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📅 holiday

Curaçao Day

Saturday, October 10, 2026

— days to go

On the Caribbean island of Curaçao, every 10 October is Curaçao Day, which commemorates the original discovery of the island by Spanish explorer Alonso de Ojeda in 1499. In 2026, Curaçao Day falls on Saturday 10 October. The holiday will be on Sunday 10 October in 2027. The Spanish soon raided the island to capture Arawak Indians living there and transport them elsewhere to work as slaves. Then, over a hundred years later, the Dutch took control of the now-vacant island in 1634. The town of Willemstad was founded on a good harbour, and trade flourished. Oil was later discovered in the vicinity in 1914, and oil refineries were built on the island. Soon, immigrants flocked to Curaçao, and the population boomed. The harbour of Willemstad was big enough to handle oil tanker traffic, and oil from South America could conveniently be shipped to Curaçao before being sent further off to Europe or elsewhere. After World War II, there was a movement for independence in Curaçao and other parts of the Caribbean. But Curaçao instead became the “capital island” of the five-island group called the Netherlands Antilles – which was a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands until the Netherlands Antilles was dissolved in 2010. On Curaçao Day, islanders celebrate their history, deep-rooted culture, and everything that makes Curaçao unique. There are many cultural events all over the island, and you will find much native cuisine to keep your stomach full during the festivities.

History

On the Caribbean island of Curaçao, every 10 October is Curaçao Day, which commemorates the original discovery of the island by Spanish explorer Alonso de Ojeda in 1499. Then, over a hundred years later, the Dutch took control of the now-vacant island in 1634. The town of Willemstad was founded on a good harbour, and trade flourished. The harbour of Willemstad was big enough to handle oil tanker traffic, and oil from South America could conveniently be shipped to Curaçao before being sent furthe

How It's Celebrated

On the Caribbean island of Curaçao, every 10 October is Curaçao Day, which commemorates the original discovery of the island by Spanish explorer Alonso de Ojeda in 1499. The holiday will be on Sunday 10 October in 2027. On Curaçao Day, islanders celebrate their history, deep-rooted culture, and ever

Other Years

2026 Sat
10 Oct
2027 Sun
10 Oct
2028 Tue
10 Oct
2025 Fri
10 Oct
2024 Thu
10 Oct

Countries

CW

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