Why You Should Visit Curaçao’s Historic Pietermaai District
<h2>The Pietermaai District, Back in The Day</h2>
<p>The Pietermaai District is a neighborhood within Willemstad, the capital of Curaçao. Named after Mayor Pieter de Meij, Pietermaai was established in the late 1700s. As the main areas of Willemstad became overcrowded, people started to relocate to nearby areas. It wasn’t until 1850, when the city walls were torn down, that Pietermaai really started to flourish. Pietermaai then quickly became a lively neighborhood, bulging with residential houses, shops, and small businesses. At the time, it was the place that everybody wanted to be. Entrepreneurs, artists, musicians―many people flocked to Pietermaai to work or to settle down.</p>
<p>But that wouldn’t last. In 1915, Royal Dutch Shell established the Isla refinery on the island. Shell would become the biggest employer in Curaçao with a capacity workforce of about 10,000 people during the 1950s and 1960s. The company started building houses for its employees in different parts of the island. This, in combination with the introduction of the first cars on our roads, led to people moving away, local businesses relocating, and the livelihood of the Pietermaai District slowly diminishing. Gradually the once popular neighborhood became an eyesore, inhabited by the homeless and dominated by criminals, prostitutes, and drug users.</p>
<h2>The Pietermaai District, Today</h2>
<p>Today, the Pietermaai District is once again the safe and popular neighborhood it once was. But that didn’t happen overnight. It took many years and multiple entrepreneurs with big dreams and high hopes to turn Pietermaai into what it is today. Over the last two decades, Pietermaai transformed from an abandoned and vacant neighborhood to a cultural and architectural gem. Rundown buildings were renovated and restored without losing their authentic characteristics. Boutique hotels opened their doors, restaurants, and bars started buzzing with residents and tourists, and even local businesses found their way back to the Pietermaai District. Throughout the day there is lots of activity and everything you could need is within walking distance. The result is an amazing blend of traditional architecture with a fresh feel. Plus, the vibrant character of the old days is back!</p>
<h2>Why Just Visit Pietermaai When You Can Live It?</h2>
<p>Visiting the Pietermaai District during your Curaçao vacation is one thing, but staying here is a whole other experience! When staying in Pietermaai, you have the chance to be a guest in an authentic Curaçao experience. Step inside buildings rich in history, taste our local cuisine, stand in the place where people have walked for centuries, and enjoy the ocean views that so many generations before us have enjoyed. In Pietermaai, you will see, feel, hear, smell, and taste the real Curaçao.</p>