World Country Guide

General Information

Area
444 sq km (171 sq miles).

Population
152,700 (1996).

Population Density
344 per sq km.

Capital
Willemstad. Population: 125,000 (UN estimate 2001, including the suburbs).

Geography
Curaao, the largest island in the Netherlands Antilles, is geographically part of the Dutch Leeward Islands, also known as the Dutch Antilles. It is flat, rocky and fairly barren owing to its low rainfall. There are many excellent beaches.

Government
Part of the Netherlands Antilles; dependency of The Netherlands. The Netherlands Antilles consist of Bonaire, Curaao, Saba, St Eustatius and St Maarten. The capital of the island group is Willemstad, Curaao. Head of State: HM Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, represented locally by Governor Frits Goedgedrag since 2002. Head of Government: Prime Minister Etienne Ys since 2002.

Language
Dutch is the official language. Papiamento (a mixture of Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, English, Arawak Indian and several African languages) is the lingua franca; English and Spanish are also widely spoken.

Religion
The majority of the population is Roman Catholic, with Protestant minorities, both evangelical and other low-church denominations. There is also a Baha’i temple and a synagogue.

Time
GMT - 4.

Electricity
110/130 volts AC, 50Hz.

Communications

Telephone
Good IDD service to Europe. Country code: 599. Outgoing international code: 00.

Mobile telephone
TDMA network exists. GSM GSM 900/1900 networks operated by AT&T Wireless, Curaao Telecom NV (website: www.curacaotelecom.com), East Caribbean Cellular, Setel NV and Telcell NV. Handsets can be hired at the airport post office. There is a 5 per cent tax.

Internet
There is an Internet cafe in Willemstad. Local ISPs include Curanet (website: www.cura.net) and IBM.

Telegram
Facilities available in most large hotels and in the post office in Willemstad.

Post
Airmail to Western Europe takes four to six days.

Press
The English-language newspaper is the Business Journal (monthly).

Radio
BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.