ROOTS OF OUR FUTURE: THE FUTURE OF CURACAO, NETHERLANDS ANTILLES
A fascinating book
In her book Roots of our Future; A Commercial History of Curacao, Linda M. Rupert presents an overview of the colorful commercial of Willemstad, Curacao. It covers over three hundred years.
Around 2500 BC the first Amerindians arrived on Curacao from northern South America. Around 500 AD members of the tribe of the Caquetíos migrated from what is now known as Venezuela (see for more info http://www.coroweb.com/caquetio_e.htm). In 1499 the first Spanish ship landed at Curacao. In 1621 the Dutch West India Company (WIC) was formed. Ruperts historical overview starts in the year 1499.
Rupert not only gives a fascinating historical overview, she also describes the development of the major economic sectors: international trade, shipping, banking & finance, small scale crafs and industries, and tourism. Also, she briefly describes the creation of the Netherlands Antilles and it becoming an autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1954. A must read!
Karel Frielink
Attorney (Lawyer) / Partner
