WILLEMSTAD – The Curaçao government is preparing a new large-scale assessment of historic buildings in downtown Willemstad as part of a broader effort to strengthen heritage protection, improve urban planning and determine the future use of government-owned properties.
Minister of Traffic, Transport and Spatial Planning Charles Cooper announced in Parliament that the Department of Spatial Planning (ROP), operating under the Ministry of Traffic, Transport and Spatial Planning (VVRP), will begin a new inventory and technical inspection of protected monuments and other buildings in the city center in the coming months.
The project will be carried out in collaboration with the Monumentenfonds Curaçao and is intended to provide updated insight into the physical condition and preservation needs of the island’s historic urban core.
The move follows an earlier inventory completed in 2020, which revealed the scale of the preservation challenge.
That assessment identified 769 protected monuments across Curaçao. Of those, 612 were classified as being in good condition, while 73 were found to be in moderate condition and 51 in poor condition.
The survey also identified 13 structures considered ruins, five of which have already been demolished, and 21 buildings that were classified as posing a direct safety risk.
The updated inspection will focus not only on protected monuments but also on other buildings within the historic center, reflecting growing concerns over structural safety, preservation standards and urban development pressure.
At the same time, the government is developing a broader real estate strategy through its Domain Management department.
According to Cooper, the strategy will identify which government properties can be sold, renovated, leased, or issued under long-term lease agreements.
The plan is aimed at improving management of public real estate while creating opportunities for restoration and productive use of underutilized buildings.
In parallel, the government is also drafting a new heritage policy framework.
Cooper said a concept for a new national heritage policy is currently being prepared, while the Monumentenfonds is financing and coordinating the modernization of Curaçao’s monument legislation.
The goal is to transform the existing monument ordinance into a broader heritage ordinance that reflects modern preservation standards.
Current heritage policy on Curaçao dates back to the early 1990s, when the island introduced its first structured monument policies and legal framework.
Those policies led to the creation of several preservation programs and institutions, including the Monument Plan 1990, Monument Plan 2000+ and long-term subsidy programs for monument restoration.
Cooper acknowledged that the financial resources allocated to monument preservation may also increase.
At present, the government contributes approximately 800,000 guilders annually to monument and heritage preservation, but that amount could rise to between 1.1 and 1.2 million guilders per year.
According to the minister, the additional funds would be used to expand restoration projects and strengthen subsidy programs for preserving historic properties.
Several organizations remain active in Curaçao’s monument preservation sector.
Cooper outlined the roles of key institutions, including Stichting Monumentenzorg Curaçao, which acquires, restores and rents out historic buildings; the Monumentenfonds, which finances restorations on behalf of the government; NV Stadsherstel Curaçao, which focuses on acquisition and restoration; and Fundashon Kas Popular (FKP), which has also acquired and restored several monument properties.
The Heritage Department within ROP remains responsible for permits, supervision and the implementation of monument and inner-city policy.
One unresolved challenge remains the issue of undivided inheritances, a long-standing legal and ownership problem that continues to complicate restoration and redevelopment of historic buildings.
The renewed government focus comes as Curaçao continues to balance preservation of its historic identity with public safety, urban renewal and economic development in its UNESCO-listed capital Willemstad.