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Pietermaai and Scharloo

Pietermaai and Scharloo

Willemstad's restored merchant districts: grand mansions, boutique stays and the liveliest evenings on the island.

Photo: Scottwmcintosh, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • AreaEast of Punda (Pietermaai) and across the Waaigat (Scharloo)
  • Best forDinner, nightlife, architecture, couples
  • TimeHalf a day plus an evening
  • TipTaxi back at night rather than walking dark side streets

Two neighbourhoods just outside the old centre show Willemstad at its most photogenic. Pietermaai runs along the sea east of Punda; Scharloo lies across the Waaigat inlet to the north. Both were built by wealthy merchants, both fell into decay in the 20th century, and both have been brought back to life over the past two decades.

Pietermaai: eat, drink, stay

Pietermaai is now the island's go-to district for an evening out. Restored townhouses along Pietermaai and the narrow Pietermaai Smal hold restaurants, cocktail bars and small boutique hotels, several with terraces right above the water. It gets busy on weekend nights and stays relaxed earlier in the week.

Staying here works well if you want a walkable base with character: Punda is 10 minutes on foot. Rooms are usually in converted mansions rather than big resorts: compare Pietermaai hotels. You'll still want a car for beach days; compare rental cars before you arrive, especially in high season.

Scharloo: mansions and murals

Cross the small Scharloo bridge from Punda and you reach Scharlooweg, lined with 19th-century merchant villas in green, ochre and pink. The most photographed is the ornate "Wedding Cake House". Further in, the Scharloo Abou area is known for its large murals; combine it with Otrobanda's walls for a street-art morning, ideally with a guide who knows the artists: see street-art tours.

Tip: Walk Scharlooweg in the late afternoon when the light warms the facades, then cross back to Punda and continue to Pietermaai for dinner.

Practicalities

  • Parking is limited in Pietermaai in the evening; a taxi is easier.
  • Like anywhere in the city, stick to lit, busy streets at night and don't leave valuables in a parked car. See is Curaçao safe?
  • Many restaurants are popular; reserve for Friday and Saturday.

Pair the area with the sights in Willemstad and Handelskade & Punda for a full city day.

A short history

Pietermaai grew in the 18th and 19th centuries as a seaside district for merchants who wanted space and a breeze outside the cramped walls of Punda. Scharloo, across the Waaigat, became home to many prosperous Jewish merchant families in the 19th century. As wealth moved to the suburbs in the 1900s, many houses were abandoned. Restoration since the early 2000s turned ruins into guesthouses, offices and restaurants, though you'll still spot crumbling facades between the polished ones, part of the area's charm. Both districts fall within the UNESCO-listed historic area of Willemstad.

Tours: Pietermaai and Scharloo

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Frequently asked questions

Is Pietermaai a good place to stay?

Yes, if you want restaurants and bars on foot and a boutique feel. Light sleepers should ask for a room away from the street on weekends.

Can I walk from Punda to Scharloo?

Yes. The Scharloo bridge links the two in a couple of minutes on foot.

Pietermaai and Scharloo
Photo: AdMan The “ATLR” Lab…, CC BY 3.0

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