WILLEMSTAD – The Stichting Monumentenzorg Curaçao has launched a pilot project that allows the commercial use of heritage sites through a public tender. The initiative aims to create a transparent, fair, and sustainable model for repurposing historical landmarks, with Fort Waakzaamheid serving as the first case. 

Perched on a prominent ridge overlooking Otrobanda, the fort features a spacious terrace with spectacular city and sea views. The tender focuses exclusively on the temporary and reversible commercial use of the terrace, such as mobile food services, small-scale cultural events, or recreational activities. The historic structure itself will remain intact and unaltered, with no permanent additions or coverings allowed. 

Heritage and Entrepreneurship Combined 

With this pilot, Monumentenzorg Curaçao seeks a more open, market-driven approach while ensuring responsible stewardship of cultural heritage. 
“We aim for a transparent process that gives opportunities to both established and emerging entrepreneurs, with particular emphasis on local initiatives,” the foundation stated. 

Under the new model, Monumentenzorg Curaçao will handle structural maintenance of the monument and ensure the terrace is safe and functional by installing balustrades and basic utilities such as water and electricity. The selected entrepreneur will then be responsible for the commercial activities and temporary setup, adhering to heritage preservation guidelines and the tender’s requirements. 

Expansion to Other Sites 

If successful, the foundation plans to extend this approach to other historic sites within its portfolio. The goal is to create a win-win scenario where cultural preservation and entrepreneurship can thrive together. 

Interested parties can find the full details of the public tender on the foundation’s website: https://monumentenzorg.cw/properties/fort-waakzaamheid/. 

A site visit for potential applicants will take place on Wednesday, August 27, at 4:30 PM at Fort Waakzaamheid.