Ever since the dawn of the 16th century, when it was finally drawn onto the maps of European explorers, Curaçao's fortunes have been tied to the sea. The Maritime Museum, located across from the Floating Market at the beginning of the Waaigat Harbor, is a must for anyone interested in understanding the history of the island.
Curaçao's fortunes have long been tied to the Schottegat, the remarkable natural harbor around which Willemstad was built. It's the largest harbor in the Caribbean and, behind Rotterdam, the second-largest in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. And it's allowed the island to become a great center of trade. Since 1915, the Schottegat has been home to Curaçao's Isla Oil Refinery. We took the ferry tour of the harbor offered by the Maritime Museum.
