Daniël & surroundings
The plantation Daniël and surroundings in Bándabou: Grote and Kleine Berg with the old police post, Harmonie, the 1916 radio receiving station and…
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Nos barionan
The roots of our neighbourhoods: history, name origins and stories of the barios of Curaçao.
Explore the barios
From Bándariba to Bándabou
How Amerindian villages, plantations, parishes and Shell shaped the neighbourhoods of Curaçao.
Read the history
Every neighbourhood name hides a story
Often interesting, sometimes funny and almost always unknown.
Our mission
Our mission
Shedding light on the roots of our neighbourhoods
Presenting information about the origins, location, the origin of the names, characteristic features and special events related to the neighbourhoods (barios) of Curaçao.
Why?
- Because the location, history and origin of the neighbourhood names on Curaçao are virtually unknown.
- Behind the various neighbourhood names lie interesting and often funny stories!
Who are we?
Fundashon Famia, Núkleo di Bario
Fundashon Famia, Nùkleo di Bario provides information for the well-being of the family on the one hand, and on the other hand information about the origins of Curaçao’s neighbourhoods.
The board of Fundashon Famia consists of: Max Elstak (chair), Yves-Payo-Schoop (secretary), Zulaika Mook (treasurer) and Leadrick Mercelina (member).
The foundation is registered in the Register of Foundations of the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Curaçao under number 139611.
Curaçao’s measurements
- Size
- 444 km²
- Length
- 61 km
- Waist
- 4 km
- Bust and hip width
- 12 km
Origins of the barios
The birth of Curaçao
According to its geological development, Curaçao was formed some 100 million years ago by volcanic eruptions and earthquakes near the present-day Galapagos Islands, off the coast of Ecuador.
This formed the Caribbean plate with several islands, of which Curaçao is one of the oldest. Because this plate was moving, Curaçao once lay in the mouth of the Rio Magdalena in Colombia, so that sand, mud and clay released from the Andes by the earthquakes attached themselves to the volcanic rock.
The sediment of the Rio Magdalena, known here as the Middle Curaçao formation, can still be clearly seen around Rif Sint Marie.
Nos barionan
Our barios
From Ascencion to Zjaro: discover the history and the origin of the names of Curaçao’s neighbourhoods.
Montaña di Rei (part 1)
Montaña di Rei, the church village founded by Niewindt in 1840: the public well Pos di Gobièrnu, the name “King’s Hill”, the Saint Dominic church and…
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Lagun
What is unique about Lagun is that it lies on the coast, between two bays, namely Playa Jeremi and Playa Lagun. The name Lagun possibly refers to the…
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Jonchi
In 1802 Anna Cathalina Joontje was the owner of the land on which a fine and elegant country house now stands. It is built in a rather unique…
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Gaito
This plantation lies south of Landhuis Groot Kwartier and was traditionally known as an indigenous dwelling place, where many shell heaps were found…
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Wespunt (part 2)
Near Playa Forti, along the narrow road to Knip at the location of the present-day Rancho El Sobrino, there was once a large goat pen surrounded by a…
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Do you know more about your bario?
Do you have an addition, an old photo or a story that has been passed down from generation to generation? We would love to hear from you!