Willemstad is the capital of Curaçao, the largest of the Caribbean A-B-C islands off Venezuela. With the colourfully painted Dutch merchants' houses, the city looks like "Little Amsterdam".

The districts of Otrabanda and Punda are separated by a canal between the sea and the inner harbour basin, and connected by the floating pontoon bridge Konigin Emmabrug.

Along the seashore, just outside the city, the Sea-Aquarium-Park was built on the beach. A unique water zoo, where in more than 40 seawater pools the entire submarine world of the Caribbean is presented. Since 2002, the Dolphin Academy, an institute that studies the dolphins' way of life is here also.

Back in the city, Dutch bridges, colourful houses and the romantic "floating market" on the banks of Waigat welcome us. Here in the port was once the largest slave market in the Caribbean. From here the Dutch supplied all of South America with slaves from West Africa.

The Fort Amsterdam, which was built in the 17th century by the Dutch as headquarters of the West India Company, also tells of the changing history of the island and the city.

Over 400 years of rule by the Dutch crown have left their mark on Willemstad and Curaçao. And mixed with Caribbean influences left behind a very special charm.