Conflict in Curacao: How Strife Influenced the Island in the 17th Century

Curacao in the 17th century was a place of transition and conflict.  Curacao had come to be a strategic and economic stronghold in the Caribbean for whatever European power controlled it.  Curacao was and remains an important port of call for goods being transported to and from South America, the Caribbean, and Europe.  During the 17th century Curacao was also an important slave depot.  These two circumstances made Curacao an coveted possession in the Caribbean for all European powers.  The wars in Europe usually spilled into the Caribbean the desire of different European powers to control Curacao led to conflict and war on the island.

As stated in earlier blog on this site, the Spanish were the first Europeans to discover and colonize Curacao.  The Spanish failed to realize Curacao's importance as a possession in their Caribbean empire, leaving the island lightly guarded.  They did not, however, fail to realize the potential of the island's inhabitants as slaves.  They exploited the Arawak Indians, capturing them and shipping them to silver mines on Hispaniola.  This can be described as strife on the island, as this was the first step to the eventual extinction of the Arawaks on Curacao.  By 1790, there would be no more full blooded Arawak Indians on the island and today there is very little indigenous lineage left on the island. 

Other European powers would recognize Curacao's potential.  The Dutch were the first.  On July 29, 1634, a fleet of six ships and a force 225 soldiers landed on Curacao to claim the island for the Dutch West India Company.  The battle was small, if non existent, as the Spanish quickly surrendered with only 32 soldiers.  They were allowed safe passage back to Europe and some natives were deported to South America as they supported the Spanish.  This action by the Dutch West India Company would shape the island's history going forward, as the Dutch quickly fortified the harbor on the island, built a large town (Willemstad), opened the island to commerce, and encouraged Dutch colonization of the island.  Curacao quickly became a center of trade and remains one to this day.  Willemstad grew between 1676 and 1732 was to remain practically unchanged until 1860. During the early 20th century, Willemstad was the busiest port in the Caribbean.  It remains one of the busiest in the Caribbean today. 

Willemstad's harbor area formed a melting pot of cultures. Seafarers from every corner of the globe gathered here. Crews were paid off after each voyage. It was then up to the men to look after themselves until they could find a new ship. Many seamen lived on Curaçao and most were either slaves, freed slaves or mulattos. Curaçao became the main base for Dutch privateers. The prosperity of the island owed much to these privateers. Moreover, they provided an essential protection against attacks by enemy privateers, something essential during the time when the English and Dutch were at war.

This is a rendition of Dutch ships in an unknown port of call.

This is the former headquarters for the Dutch West India Company in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

England would be the European power that would eventually wrench Curacao from the Dutch, even though it would take them til the 19th century, only to lose it to the Dutch again.  Between 1650 and 1670, England and the Dutch were constantly at or near war. Curacao's monopoly in the slave trade was especially envied by the English empire. Once they had chased the Dutch out of New York in 1665, the English focused their attention on Curacao. They commissioned privateers, or pirates, to harass Dutch commerce in the Caribbean.  This was one main example and seemed to help set a precedent of European powers using pirates, or privateers, to harass an opposing European power in the Caribbean. 

These happenings were the norm for Curacao in the 17th century.  Other European powers, especially England, saw Curacao's importance as a center of commerce and strategic possession in the Caribbean.  This history shapes Curacao today, as these powers policies at the time shaped the culture, population, and physical appearance of Curacao today.

Sources:

 Curacao Port Authority.  Curacao Maritime Museum.  "History."  http://www.curacaomaritime.com/history.htm.

Paul K. Sutton,  Europe and the Caribbean.  London : Macmillan Caribbean, 1991.