WILLEMSTAD – The eighteenth-century monument Huize Sebastopol in Otrobanda is set to be completed and opened as a Music Museum and multifunctional cultural center by the end of 2025. This update comes from the Monumentenzorg Curaçao foundation, which has overseen the restoration project. 

The current restoration phase marks the final stage, following the structural restoration initiated by Monumentenzorg in 2019 and completed in 2020. Since February 2025, Sebastopol B.V. has been the official tenant of the building and will operate the museum while developing the broader vision for the site. Interior finishing and garden landscaping are now underway. 

A Tribute to Curaçao’s Musical Heritage 

The new museum will feature an interactive exhibition dedicated to Curaçao’s rich music history, showcasing original sheet music and traditional musical instruments. The venue will also house a restaurant with a stage, a cigar bar, an art gallery, and a meeting space, making it a vibrant cultural hub. 

Huize Sebastopol was constructed in the first half of the eighteenth century and first sold in 1744. Known at the time as ’t Blauwe Huisje (The Blue House) on Consciëntiesteeg, it bordered the Rifwater canal. 

Among its early residents was Governor Isaac Faesch. The nearby Sebastopolstraat is believed to be named after a small guardhouse adjacent to Faesch’s residence, locally called Hanchi di Warda. Over the centuries, the property changed hands multiple times, including ownership by Shon Wiwi—the founder of club De Gezelligheid and the Curaçaosche Hypotheekbank—and later by the De Haseth and Da Costa Gomez families. 

From Decline to Revival 

The building eventually fell into disrepair and was purchased by Monumentenzorg in 2017 from 22 heirs. Subsequent stabilization and restoration laid the groundwork for its new purpose. The recent lease agreement and start of the finishing work mark the beginning of this exciting new chapter. 

Former director Marcel Dennert called the project a personal milestone: “Being able to complete this future-focused project and hand it over to my successor is the crowning achievement of my work. It is invaluable that the story of this special building is preserved and contributes to safeguarding our musical heritage.” 

The transformation of Huize Sebastopol promises to enrich Curaçao’s cultural landscape by celebrating its musical past while creating a dynamic space for art, music, and community events.