WILLEMSTAD - Entrepreneur Henry Adrian Van Der Kwast passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, as confirmed by Maduro Holding, where he continued to serve as chairman of the board. Van Der Kwast was 76 years old.
Until 2016, Van Der Kwast led the family business for several decades. Maduro Holding, which has a history spanning nearly 190 years, encompasses companies such as Maduro Travel, shipping agent S.E.L. Maduro & Sons, freight forwarder Seawings, and Captain Don’s Habitat resort on Bonaire.
Relatives describe ‘Boebsi’ Van Der Kwast as someone with a warm heart for Curaçao and deeply engaged in the island’s culture. He served on the boards of the Mongui Maduro Foundation and the Jewish Cultural Historical Museum and was a driving force behind the Maritime Museum and numerous productions featuring Curaçaoan musicians. Most recently, he played a key role in the creation of an opera about Curaçaoan resistance hero George Maduro, after whom Madurodam in the Netherlands is named. Van Der Kwast was a distant cousin of George Maduro.
In 1993, Van Der Kwast co-founded Curaçao’s Insel Air. Nearing 70 years old, he also launched his own spirits brand, Henry’s Gin.
Details about the memorial for Van Der Kwast have yet to be announced. He is survived by five children.