Handelskade Waterfront
The Handelskade is the row of pastel-painted colonial Dutch houses lining the Punda waterfront — the single most photographed view in Curaçao, and a one-minute walk from the hotel. 1 min from the hotel
Legend says a 19th-century governor ordered the buildings painted to spare his migraines from the glare of white walls; today the result is a UNESCO-listed parade of ochre, blue, green and pink gables reflected in St. Anna Bay. It is at its best in early morning light and again at sunset when the facades glow. Cafés and shops occupy the ground floors.
Good to know
- Shoot from the Otrobanda side for the classic full-row view.
- Early morning gives the best light and fewest crowds.
- It is one minute on foot from the hotel.
Questions & answers
Why are the Handelskade houses painted in colours?
A 19th-century governor reputedly banned white because the glare hurt his eyes, so merchants painted their houses in colours — a tradition that became the city's signature.
Majestic City Palace — a restored 1892 monument in Punda, steps from everything in this guide.