovel, Canada
9:30 Prof. Dr. Rene Römer,
10.00 Drs. W. Da Costa Gomes
10:30 Pauze
11:00 Dr. E.Salas Romer,Venezuela
11:30 Prof.Dr.A.C.Zijderveld, Nederland
12:15 Lunch
13:30 group assignment
14:00 Field visit by participants e.o.
TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY
MAY 13 -14, 1997
WORKSHOPS CURACAO CIRCLE
8:00 Workshop 9.00 - 12.00
10:00 Coffee break tour
10:30 Workshop
12:00 Lunch 12.00 Lunch
13:30 Workshop 14.00-17.00
15:30 Tea Break tour
16:00 Evaluation
17:00 end workshop
THURSDAY
MAY 15
PREPARATION PRESENTATION
FRIDAY, MAY 16, 1997
EVALUATION DAY
9:00 Presentation and evaluation of the
workshop results to a broad public.
10:30 Coffee break
11:00 Continuation
12:00 Lunch
14:00 Presentation final advices to the
governments by the ICAW
16:00 Press conference
The Design Seminar, with international participa-
tion, is organized by the Interregional Commit-
tee“ActionWillemstad“,itssecretariatonCura-
çao, in cooperation with BVR advisors, Riek Bak-
ker and Marien de Langen.
The goal of the seminar is to focus on the pecu-
liar qualities of, and chances for the Historic Area
of Willemstad. This focus is needed for an effec-
tive and decisive development and forms sup-
port for the nomination of the Historic Area of
Willemstad for inclusion on the World Heritage
List of UNESCO. Therefore a serious effort by the
participants will lay the foundation for future
sustainable development.
THE SEMINAR PROGRAM
The approach of the Seminar needs to be seen in a broader per-
spective than usual. The chances for development - in an envi-
ronment of a World Heritage setting, with its demands for au-
thenticity and management, both in townscape and monuments -
are embedded in the context of architecture, urban planning,
organization, economy (climate for investment, development of
employment, tourism) and social-cultural factors.
Next to the workshops, a Curaçao Circle is organized for for-
eign guests to get acquainted with the product of Curaçao, its
businesses and tourist assets.
The workshop itself takes place during three subsequent days.
Results are presented on the last day of the Seminar.
The restoration of the many monuments in the Inner City has
been increased significantly during the last three years. But a
huge task for further development lies ahead. The main question
is, where and which incentives and actions are needed to guar-
antee the value and secure the quality of the Inner City as a
whole. Not only the buildings itself, but the whole urban setting
and structure is of monumental value (Monuments Plan 1990).
Therefore, not only monuments but also the urban and social-
cultural structure has to be preserved, restored and/or redevel-
oped.
In this perspective, three design assignments will challenge a
new quality of preservation, filling-in of open lots and the pub-
lic area on a conceptual level. The designers will offer next to
physical plans a program that can carry out the development of
the assigned area.
Three design teams will work on three locations, Yard Area

Patrimonio Kultural
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LECTURERS AND PARTICIPANTS
The best possible quality of knowledge and design, (mostly young talented
architects and urban designers) within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, ac-
companied by international and local experts, came together with the aim to
produce the best possible options for developments in the historic inner city.
Opening:
After a welcome with a short review of Action Willemstad and the World
Heritage issue by Mr. Stanley M. Betrian, chairman of the ICAW and Gov-
ernor of the Island Territory of Curaçao, Prof. Drs. Adriaan J. van der
Staay, vice-chairman of the ICAW gave an introduction to the seminar (see
summary, page 7). Next, Mr. Haime Saleh, Governor of the Netherlands
Antilles, opened the Seminar with a strong appeal on the audience to cher-
ishCuraçao’nationalculturalandnatural heritage.
Lecture day:
Prof. Herb Stovel (ICOMOS International, Canada), Prof. Dr. René Römer (ICAW Curaçao, lecture summary
page 10), Drs. Willem da Costa Gomes (Curaçao), Dr. Enrique Salas Römer (fm. Governor of Estado Carabobo,
Venezuela) and Prof. Anton. C. Zijderveld (Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands).
Workshop days:
Program team: Prof. Ir. Riek Bakker, team leader (Director BVR, Rotterdam, the Netherlands) Ir. Marien de
Langen (Director DRW&E Hoofddorp, ICAW), Ir. Etienne van der Horst (Director DROV, Curaçao), Drs. Leon
Weeber (director Kuldespro, social affairs), Prof. Herb Stovel (ICOMOS, Canada), Ir. Chrit Meertens (Urban
RenewalCuraçao),Ir.MichaelNewton(SMF,Curaçao),Ir.R.Apell(MonumentsOfficeA’dam).
Design teams:
Curaçao: Roos Boender and Noëmi Panneflek-de Lannoy (Broos & vWerkhoven), Andres Faciolince and Za-
hira Alfonso (Project Planners & Design), Mike Koch (IMD-Design), Maup Lanjouw (Island Design), Ronny
Lobo (Lobo&Rayman), Marjorie Mahieu (DROV), Carolien Manuel (Monumentenbureau), Ted Peterson
(DOW), Leendert Taams (Taams architects), Vernon Daal, Willy Juliana and Ben Smit (architects).
The Netherlands: Rienk Dijkstra (MAX, Rotterdam), Bert Dirrix (Dirrix&vWijlich, Eindhoven), Marcel Fleer
(Bentvelts&Fleer), Stephan Gall (Quadrat), Katrien Prak (BVR), and Jos van der Ven (Dirrix&vWijlich).
Representatives: Sylvio Mutal (fm.Director UNDP/UNESCO, Peru), Elisabeth Canalis (Secretario de Gobierno
de Carabobo para el desarollo de la costa, Venezuela), Drs. Paul van Haren and Drs. Hetty de Jong (DROV,
R’dam),Ir.PetervanDun,Ir.RonvanOersandJ.Pawiroredjo (Surinam), Yvonne Web-Kock and Drs.Rob Boot
(Aruba).
ICAW Antilles (other members): Mr. Jacky Voges (vice chairman and President Monuments Foundation,
Curaçao), Jacques van der Harten MsArch MBA (seminar-organization), Drs. Frank Elstak (UNESCO-NA),
Sedney Jansen (Plataforma Otrobanda), Ir. Anco van der Woude (architect).
ICAW Netherlands: Prof. Dr. Ir. Frits van Voorden (Tech.University Delft), Leo van Nispen tot Sevenaer, Esq.
(fm. Director Dpt. for Preservation, fm. Director ICOMOS), Drs. Fons Asselbergs (Director Dpt. for Preserva-
tion),Ir.RobApell(DirectorMonumentsOffice,A’dam),Mr.JaapSchiltkamp(Fm.PresidentMonuments
Foundation, Curaçao), Drs. John van Klaveren (KABNA), and Ms. Babs A.S. de Klerk (Secretariat NL).
PICTURE
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(koralengebied) Pietermaai West, and the axis from the Sea-aquarium up to
the St.Ana Bay.
The locations are selected on the following criteria:
The locations need urgent impulses for redevelopment
They combine restoration, open lots and/or public areas,
The area contains no present stimulating functions,
The area contains a weak identity,
The development of the area is still open.
The design teams will consist of a mix of Antillian, Dutch and/or
Caribbean designers, supported by an interdisciplinary program team and
other international expertise, that will inspire and support the design teams
for an integral result.

Patrimonio Kultural
Page 8
For me, the meeting
place of the seminar, Hotel Venezuela,
is intimately connected to the Action
Willemstad.
In the night of November 30, 1988, this
building went up in flames, of which
notice was given to me during the sign-
ing ceremony of the protocol Action
Willemstad that same day. It was for
the ICAW the symbol of the decay of
Willemstad those days and all the
doubts I had about the long way to go
to turn the tide. Now, after ten years the
building has been restored for the Mari-
time Museum.
In the meantime the monument policy
has been established and implemented.
And Action Willemstad has gained
international recognition as one of the
first projects of UNESCO's Wold Dec-
ade and is now nominated for inclusion
on the World Heritage List. This all is
result of a splendid co-operation within
the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with
most of the work done in the Antilles.
Bravo!
But there is still much to do.
Clause "f" of the 1988 protocol points
out:“Local institutions (must be) sup-
ported in creating high-quality archi-
tectural solutions for new buildings
that fit in the existing historic environ-
ments". This problem is still the same
as in 1988. Willemstad was neither
perfect nor complete, and it probably
never has been. A turbulent city never
meant to be an open-air museum. Nev-
ertheless there exist critical demands on
how to treat this heritage. Good man-
agement is needed, not only in a for-
mal, organizational way, but also as
requirements of a moral nature: what
social-cultural form do the people of
Curaçao want to give their city for the
future. A common vision is needed to
integrate the efforts for preserving the
past. The moral duty is to ensure the
quality of construction. Visitors never
would come to Willemstad if earlier
inhabitants have had no feeling for
quality. They did not settle for second-
rate architecture.
Round 1900 Curaçao had a distinct
sense for quality in more than one way,
expressed in all layers of the commu-
nity, music, architecture, crafts and
modes of interaction. This pervasive
quality gives the nostalgic beauty to the
work of Ipolito Ocalia
Living in a world where this manner of
quality seems to be more exception
than rule, the shadow of everyday life,
of economic dynamism, devoid of cul-
tural discernment, could be damaging
for Willemstad, if investors would
come and erect buildings that cannot
withstand critical scrutiny. Therefore
the idea of this Design Seminar, meant
to foster this vibrant sense of quality in
architecture and urban development.
Quality in architecture is a controver-
sial matter. People have been building
for thousands of years, judging them
beautiful or ugly, but only in our cen-
tury that judgement became problem-
atic. What deprived the public nowa-
days of its confidence in its own judge-
ment?
One key factor has been the notion of
the avant garde, an elite-philosophy
that thinks to know what verdict the
future will pass on quality, while the
general public lags behind and fails to
understand the future.
The professionalization of architecture
has an even more lasting impact. In its
(international) organization it has be-
come a huge apparatus for defining
quality, while isolating itself from the
taste of the public. Here it is not the
quality that is lacking, but the link of
the people with the product made by
these professionals. This makes archi-
tecture (the most important art form for
the general public) the most one-sided
of all cultural interventions into daily
life.
Today again there is renewed profes-
sional reflection on the fundamental
principles of architecture itself. The
question arises today: What has history
to offer? A seldom asked question in
our century within the architectural
profession.
But, amongst the general public, his-
tory has persisted and regained pres-
tige. A traditional undercurrent is rec-
ognized by architects as Christopher
Alexander (USA), Bruno Stagno (Costa
Rica) and Christian Rapp (Rotterdam-
Maaskant Prize 1996). This return to
architectural tradition is noticed in ur-
ban development as well (Peter Katz,
the new Urbanism, New York, 1994).
Will the architectural movements of
this époque: modernism, post-
modernism, deconstructivism, but also
neo-classicism, be visible in this semi-
nar? This question cannot be avoided,
because the most beautiful objects in
Willemstad have been built in the long
classical tradition, harking back to
Vitruvius, Palladio and the Beaux Arts.
Willemstad carries on a dialogue with a
powerful past.
From the point of view of urban devel-
opment, this seminar and the Action
Willemstad come at interesting time in
the international debate about the future
of the city, in which the tradition of the
European city is set against develop-
ments in the USA. The future might be
decided elsewhere, by international
property developers. Needless to say
that this debate is of more than periph-
eral interest for the Caribbean, where
Europe and North America both exert
their influence.
In general this debate can be called a
debate about order and chaos. In Euro-
pean tradition the city brought people
of diverse origins together around a
market (forum, agora). This market was
a no-man's land where under various
sorts of authorities, dictatorial, aristo-
cratic, democratic, public interest was
mould into law. Around this market the
city was born. This was also the case
with Willemstad, where the Fort
(public authority) safeguards the mar-
ket character of the city.
Production and distribution deploy
themselves around it, accumulating
people from often very different ori-
gins.
Today this European order is seriously
endangered (Ries van der Woude, de
PK6-04
FIRST DAY: LECTURES, SUMMARIES (1)
Prof.Drs.A.J.van der Staay is former Director of the
Dutch National Office for Social and Cultural Plan-
ning and vice-chairman of the ICAW.
DESIGN AGAINST TRENDS

Patrimonio Kultural
Page 9
Beklemde Stad, Rijswijk 1996). We
are witnessing the exodus of the middle
classes from the old city centers. The
residential city is left to the rich and the
poor. Visits to the city are confined to
work and recreation. People move to
zones outside, snug little worlds, in-
come-based ghetto’s,“edge cities“.
Meanwhile functions of production and
distribution are more and more spa-
tially detached. Information and mobil-
ity are withdrawing from spatial con-
texts. Investment decisions in cities are
taken by property developers who even
not live in the country they are invest-
ing in. Simultaneously migrants pour
unchecked into the void of the aban-
doned city. Municipal authorities lack-
ing support of the original city popula-
tion, are unable to offer a strong, effec-
tive government to the residents. The
danger looms that public authority will
gradually pull back, thus failing to
maintain order and therefore foster
chaos. The concept of the city will be
lost.
This process of dissolving of city struc-
ture has been splendidly registered in
the literary work of the Trinidadian
writerV.S.Naipaul.Inhisbook“A
wayintheworld” (Heinemann,Lon-
don, 1994) he describes how the Span-
ish structure of Port of Spain gradually
falls victim to a chaos of private inter-
ests. The urban character slips away:
P.40“Itwasunsettlingtoseewhathad
been the city –regulated, serviced, pro-
tected, full of wonder and the possibil-
ity of adventure –turn to a vacancy,
simpleground”.
In the Netherlands a large scale offen-
sive has been launched around the po-
liticalnotionof“citiespolicy”.Anof-
fensive that requires political will, per-
severance and money, because a trend
has to be reversed. It will be an eco-
nomic, social and cultural offensive.
Economic, because the functions that
keep the city moving have to be rein-
stated, the historic city becoming at-
tractive again to production and distri-
bution.
Social, because ordinary people, not
just the rich and the poor, must be en-
abled to move back to the city and re-
conquer vital public space through
guaranteed safety and environmental
quality.
And finally, it will be a cultural offen-
sive to preserve the city as a meeting
place for diverse lifestyles, a place with
a high –quality sense of –urban life.
Implementing policy on these issues
will be difficult, but not impossible.
For instance, it can be noticed that a
concentration of museums gives the
city quality and status, because a mu-
seum contains the best of what society
wants to preserve. It is a place fre-
quently visited by tourists and it has a
social and educational function. It is
no accident that Deyan Sudjic sees the
construction of museums (and airports)
as the greatest challenge for contempo-
rary architecture. (Deyan Sudjic, The
100 Mile City, London, 1992)
Tourism requires hospitality. The city
has to be a pleasant place to stay. The
whole city has to radiate both hospital-
ity and quality. A city that succeeds in
creating such an atmosphere attracts
investment. Generally speaking, a city
with something special to offer will be
a place where people will go to and
enjoy themselves, not just on special
occasions, but 7 days a week –a place
where visitors and residents alike can
congregate, to get out of their purely
private world, which does tend to get
boring after a while.
Events like festivals and cultural heri-
tage days need to be organized. If we
put a quality control to work, then its
only concern should not be spatial
quality, but the quality of the whole
city life.
So the coming week we are confronted
with bigger questions than foreseen.
First: are we interested in what was
transmitted to us, and what shall be
transmitted from now on;
Second: shall we design our future or
shall we leave future to trends? Will
they tell us who we are?
Questions not only for architects and
planners, but for all citizens and their
public servants. In the Antilles and the
Netherlands.
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Patrimonio Kultural
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A Caribbean settlement.
Caribbean societies are basically pro-
foundly hybrid in their structure and
culture, but they present themselves
at first view as an harmonious
whole. For four centuries there has
been an encounter of different peo-
ples and different cultures which in
the end resulted in a kind of amalga-
mation of these elements. Neverthe-
less, the original elements are still
there and easy to recognize. Like a
work of art, reality in the Caribbean
looks different, depending upon the
angle to be viewed.
This Caribbean character is also present
in Willemstad. A superficial glance at
the Handelskade gives the impression
of a replica of some Dutch facade of
the mansions in Amsterdam or any
other Dutch city. A closer look, how-
ever, reveals fundamental deviations
from the original Dutch architecture.
As is with San Juan, Puerto Rico,
which city has the appearance of a
Spanish town, but where the notable
American influences of the last century
has rendered it definitely not Spanish.
Willemstad and San Juan –and for that
matter Havana - are typically the result
of a transformation process of different
cultural traits that took place over the
course of time. They are thoroughly
Caribbean in the new form resulting
from this amalgamation process.
Should this bring us to the conclusion
that Willemstad is not Dutch? This
question can be answered both in posi-
tive and negative sense. The gables
remind us of the Dutch gables and the
“grid”ofPundaremindsusofother
Dutch colonial cities as Paramaribo in
Surname, Capetown in South Africa or
Colombo in Sri Lanka. However, the
dynamic interchange of Iberian cultural
elements, of a qualitatively important
group of Sephardic Jews, and the Afri-
can culture of the slaves, with the
Dutch dominated Nordic, Protestant
culture, resulted in a local variant of the
typical Afro Caribbean culture, which
is here of a different blend. Curaçao, to
my knowledge, is the only place where
these three elements had the opportu-
nity to interact in such an intensive way
and for such a long time, which makes
Willemstad unique, being not typically
Dutch, nor Iberian nor African.
A preliminary remark to make is that in
the development and structuring of
Willemstad the natural environmental
restrictions, imposed by the St. Ana
Bay, " Schottegat", and inland waters
such as "Waaigat" and "Rifwater"
played an important role. One of the
reasons the Dutch decided to keep the
island was the natural harbor later
called "Schottegat". Willemstad arose
around these waters.
Punda.
The development of Willemstad started
with "Fort Amsterdam", which was
completed in 1639. In that year Jacob
Pietersz Tolck wrote a letter to the
Board of Trustees of the West Indian
Company, with the remark it was writ-
ten from "the fort in Curaçao". At that
time the fort was called "het Kasteel".
The first step in the planning of a settle-
ment was the building of a wall from
the northeastern bastion of the fort to
what was called the "river", actually
our present "Waaigat". Later on the
wall was extended to the north into the
"Waaigat". The boundaries of this set-
tlement were thus, in the beginning,
determined by water: the Waaigat and
St. Ana Bay. Later on a third wall was
built in the "Waaigat" in a western di-
rection toward the harbor. The city was
thus closed-in by walls on three sides
and by St. Ana Bay on the fourth.
With the arrival of more colonists Wil-
lemstad (now Punda) gradually devel-
oped in a pattern of narrow streets that
metatrightangles.This“grid”still
exists present day, notwithstanding
many changes in the course of time.
The naming of the city, Willemstad, is
mentioned in the archives is 1680. Bud-
dingh' mentions the possibility that the
naming was after Stadhouder William
III, who occupied this position on 1672.
It could have been related to the fact
that in 1674 the new West Indian Com-
pany was instituted and in 1675 Wil-
lemstad was declared a free port getting
a well known name in the hope that this
would stimulate the economy.
How can the growth of Punda be ex-
plained? The fall of Pernambuco, the
Dutch colony in Brazil which was re-
conquered by the Portuguese in 1654,
has been mentioned as one of possible
the causes. Recent research by Bud-
dingh', however, didn't confirm this
theory. Although some of the new set-
tlers did come from Brazil, their num-
ber must have been very limited. New
Amsterdam, which had the jurisdiction
over Curaçao (Aruba and Bonaire) was
much more attractive to them.
The main reason for the growth of
Punda should therefore more be sought
in the declaration of Curaçao in 1675 as
a free port.
Otrobanda.
According to a report by Jacob Beck in
1705 there was no space for the people
that continued to arrive in Curaçao.
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THE DEVELOPMENT OF WILLEMSTAD FROM
A SETTLEMENT TO A CITY
FIRST DAY: LECTURES, SUMMARIES (2)
Prof.Dr.Rene Römer - former Governor of the
Netherlands Antilles, Chairman of the Monuments
Council Curaçao, and member of The ICAW-NA.

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Two years later he proposed to build on
the "other side", ("Otrobanda"), of St
Ana Bay. The very year (1707) he had
written his letter Beck got permission
from the Board of Trustees to start as-
signing plots of land for construction,
the condition that the buildings be not
more than two stories high as this could
be a hindrance to the line of fire from
the fort.
Otrobanda grew very fast, although it
was different as we know today.
Houses and warehouses were built on
the waterfront, de "Waterkant" (our
present Awa'sa or Brionplein), along
the road leading to the Western part of
the island, and at the so called "Kreek",
now better known as the "Rifwater".
Big mansions, of which three are still
basking in their glory, were built along-
side the "Rifwater". The building ac-
tivities up until the beginning of the
19th century were limited to the houses
alongside the "Rifwater", the alleys and
the houses on both side of Breedestraat.
In 1754 Governor Faesch, who lived in
Otrobanda, wrote that this area, (now
"the alleys" or steegjes), was filled with
buildings just like "de Willemstad".
Until the first decades of the 19th cen-
tury, the higher parts, the so called
"berg" or "seru" (hill) of Otrobanda
were sparsely built.
We are still missing a study on the rela-
tionship between the growth of Wil-
lemstad and economic developments.
During the 18th century, Willemstad
was an important harbor both for the
slave-trade and trade with the Spanish
mainland in the transshipment of goods
from what is now Estado Falcon in
Venezuela and Rio Hacha in Colombia
to Europe. From 1729 to 1759 more
then 50% of the traffic in the harbor of
Curaçao, about 200 out of the 400 ships
per year, was with the north coast of
South America when an average of
2500 tons of merchandise was trans-
ported, and in the peak years of 1728 to
1751 even 20,000 tons. This is accord-
ing to a study by the Spanish historian
Ramon Arizpurua. He states in his
1993 publication that in that period the
province of Venezuela had stronger
commercial ties with Curaçao than with
Spain.
In that period an extension of Willem-
stad developed to the East outside the
city wall as well. Building activities
started at what is now known as Pieter-
maai Small. Pietermaai has been named
after Pieter de Mey, who, according to
Carel de Haseth, came from Brazil end
17th century. According to Hartog the
Pietermaai houses were built by retired
sea captains and merchants. In at least
one of the dormer windows until two
years ago the date 1753 could be read.
It is a pity that it is partly eroded now.
Extension also took place to the North,
across the Waaigat, where houses were
built in the Western part of Scharloo
(Skarlo Abou). The beautiful house
where the Marine Museum is now es-
tablished, was built in around 1749.
Following that period Curaçao profited
from the Seven years war between Eng-
land and France (1756-1763) and the
independence war of the British colo-
nies in North America (1776-1783).
Both French and English ships took
refuge in the harbor of Curaçao. They
transported merchandise, which was
(mostly illegally) traded with the Span-
ish mainland, against a much better
price then it had been acquired for.
In the Independence War of the United
States of America both the legal and
illegal trade flourished.
Intermezzo.
The end of the 18th century and the
beginning of the 19th century were
turbulent times, starting with the
French revolution in Europe in 1789. In
the Caribbean, in 1791, the Haitian
revolution represented the first break in
the pattern of the relations between
colonies and mother countries. Eng-
land, ruling the waves, conquered all
the colonies of the European countries
under pretext of protecting them from
the French. Curaçao was twice under
British command in 1803 and again
from 1807 till 1816. In these first dec-
ades of the 19th century the Spanish
colonies, on the mainland started to
revolt against the dominance of Spain,
with independence of Ecuador, Pa-
nama, Colombia and Venezuela as re-
sult. In short this was not a suitable
time for trade. When Holland took over
the command of the colony again in
1816 the first governor-general, Vice
Admiral Albert Kikkert, reported on
July 2, 1817: "Poverty under the lower
classes is so overwhelming that you
just cannot imagine how all those fami-
lies do support themselves. Men,
women and children are engaged in the
detestable, but piteous act of begging."
Only after this tumultuous intermezzo,
did trade flower again. In the thirties
and forties of that century quite a few
Curaçaons emigrated to Panama and
Venezuela. to cities such as Puerto Ca-
bello. The family relations between the
Curaçaons in Puerto Cabello and the*
relatives in Curaçao remained very
close till deep in the 20th century.
Scharloo, Hoogstraat, Pietermaai.
A second period of wealth that stimu-
lated the growth of Willemstad came
thus during the second half of the 19th
century. Up from the 1860's till more or
less 1910, Punda extended across the
"Waaigat", the beautiful quarter Schar-
loo, which arose in what we call here a
neo-classical style. Scharloo became
more accessible after the demolition of
the city wall in 1866 and the building
of the van de Brandhof bridge (1883),
which was replaced in 1928 by the pre-
sent one, named after Queen Wilhel-
mina. Before that the connections be-
tween all parts of the city were done
along the waterways by flat bottomed
boats called "ponchi". Even after the
Queen Emma bridge was built over St.
Ana Bay in 1888, people kept on using
the "ponchi" till about 1930.
In Otrobanda the "Hoogstraat" and
Witteweg" arose, once again with neo-
classical type of houses. A beautiful
example of the architecture from that
(Continued on page 24)
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Introduction
The results of the Design Seminar
of May 11-16, 1998, organized by
the ICAW, are results from close
cooperation between Antillean and
Dutch designers, between children
within the Kingdom and experts
from abroad, design-teams and a
program team, anthropologists and
urban developers, but most of all a
process of co-production. They all
deserve our appreciation for their
efforts, prestige and precious time
reserved from their often busy
daily jobs.
The Process
During the Workshop Days, three
design teams and a program team
have worked together to produce
the now presented results.
Each design team consisted of two
Curaçao designers from the private
sector and one governmental, and
two Dutch designers. After analysis
of the location they immediately
started to design the possibilities of
that location.
The program team consisted of rep-
resentatives of different disciplines
(see page 9). Its function was a re-
flective, stimulating and profes-
sional one.
This working structure had several
advantages:
1. New solutions:
Short but intensive cooperation
created a climate in which open-
ings were forced in existing prob-
lems, because active participation
produces results. And the seminar
was aimed at results.
2. Professional exchange:
All kind of interacting disciplines
gave the possibility to renewed
thinking about existing questions,
away from daily work and stress,
3. Motivation:
Professional interaction created a
climate of inspiration and high mo-
tivation,
4. Signals:
Confrontation with other parties
created the opportunity to encoun-
ter each-others views and enriched
cross-cultural experience and
knowledge. Which lead to the in-
sight that cooperation between all
sectors and stakeholders is highly
important for the development of
the city. And that great importance
should be given, in the information
to the governments, that the results
are common results from private
and governmental participants, that
the community should be served by
these results. Thus emphasizing on
a clear political commitment.
The Design Seminar.
1. Respect for Willemstad:
The Historic Area of Willemstad,
being candidate for the World
Heritage List of UNESCO, is sub-
ject of this design seminar. To an-
ticipate on a world wide respected
status, which can create a climate
for guided stimulation in future
development. Not a matter of rules,
which may be felt as galling bonds
for uncontrolled developments and
its promoters, but a chance towards
quality of development for all
stakeholders involved.
2. Integrated process:
The restoration sector, organiza-
tions and persons involved, can be
proud of a large amount of fine re-
stored buildings and a successful
monuments policy.
But, more is needed for the revitali-
zation of Willemstad. On one hand
the further fight against deterio-
ration needs to be speeded up, on
PRESENTATION OF THE RESULTS
Prof.Ir.Riek Bakker - former Director Urban Planning Rotterdam,
Director BVR-advisors Rotterdam and Professor Tech.University
Eindhoven.
Ir.Marien de Langen - Acting Director of the Department of
Urban planning and Housing , Rotterdam
member of The ICAW-NL.
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the other hand well-aimed develop-
ments, plans and projects have to
lead to fast and urgent realization.
In this context is speed the key fac-
tor against deterioration.
Speed is the reason for integration
and integration is the reason for an
interdisciplinary approach: to make
a quest through all sectors, inter-
ests, opportunities, threads,
strengths and weaknesses, in the
interest of the future development
of Willemstad.
3. Choices:
An integrated approach asks for
choices. A realistic and well-aimed
development strategy is based on
balanced choices. Not everything
can be realized everywhere. A
strong intention to develop Historic
Willemstad in accordance with its
qualities, will be accompanied by
often painful decisions: to concen-
trate activities on certain areas,
which automatically constrains de-
velopments in other areas.
4. The ingredients:
For a successful strategy in the re-
vitalization of Willemstad, a com-
bination of ingredients is basis for
results. The ingredients can be
categorized in:
"org-ware": or stakeholders, peo-
ple, organizations, inhabitants etc.
“hard-ware”: or manmade envi-
ronment, bridges, roads, buildings,
etc.
“soft-ware”: functions, programs
for e.g. housing, work, shopping,
recreation, cultural and natural en-
vironment, landscape etc.
While the design teams mostly
were focussed on the hard–and
software, the program team sup-
ported both with the org-ware. The
three design locations were chosen,
because they represented urgent
and actual dilemmas in the devel-
opment of Willemstad. In advance
a workbook was made as a guide to
the organization and more detailed
contents of the seminar.
5. Strategic development:
The relation of Willemstad to
Curaçao itself and the Caribbean
area asks beforehand for more an-
swers than the problems of the de-
sign locations itself.
The pull factor of Willemstad on
the Curaçao population and the
Caribbean area is a vital element
for the revitalization of the inner
city.
What is essential to maintain and
increase the attraction of the inner
city? What makes Willemstad dif-
ferent?WhatisWillemstad’sinter-
national position? These questions
and its answers need to be placed
in the overall economic, social and
cultural context.
During the Design Seminar exer-
cises have been made to find some
of the answers and develop strate-
gies to include this larger context,
with the aim to find strategies for
effective and efficient implementa-
tion.
Last but not least, during the design
seminar the focus was on critical
essential factors for success, which
can be formulated as:
 Political will and commit-
ment,
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 Quality of management and
coordination,
 Financial engineering,
 Human resource: who wants
to carry the process (enthusiasm),
 The“how”and“who”ofthe
implementation process.
 Focus on the balance of the
total structure of the development
processes, next to the building
stones itself (infra-structure, build-
ings, social environment, needs,
cultural values as paradigms, mo-
tives etc.)
 The need for further research,
 Realistic planning which in-
cludes mission, goals and objec-
tives, workforce and instruments of
implementation, financial structure
and interests of the stakeholders,
 Active involvement of the
community based organizations
(CBO’s)inpreparationandimple-
mentation of the plans.
Results and recommendations
1. General purpose and necessity of
the design seminar.
Most participants experienced the
seminar as a success, because an
enormous amount of energy and
thinking-power has been released
on important issues. This resulted
in the confirmation of the impor-
tance and necessity of the nomina-
tion of Willemstad on the World
Heritage List of UNESCO, seen as
chance, reward, stimulus, develop-
ment opportunity by respect for the
history and new inspirations for the
future.
To repeat the process of a design
seminar on a regular basis is there-
fore the general recommendation.
Improvements could be made con-
cerning PR, communication and
schedule.
2. Specific recommendations.
During the seminar a lack of essen-
tial data impeded the progress. Fur-
ther research on short term is nec-
essary.
It concerns:
 Distribution Planning Re-
search (DPO).
For the revitalization of Willemstad
the development of a high-quality
shopping function is very impor-
tant. (population, tourism). To find
a better balance and distribution of
branches a DPO is absolutely nec-
essary. With the DPO, basic knowl-
edge is gathered for the opportuni-
ties and threads for Willemstad in
the context of the total situation on
Curaçao.
 Traffic distribution research.
To find basic material for necessary
traffic changes in the inner city, a
traffic research on flow, parking
and distribution is necessary. Rules
for parking should be investigated
per plot, the feasibility of a parking
company should be investigated.
The general conclusion is that a
good parking policy is key for suc-
cess for the development of the in-
ner city.
 Public Space project.
An investigation on the feasibility
of a project aimed specifically on
the quality of the public space in
the inner city will lead to opportu-
nities for:
- coherence between all stakehol-
ders based on a win-win strategy,
- realization based on quality,
- a psychological pull-factor to fur-
ther quality of development,
- a relative low investment versus a
high result,
- an exercise for all parties involved
to create an effective and efficient
working platform based on coop-
eration and quality of product.
"Org-ware"-recommendations:
 Make a planning and stick to
it. Tranquility of process is neces-
sary for trust in the role of govern-
ment. Thus improving the invest-
ment climate and involvement by
the community.
 Plan realistic. It is better to
have less but better results than
more and often bad results.
 Organize task-forces. Impor-
tant strategic projects show that
things get serious. It improves the
investment climate and mutual
trust.
 Improve investment incen-
tives. To stimulate local and for-
eigninvestmentsthegovernment‘s
role needs to be supportive.
Suggestions for possible improve-
ment are:
- Use the juridical instruments in an
effective way (expropriation, sum-
mons)
- Use and create incentives in an
atmosphere of wheeling and deal-
ing,
- Invest in Capital Funding
- Reconsider the market protection,
with the longer effect of improve-
ment of market mechanism and the
effects on employment and quality
of product.
- Urban planning criteria and rules
should be easy to recognize for the
general public. They must enhance
stimulation and trustworthiness.
- Recognize the influence of the
people at the planning and promote
this towards the market stake-
holders.
- Organize trustworthy and profes-
sional city-management.
- Strengthen the inner city revitali-
zation organization.
This last recommendation is essen-
tial for the further development of
the inner city. Basically it concerns
a way of organizing all private and
public stakeholders and interests of
the people in a coordination body,
which can be a participation or de-
velopment organization or com-
pany:
KURASON PA WILLEMSTAD.
“Hard-ware”recommendations:
To develop an essential hardware
program for the whole of Historic
Willemstad. This program will
have to contain the following ele-
ments: Housing, Recreation, Up-
grading of the shopping core, re-
shuffling of the public transport, its
stations and immediate surround-
ings, additions in cultural functions,
offices and commercial enterprises.
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Patrimonio Kultural
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“Soft-ware”recommendations:
Develop a software program for
Willemstad which formulates an
answer on the former strategic
questions that anyhow contain the
following subjects:
 Housing for support of the vi-
tality of the inner city (to decide
where, how much and the differen-
tiation of housing etc.)
 Offices and commercial enter-
prise, necessary for a long term
economic function and sustainable
development of the inner city and
Curaçao,
 Add the results of the former
formulated research projects and
determine the influence on the pro-
gram,
 Develop an effective and effi-
cient security policy (e.g. secured
parking) to stimulate visit to the
inner city by the people outside the
working hours too.
Be sure to develop the program as
complete as possible (24 hours a
day) for both Curaçao population
and tourists in the inner city and
the whole island. Enlarge exchange
on the island and take care of com-
plementation and clustering. Natu-
ral and Cultural environment and
functions are essential parts of this
program.
We are aware, that these recom-
mendations and the presented re-
sults of the design teams need fur-
ther elaboration. However, we hope
and expect to have produced in this
very inspiring Seminar a valuable
asset to the acceleration of the revi-
talization of the Historic area of
Willemstad.
DESIGN RESULTS
The Historic Area of Willemstad obtains its cultural value in its total townscape, the
urban setting and the authenticity of the monuments: the jewels in the ring.
This is the main thought in which the design seminar has formulated the approach of its location choices.
Although the monuments are the historic jewels, the total ring contains more than monuments. The coherence
between restoration of monuments, design of public space, and the fill-in of open lots are therefore main targets
of the design assignments. The three design assignments are:
THE LINT is formed by the axis from the Ana Bay - Breedestraat (Punda) - Pietermaai –Penstraat –M.L.King
Boulevard (page 16).
PIETERMAAI WEST, an area in which developments have stagnated for a longer period of time (page 17).
YARD AREA, an important historic area in Otrobanda, containing four yard-type monuments (page 18).
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In this long coastal area
the contact with the sea,
beingoneofCuraçao’s
most important
assets, gives a
major advantage
for develop-
ment.
Several activities
or view points
of different character bind the hinter-
land to the sea. A boat-taxi might
connect these points, where both
people and tourists can profit of a
relaxed trip to the point of destina-
tion. The points are also chosen be-
cause of their reflection of mostly
sea-oriented local culture, like fishing
and beach-life.
This kind of development makes the
backview of the older building lines
important, thus emphasizing vice
versa the importance of the contact
from the sea to the hinterland.
Another major character of the lint is
the coastal curve, where from the sea-
aquarium to the Ana Bay every point is
recognizable and forms an important
orientation. A strong
recommendation is to
keep building zones
at least 15 meters
from the original
shoreline.
Project: THE LINT
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Proposals are
made for new
functions in the
now mostly
empty or mar-
ginally build area. Next
to tourism and enter-
tainment development,
larger scale residential
and office
functions with
i n t e g r a t e d
parking facili-
ties and/or ga-
rages will sup-
port the devel-
opment of the
surrounding areas. For example, the
Hotel at Marichi will be a major cen-
ter for activities around the Waterfort
area. The Pietermaai square as enter-
tainment center connects the Punda,
Waaigat, Pietermaai West and Marichi
areas.
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TRAFFIC and OPEN SPACE are main tar-
gets of the Waaigat/Pietermaai area. Re-
arrangement of the bus station and mak-
ing the Waaigat suitable for
pedestrians creates attractive
shopping, shipping and tour-
ism functions.
Project: PIETERMAAI WEST
Zahira Alfonso
Vernon Daal
Rients Dijkstra
Marcel Fleer
Willy Juliana
Mike Koch
Marjorie Mahieu
Ben Smit
Leendert Taams
Yvonne Web-Kock
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The yard area is part of the core of the World Heritage nomination.
Therefore, preservation of its historic structure is basic principle for further future de-
velopment.
For the 4 main yards and its monuments, a design has been developed in which con-
temporary functions are programmed. The development has been directed towards
community and other public functions as a museum, community center etc. on behalf
of the strong surrounding residential and small business and shopping functions. The
fine scale of narrow streets with small adjacent properties and premises makes the
way the area will be opened up important. The program contains therefore proposals
for main pedestrian and small penetrating parking functions next to preservation and
strengthening of the yard structure, its monuments and its landscape. Where housing
is added, it is designed in accordance with he fine scale of the high quality of the
monuments and its annexes.
Project: YARD AREA (Koralen)
Rob Boot
Bert Dirrix
Maup Lanjouw
Ronnie Lobo
Ted Peterson
Jeroen van der Ven
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FOLLOW UP
POLARIZATION OR INTEGRATION: A CHOICE FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT
OF HISTORIC WILLEMSTAD AS WORLD HERITAGE CITY.
(J.J. van der Harten MsArch MBA)
The Design seminar was a major step towards the
international recognition of Willemstad as World
Heritage. The door to the international expertise
within the Kingdom and all kinds of World Heri-
tage organizations was opened and their commit-
ment secured. Of course, in the aftermath of this
dynamic event both praise and criticism could be
expected. This event however contained more than
a design by professional architects and urban plan-
ners, The several included recommendations and
advice added new dimensions to the future devel-
opment of Willemstad in a way of excellence, that
the international community could expect from
Curaçao, its expertise and the external support.
The world is growing smaller and the demands for
international orientation and opening up of the
own dynamics towards the global community is
evident for future survival.
This is also the case with Willemstad. Curaçao
cannot afford again to have an internal oriented
vision within the borders of its existence and His-
toric Willemstad, as major internationally recog-
nized Heritage from Curaçao cultural origin, may
not become victim of such an attitude. The World
Heritage status demands international expertise
and thinking, in which integration and exchange of
culture and knowledge is a major approach. The
Seminar was a first well-considered step forward
to this way of thinking. Therefore the question in
this seminar was not if the local or foreign exper-
tise played a major role, since this would lead to
unnecessary polarization within the participating
parties. But its mission was to have results of qual-
ity, whatever that quality might be, whoever might
deliver that quality. How to develop Willemstad in
a way that, next to preservation of its culture and
character, the international community would rec-
ognize the quality of the development of that city,
now and in the future, a quality to be supported
and carried out by present and future generations.
Thus the present choice is one of polarization or
integration. Polarization especially by internal ori-
entation will undoubtedly lead to further decrease
of quality and value of the heritage. It will lack for
the necessary fountains of renewal since the bor-
ders of the island will not tolerate external input.
Integration with the international standards of ur-
ban development and quality for World Heritage
Cities will lead to a better internationally oriented
future. The inclusion of Willemstad on the World
Heritage List is not for nothing based on a centu-
ries long integration of multi-cultural characteris-
tics, most of them coming from abroad. Therefore,
the input from the other partners in the Kingdom
and the international expertise was essential to in-
tegrate renewed thinking from other cultural qual-
ity: a cross-cultural experience. An experience that
was not always welcome, considering the critical
remarks immediately after the seminar. Justified or
unjustified criticism, it did contribute to the proc-
ess of polarization and neglected the essence of the
seminar: integration of culture in knowledge and
experience, to produce excellence.
The majority of the participants, local and interna-
tional, deserve more than polarization. They
worked very hard, day and night, to finish their
results. They deserve full respect for their efforts
to bring the highest possible quality. They deserve
moreover that their common results will be taken
in account whenever and wherever (new) projects
and programs for the development of Willemstad
are born.
Recently launched projects will give a new dimen-
sion to the development of the city. Projects that
are both controversial and necessary for future sur-
vival. Therefore creation and integration of future
quality for those kind of products are most impor-
tant, to avoid further decline of the values of the
heritage of Willemstad.
In stead of denying the voice of the international
community in- and outside the Kingdom and their
networks of expertise in the field of World Heri-
tage (UNESCO), one needs to accept their role in
the past and in the future. The pure existence of
Historic Willemstad as member of the family of
World Heritage Cities and therefore a major tangi-
bleanchorstoneofCuraçao’sCulturedependson
this process of integration.

Patrimonio Kultural
Page 20
Preamble:
Intheprotocolofcooperation“ActionWillemstad”
that has been signed by the 3 Governments in No-
vember 1988, the Historic Area of Willemstad has
been recognized as a potential candidate for inclusion
on the World Heritage List of UNESCO:
“Willemstadisoneoftherarehistoriccentersinthe
Caribbean that combine a large amount of historic
buildings with a general historic townscape and ur-
ban structure in a harmonious ensemble. The quality
of this ensemble is defined by the unique interpreta-
tion of the multicultural community of Willemstad.
However, the ensemble is endangered by continuous
deterioration, physically, socially and culturally.
Without urgent action the ensemble will loose the
qualitythatjustifiestheinternationalrecognition.”
Evaluation:
Ten years after the signing of the protocol all kinds of
actions have halted the process of decay. Together
with private initiative, the government has developed
a strong policy for the inner city. The success is evi-
dent. However, this policy will have to continue for
many years, because the situation of decay from
10 years ago will repeat itself when the necessary in-
vestments stagnate, and this time without hope for a
new chance.
But this positive trend is accompanied by a negative
economic development. The city is may be saved
physically, but the vibrations of an economic heart
might be missing. Without development by the pri-
vate sector in venture capital investments and new
business, in quality of exploitation and use, the inner
city will deteriorate. Several factors are important to
avoid this development. The Governments have to
stop establishment of competitive businesses at the
outskirts of and around the inner city. The problem
of traffic and parking facilities should be solved in a
way that people and tourists will find a pleasant envi-
ronment to live, shop, recreate etc. The factor em-
ployment is undervalued, thus stimulating a culture
of poverty. The large amount of drug-addicts, the
many open lots, the general feeling of insecurity, they
all are clear signs of economic underdevelopment.
A policy of distributing wealth instead of creating
wealth strengthens this process. (Patrimonio Kultural
96/97 –4/5)
Although the Monuments Policy has generated new
investments and business the government itself will
never generate wealth.
The general conclusion is that without active private
investment and involvement all efforts of the Govern-
ments will be in vain.
General recommendations:
Investments in, and creating business should be
stimulated. In this context, there should be stated, that
the fine scale of the monumental and historic charac-
ter of Willemstad does not allow large scale project
development, rather small and medium scale business
development. The government should play the role of
stimulator and facilitator of these kinds of more sus-
tainable smaller scale developments.
Fiscal and bureaucratic obstacles together with re-
strictions on free interchange of people and goods
within the Kingdom should be leveled out.
Security matters should be tackled by a “zero-
tolerance”policy.
Inhabitants and businesspeople should be actively
involved in the development of action areas.
Cultural development will be an important anchor for
these developments, a concentration or a chain of mu-
seums will enhance the cultural quality of the city. On
the other hand a policy of quality control is necessary
in this kind of economic dynamics, to avoid damage
to the quality of Historic Willemstad.
Specific recommendations:
 Quality control:
The establishment of a, preferably independent, advi-
sory body on quality control might guide the neces-
sary quality of development in the World Heritage
areas of the inner city.
This authority should contain necessary high profile
and professional expertise in policy and quality on the
fields of preservation, urban planning, architecture,
urban and public space design. Their advice will be
part of the final decisions of the government.
 Documentation Center:
Article 4f of the protocol asks for a local or regional
ICAW-ADVICE 1997 –SUMMARY
During the seminar the ICAW came together in full session. Future development
strategies for policies on development of Historic Willemstad in the context of its in-
clusion on the World Heritage List of UNESCO were subject for advice to the govern-
ments of Curaçao, the Antilles and the Netherlands.

Patrimonio Kultural
Page 21
documentation and research center for movable and
immovable cultural heritage. The establishment of an
historic museum for Curaçao, in which the story of
archeology, anthropology and the history of Curaçao,
with Willemstad as core, could be told should be de-
veloped.
 Training and education:
The demand of the World Heritage Convention for
quality in development and preservation needs further
enhancement on training and education. On the level
of building and preserving crafts, the existing restora-
tion organizations as the Foundation for Preservation
of Monuments offer an perfect platform for training
on the job and can create functions as inspection,
monuments guard and a crafts-shop. The necessary
basic knowledge might be trained through Feffyk.
The University of the Netherlands Antilles could pro-
vide in its curriculum, education and training on the
field of restoration sector management, preservation
of historic buildings and urban planning and design
for historic (World Heritage) cities. Cooperation with
other educational institutes in the
region might be stimulated, while
the Netherlands can help with the
necessary instruments for educa-
tion, internships and training.
Inclusion of Willemstad on the
World Heritage List of
UNESCO:
The inclusion on the List asks for
several (non) obligatory activities.
 Next to a small high profile representation of
Curaçao at the World heritage Convention in Naples
(December 1997) the participation in all kinds of in-
ternational networks and organizations should be
stimulated. These are amongst others: OWHC
(organization for World heritage Cities), Blue Shield
Program (program for integration of World Heritage
in (national) disaster organizations and control),
IUTC (training on urban conservation for semi-
professionals), participation in the project
“sauvegardeetgestiondesvillesdevaleurexep-
tionelle”,allprojectsandorganizationsinwhich
UNESCO participates actively.
 At a formal celebration of the inclusion, an inter-
national oriented exhibition might be organized. Next
to the progress and qualities Willemstad, attention
should be given to other World Heritage cities, in-
cluding the Caribbean examples, to inform and attract
a broad spectrum of people and interest.
 A (5-year) program for promotion and PR
should be developed for the inclusion of Willemstad.
A sub-committee if the ICAW should initiate and
guide the necessary actions in cooperation with PR-
organizations. Involvement of all kind of news-media
and TV, national and international should bring the
World heritage Status under international attention.
 Quality (cultural) tourism should be attracted, for
which international quality networks provide the nec-
essary exchange of knowledge and experience. The
OVPM offers a platform of developments in this spe-
cific sector.
 Public relations should be immediately directed
toward the existing tourism sector by e.g. signs, infor-
mation boots, guided tours, a promotion and informa-
tion video for cruise tourists.
 Educational programs and materials as a teach-
ers-kit ( ICOMOS-US) should be involved and devel-
oped for the young people (15-17 years).
 Regularly organized workshops, (design) semi-
nars etc. might give Willemstad a prominent role in
the field of the preservation of important historic ur-
ban heritage, especially for the Caribbean area.
 Integration of the Hague Convention for disaster
control in the local and national
disaster organizations and pro-
grams will provide in necessary
prevention and control, training
and documentation instruments in
the field of World heritage man-
agement and maintenance, techni-
cally and organizationally.
 Regular evaluation reports to
the World Heritage Committee
concerning developments around
the World Heritage, in relation to (1) the nomination
criteria and standards, (2) the protocol and its recom-
mendations, should be expected. The inclusion in the
World Heritage List obliges to commitment in contri-
bution to the opinion of the World and to report to the
WHC .
Concluding:
The coming years will be crucial for the save-guard
of Historic Willemstad as World Heritage City. The
two main goals of this advice: internationalization of
Willemstad and the involvement of private initiative
are crucial factors to realize.
Next to these factors the preservation policies should
further develop. For most of the results of Action
Willemstad for the last ten years, only a small group
of people can be hold accountable. A new generation
of successors are not announcing themselves yet.
Much needs to be done still.

Patrimonio Kultural
Page 22
WORLD HERITAGE JOURNEY
A compilation of World Heritage Sites nearby and world wide.
Source: web site www.unesco.org/whc
CUBA
OLD HAVANA AND ITS FORTI-
FICATIONS (1982)
Founded in 1519 by the Spanish,
Havana had become, by the 17th
century a prime center for naval
construction in the Caribbean. Al-
though it is today a sprawling me-
tropolis of two million inhabitants,
its old center retains an interesting
mix of baroque and neo-classical
monuments, and a homogenous en-
semble of civilian houses with ar-
cades, balconies, wrought-iron gates
and interior courtyards.
TRINIDAD AND THE VALLEY DE LOS
INGENIOS (1988)
Founded in the early 16th century in honor
of the Holy Trinity, the city was a bridge-
head for the conquest of the American
continent. Its 18th–and 19th-century build-
ings, such as the Palacio Brunet and the
Palacio Cantero were built in its days of
prosperity from the sugar trade.
BRAZIL
HISTORIC TOWN OF OURO PRETU (1980)
Founded at the end of the 17th century, Ouro
Pretu(“BlackGold”)wasthefocalpointofthe
goldrushans“BrazilsGoldenAge”inthe18th
century. With the exhaustion of the gold mines in
the19thcentury,Ouropretu’sinfluence declined
but many churches, bridges and fountains remain
as a testimony to its past prosperity and the ex-
ceptional talent of the Baroque sculptor Aleijhad-
inho.
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Patrimonio Kultural
Page 23
SERRA DA CAPIVARA NATIONAL PARK (1991)
The numerous rock shelters of this park are decorated with
cave paintings some of them are more than 25.000 years
old. They are an exceptional testimony of the oldest hu-
man communities of South America.
BRASILIA (1987)
Brasilia, a capital created ex ni-
hilio in the center of the coun-
try in 1956, is a landmark of
town-planning. Urban planner
Lucio Costa and Architect Oscar
Niemayer intended that every-
thing, from the layout of the
residential and administrative
districts –often compared with
the shape of a bird –to the
symmetry in the buildings
themselves, should reflect the
harmonious design of the city,
in which the official buildings
are strikingly imaginative.
BRAZIL
IGUACU NATIONAL PARK (1986)
TheparkshareswiththeIguazuParkinArgentinaoneoftheworld’slargestandmostimpres-
sive waterfalls, extending over some 2.7 Km in length. Many rare and endangered species of
flora and fauna are sheltered in the park, among others the giant otter and giant anteater. The
clouds of spray produced by the waterfall are conducive to the growth of lush vegetation
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Patrimonio Kultural
Page 24
(Continued from page 11)
period is the Belvedere mansion,
which was built in 1864.
The demolition of the city wall finally
opened the eastern direction for build-
ing on Pietermaai, an open space, until
then forbidden to build in view of the
line of fire from the Fort. The houses
on Pietermaai again were predomi-
nantly built in the neo-classical style.
Developments in the 20th century.
The most dynamic period of economic
growth in Curaçao's history came after
the establishment of the Royal Shell
refinery in 1915. The revenues of the
government and the growth of wealth
in the community in general created
new possibilities to build, not often to
the advantage of the urban layout and
the traditional architecture of Willem-
stad. Two aspects of the developments
after the establishment of Shell should
be mentioned.
To start with, the more well-to-do citi-
zens escaped the city, leaving their
houses and other buildings to deterio-
rate through lack of maintenance,
which exodus already started in 1935.
One of the first houses to be built out-
side of Willemstad is the beautiful
mansion, with art deco elements, that
stands at the corner of the Groot Kwar-
tierweg and Schottegatweg. It was
built in 1935.
In that same period (1936) Shell
started to build bungalows for its per-
sonnel at Groot Kwartier, Rio Canario
and later, in the forties, in Julianadorp.
These houses followed the example of
the houses that Shell had previously
constructed in Indonesia and intro-
duced a new type of architecture, the
so called "porch houses", which exam-
ple was followed then on broad scale.
Secondly I should mention the influ-
ence of the modernization process that
was ignited by the growing economic
wealth. This very often resulted in the
demolition of buildings that could have
been preserved, but were nevertheless
replaced by so called modern architec-
ture, that only in very few cases
showed creativeness by the designer,
"if”,therewerereal,professionalde-
signers involved. This exodus from the
city led to the development of subur-
ban bungalows on spacious plots of
land. The last developments give rise
to the suspicion that most people build-
ing in the new areas are guided more
by status aspirations than esthetic con-
siderations. The latest houses show a
clear example of conspicuous con-
sumption and lack of balance.
Reverse of the spiral of decay.
At the moment about two-thirds of the
population are living in the urban area
of Willemstad. Newton once remarked
that it took Willemstad three centuries
to develop into what it was forty years
ago and only three decades to deterio-
rate to such an extent that quick action
was necessary.
Action was taken. In 1991 the so-
called "Monumentenplan" was
launched. And when I look at Willem-
stad now I think that we succeeded not
only in putting an end to the process of
deterioration, but also in starting a re-
versed development.
More and more people are becoming
conscious of their cultural Heritage, in
and outside the city. Pride in our cul-
tural heritage is growing and this is the
best guarantee for the preservation of
Willemstad being a unique site in the
Caribbean.
(Continued from page 4)
lead to a higher quality than presented.
The necessary quality has to be created at the source: the owners, devel-
opers, principals, investors, together with qualified, preferably local ar-
chitects and designers who already have demonstrated the skills, experi-
ence and cultural background to cope with these challenges. Quality is
not a matter of costs, but mere a matter of education, deeper interest,
thinking and study of the many examples that are in the world around us.
Is it possible to develop a contemporary architecture, which interprets in
our own way the international architectural quality and of the same time
offers respect to the historic architecture and townscape that forms our
cultural heritage? To create examples of reflection from our cultural his-
tory and involve the high standards of international developments in his-
toriccities?TheinternationalrecognitionoftheCuraçao’nationalheri-
tage is young, much has still to be learned and we cannot afford too
many more mistakes. Willemstad is now on the brink of a World Heri-
tage development, to become an adult member of the family of World
Heritagecities.Let’snotdamageouruniqueheritagebyopportunism,
force of development or lack of cultural affinity and expertise, but accept
the challenge of a very precious international asset.
CULTURAL TOURISM
Is an important large scale tourism sector that can be opened up and promoted as result of
the World Heritage status of Willemstad. The Inner City is now a precious asset in the eco-
nomic development of Curaçao, because Curaçao culture and its international recognition is
an integral and unbreakable part of that development. (Patrimonio Kultural no. 96.3)
Cultural tourism and the Education Project 1998 will be issues in the next PK.

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