History of Curacao

The island Curacao has been open by Spanish seafarer Alonso де Охедой in 1499. From the beginning of XVI century this earth is under protectorate of Spain and forms large base of fleet. The island Curacao has not so interested in due time Spaniards because of absence here large gold deposits, and also fresh water stocks, and in 1634 Dutches have raised a claim to it.

Spaniards were followed by the Dutches, which steels to grow up here peanuts, fruit, corn, to extract salt from numerous island hydrochloric lakes, and in 1634 the island passes under the control of the Dutch Vest-Indsky company. On island began to bring the African slaves which then forwarded on others Dutch, and also the Spanish islands.

Slavery cancellation in 1863 marks itself the beginning of long economic depression of Curacao.

In 1920 at coast of Venezuela oil fields have been opened, and it became the beginning of a new stage in development of economy of island. Since then the petroleum-refining industry becomes leading branch of economy of Curacao.

Curacao is a zone of duty-free trade.