Spaanse Water#Beekenburg
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Spaanse Water
| official_name =
| image_skyline = File:Curacao Spaanse Santa Barbara (36699626795).jpg
| caption = Spaanse Water
| pushpin_map = Curaçao
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Curaçao
| pushpin_label_position = right
| coordinates = {{coord|12.0673|-68.8501|region:CW|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = State
| subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = Curaçao
| subdivision_type2 = District
| subdivision_name2 = Bandariba{{sfn|Buurtprofiel Spaanse Water|2011|p=6}}
| population_footnotes = {{cite web|url=https://curacaodata.cbs.cw/census-2011 |title=Census 2011|website=Central Bureau of Statistics|access-date=24 April 2021}}
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_total = 3,119
| population_density_km2 = auto
| area_total_km2 = 20.98
| area_footnotes = {{sfn|Buurtprofiel Spaanse Water|2011|p=10}}
}}
Spaanse Water is a town on the island of Curaçao. It contains the tourist resort Nieuwpoort,{{cite web|url=https://www.tui.nl/informatie/curacao/curacao/nieuwpoort/ |title=Nieuwpoort|website=TUI|access-date=24 April 2021|language=nl}} the village of Santa Barbara,{{sfn|Buurtprofiel Spaanse Water|2011|p=6}} and the Tafelberg.{{sfn|Buurtprofiel Spaanse Water|2011|p=9}} Spaanse Water is a natural harbour and lagoon located to the east of Willemstad. The lagoon contains several bays and little islands.{{cite web|url=https://spaansewater.nl/nl/ |title=Spaanse Water|access-date=24 April 2021|language=nl}}
History
{{anchor|Beekenburg}}
Spaanse Water was a strategically important location. In 1703, Fort Beekenburg was constructed on the Caracas Bay to protect the natural harbour and the back route to Willemstad.{{cite web|url=https://www.columbusmagazine.nl/noord_en_midden-amerika/nederlandse-antillen/curacao/foto/451818/fort-beekenburg |title=Fort Beekenburg |website=Columbus Magazine|access-date=24 April 2021|language=nl}} The fort was built by Nicolaas van Beek who at the time served as Director of Curaçao.{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Fort+Beekenburg&coll=ddd&identifier=MMKB04:000147142:mpeg21:a0127&resultsidentifier=MMKB04:000147142:mpeg21:a0127&rowid=5 |title=Kiekje uit de West|website=Haagsche courant |date=27 July 1933|language=nl|access-date=11 February 2022}} It has been attacked several times by the French, English, and pirates, but has never been conquered.{{cite web|url=https://www.beautiful-curacao.nl/bezienswaardigheden/fort-beekenburg.php |title=Fort Beekenburg|access-date=24 April 2021|language=nl}} The fort used to be owned by Royal Dutch Shell, but since 2005, it is publicly accessible.
Santa Barbara is a plantation founded in 1662, and was one of the oldest and largest plantations on the island. It was not very profitable,{{sfn|Buurtprofiel Spaanse Water|2011|p=7}} and sold in January 1875. The plantation was subsequently resold to John Godden in May 1875 who started a large scale phosphate mine on the terrain.{{cite book|url=https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/benj004ency01_01/ |last1=Benjamins |first1=Herman Daniël|last2=Snelleman |first2=Johannes |title=Encyclopaedie van Nederlandsch West-Indië|year=1917|website=Digital Library for Dutch Literature|language=nl|publisher=Martinus Nijhoff Publishers|location=Leiden|page=560|access-date=24 April 2021}} In 1915, a calcium mine was added to the site.{{sfn|Buurtprofiel Spaanse Water|2011|p=9}} The mines are still active, and the mining company has estimated that the reserves will last until 2045.{{cite web|url=https://www.beautiful-curacao.nl/strand/fuik-beach.php |title=Fuik Beach|website=Beautiful Curacao|access-date=24 April 2021|language=nl}} In 1927, Royal Dutch Shell built an oil terminal in Spaanse Water. The oil terminal closed in 2005.
In the late 20th century, Spaanse Water developed into a tourist location. The resorts Nieuwpoort, Jan Thiel, and Santa Barbara Beach & Golf were established for the tourists.{{cite web|url=https://www.lamayabeach.com/spaanse-water-jan-thiel/ |title=Spaanse Water Jan Thiel|access-date=24 April 2021|language=nl}}
References
Bibliography
- {{cite web|url=https://gobiernu.cw/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Buurtprofiel_Spaanse_Water_.pdf |title=Buurtprofiel Spaanse Water|last1=Buurtprofiel Spaanse Water|year=2011|website=Government of Curaçao|language=nl}}
{{Commons category|position=left}}