In response to feedback on my recent Op-Ed about access to beaches in Curaçao, I would like to offer an important clarification and further reflection. The discussion that has emerged confirms exactly why this topic deserves attention.
Because the issue is not only about what the situation is today. It is about a more fundamental question:
Where are we heading?
Correction and clarification
First, it is important to acknowledge that Curaçao still has a significant number of beaches with free public access.
In addition to the well-known beaches in Bandabou, there are also locations in other parts of the island such as Daaibooi, Baya Beach, Directeursbaai, Boca Sami, Playa Wachi (Slangenbaai along Ledaweg near Boca Sami), Playa Punda (Playa Marichi), Playa Marie Pompoen, and other areas where no entrance fee is charged.
This reality must be presented accurately and fairly.
But acknowledging this alone is not enough to understand the broader issue.
The core concern
My intention — and this remains unchanged — is not to create a misleading picture of the present. My intention is to highlight a development that is gradually but clearly unfolding a shift from open access to controlled access. This process does not happen overnight. It happens step by step.
Per project.
Per permit.
Per development.
A lack of clarity
What stands out in the current situation is the lack of clear and transparent communication around a fundamental question:
Which beaches will remain guaranteed public spaces in the future?
With planned and ongoing tourism developments — including in Banda Abou and areas such as Groot Santa Marta — a legitimate concern arises.
Not because development itself is wrong. But because the conditions regarding public access are often not explicitly defined or communicated.
A second, often overlooked reality is the local economy. There is another dimension that is often overlooked. The beaches of Curaçao are not only recreational spaces. They are also the foundation of a local economy.
Think of
* surf schools
* dive schools
* small-scale hospitality businesses
* rental of beach chairs and umbrellas
* guides and other service providers
Many of these activities are sustained by local entrepreneurs. Yet in practice, we increasingly see them struggling to grow alongside the tourism sector. Not because of lack of quality or effort. But due to limited:
* access to capital
* lobbying power
* scale
As a result, Curaçaoans can find themselves left behind when larger developments take place.
What was missing in the feedback: measuring who benefits
What was largely missing in the feedback is the need to make this discussion concrete.
A crucial next step is therefore to establish a transparent list and analysis of:
* Curaçaoans who currently earn their income on and around the beaches
* versus foreign investors and larger entities who control access and operations
This is not about polarization. It is about understanding. Who truly benefits from our coastline? Who has access to opportunities? And how is that balance shifting over time? Without this analysis, the discussion remains abstract. With it, the discussion becomes factual.
Access determines economics
When beaches remain free and accessible, they support a broad and inclusive local economy. When access becomes restricted or commercialized, that dynamic changes.
Economic value shifts from locally distributed to centrally controlled and that has consequences.
The question of tomorrow
The discussion should therefore not remain focused on which beaches are accessible today.
The real question is:
What happens when these coastal areas become part of large-scale tourism developments owned or managed by external investors?
Will these beaches:
* remain freely accessible?
* become partially accessible?
* or effectively become part of controlled commercial zones?
A broader concern
When local access decreases and economic opportunities become concentrated within closed systems, the issue goes beyond spatial planning.
It becomes a social issue. A society in which people feel excluded from their own environment comes under pressure. Not opposition, but balance.
Let this be clear. This is not an argument against tourism. Nor is it an argument against investment. Curaçao needs development. But development without clear guarantees of public access and local participation creates long-term tension.
Why this discussion is needed now
Precisely because Curaçao still has public beaches, this is the moment to look ahead. Not when it is too late. But now — while choices can still be made.
Closing reflection
The question is not whether access still exists today. The question is who will have access tomorrow — to beaches, and to opportunity.