Downtown Willemstad

Downtown Willemstad is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site, a fairytale world of gingerbread Dutch houses, cobbled lanes and water views. Red-roofed gabled houses painted in sorbet colors of pink, blue and orange line the narrow lanes looking onto the canals of St. Anna Bay.

Take an open trolley train tour from Fort Amsterdam to see the bridges, stone forts and gorgeous pastel-hued buildings.

There are several good museums in the downtown area of Punda, including a Maritime Museum, Fort Museum, Synagogue Museum and Postal Museum.

For a taste of the exotic Americas, buy some tropical fruit from the Venezuelan floating market on the harbor.

Practical Info

Downtown Willemstad is divided into Punda, on the canal’s right bank, and Otrabanda, on the other side of the canal.

The pedestrian Queen Emma pontoon bridge connecting the two sides opens to allow ships to sail in and out of the harbor.