This Caribbean island has the best under-the-radar arts and culture scene

Like most islands, Curaçao has a rich history on the seas. The Curaçao Maritime Museum presents much of it through an exceptional collection of seafaring artifacts housed within an intimate setting along St. Anna Bay. Detailed scale models of old vessels, classic photos, charts and documents highlight more than 500 years of history. The booming times of trade, commerce and piracy that saw Willemstad become one of the richest ports in the world are all covered, providing rich context for understanding the Curaçao of today.

The legacy of the colonial European powers that fought for control of the island remains very much alive in Curaçao today in its primary language, Papiamentu. Papiamentu is a full-blown language unto itself, combining African dialects brought over by slaves with Dutch, Spanish, English and Portuguese. Most everyone in Curaçao also speaks English, Spanish and Dutch, but make no mistake about it, the language you’ll hear most often here, and the one that truly defines Curaçao, is Papiamentu.

Few souvenirs are more closely identified with a place as chichi dolls are with Curaçao. In Papiamentu, the word “chichi” has special meaning celebrating women. It specifically refers to older women that young people look up to – an aunt, older sister, mom, grandmother or female caregiver one might turn to for advice and guidance. Chichi dolls are meant to symbolize these women in colorful and distinctive ways that visitors to Curaçao can personalize to reflect a special chichi in their lives. Artist Serena Israel, creator of the original chichi dolls, holds creative workshops at Serena's Art Factory, inviting anyone to paint their own authentic chichis in a style of their choosing. Workshops are held daily and by appointment.

Miami has Wynwood. New York has SoHo. In Curaçao, the epicenter of art, style, fashion, and all things haute is Pietermaai. A historic district of Willemstad, Pietermaai exudes a distinctly funky vibe thanks to its street art, the revived architecture of its classic pastel buildings, boutique hotels, small shops, cafes, and restaurants. Visitors can sign up for weekly tours showcasing the neighborhood through area hotels like the Avila. While you don’t have to visit at a set time to be exposed to the best of Curaçao’s colorful art scene, there are some special annual events you might want to time your visit with. Check out the Pietermaai Proeft (June 24-25, 2017), a culinary festival showcasing the amazing eats and drinks on offer in the district; Pietermaai’s Jazz Week, Christmas Fair and XXL Pagara Party are also not-to-be-missed.

That the dark stain of the transatlantic slave trade extends to Curaçao is somewhat surprising. The island’s historically arid conditions don’t exactly make Curaçao ideal for large-scale farming, ensuring that the few plantations that were tried didn’t last long. As elsewhere in the Caribbean, though, slavery played a huge role in the wealth and development of Curaçao in its formative years under European rule, the island serving as a key cog in the transport of slaves to planters in Brazil and other parts of South America. A moving account of Curaçao’s slave history can be explored at the Kura Hulanda Museum, part of the Kura Hulanda Hotel located in the Punda District of Willemstad. Anthropological exhibits also extend to Curaçao’s other predominant cultures, highlighting the pre-Colombian period, Mesopotamian relics, Antillean art and the very origins of man.

Joy is the overwhelming emotion that runs through the art of Nena Sanchez – bright and cheery representations of her colorful home island of Curaçao that suggest a lifetime spent dedicated to art. Nena’s story is not that simple, though. After winning an art contest at the age of 18, Nena’s life took an entirely different path. She was named Miss Curaçao, participated in the Miss Universe Pageant, moved off-island, and basically put art out of her mind. Upon returning to Curaçao 25 years later she became inspired by the bright sunshine and vibrant colors of her beloved home,  unleashing a torrent of marvelous paintings celebrating the best of her island. See, purchase, and delight in her work at the Nena Sanchez Gallery located in the heart of downtown Willemstad.

The tambu, a dance considered so provocative that it was actually illegal in the past, has been practiced in Curaçao for centuries. The origins of tambu trace back to the 1600s and the transatlantic slave trade; the dance, drumming and call and response chanting traditions were brought over from Africa. The dance itself isn’t actually as illicit as its legend implies. While you have many of the movements typical of African/West Indian dance—gyrating hips, shuffling feet, stomping, rolling, swaying—the bodies of the pair engaged in tambu do not touch. With the far-reaching influence of the Catholic Church in Curaçao, tambu was made illegal, a status it held all the way up until 1925! Tradition holds that this formerly banned boogie be confined to the New Year’s Holiday Season, though you can catch tambu drumming and dancing performances during Carnival Season and at folkloric shows held throughout the island year-round.

Willemstad, Curaçao's capital and one of the prettiest cities in the world, is awash with echoes of the 17th and 18th centuries. The meticulously maintained pastel-colored historic buildings rise over charming waterfront cafes, bustling boutiques, duty-free shops and one-of-a-kind attractions like the Queen Emma Bridge and the Floating Market. The architecture has earned world-wide recognition; the Penha Building, Mikve Israel-Emanuel Synagogue, and Pietermaai Cathedral are just a few of the more than 750 historic buildings that make up this UNESCO World Heritage Site. The trendy Pietermaai District is a short walk away, where you’ll find chichi sculptures and examples of Curaçao's emerging street art scene along the way there.