Looking ahead, you’ll see a tall, faded yellow and pink high-rise with distinctive curved windows towering over the street-it’s impossible to miss, as it’s still the tallest building on the island!
Now, let’s step back in time and picture this very spot in the 1950s, when the salty Caribbean breeze was filled with excitement and the sound of construction echoed through the old walls of the historic Waterfort, once a stronghold built back in 1634. Imagine curious locals peeking through the fort’s arches, watching the city’s future rise before their eyes. Then, in 1957, with a flourish, the Hotel Curaçao Intercontinental opened its glamorous doors. People dressed to the nines poured in, and even KLM swooped in to announce direct flights from New York-Curaçao on the world map!
But this wasn’t any ordinary hotel. By 1970, a shiny new 14-story tower rose up, promising the glitz and glamour of Caribbean sunsets from every window-and, let’s be honest, giving every other building a serious case of height envy. This was soon the place to meet: business summit on the second floor, penthouse parties at the very top, and more guests than Curaçao had ever seen.
Of course, every legend has its twists and turns. The InterContinental crew checked out, making room for the next big player-Canadian Pacific. Suddenly, Air Canada was promising new flights, and the hotel buzzed with dreams of private beaches. But Curaçao’s coral reefs weren’t having it, and environmentalists stepped in with a firm “no sand for you!” Still, the disco lights were about to be lit; the Hart Group bought the hotel, gave it a renovation, and opened the grandest dance floor on the island.
Fast forward to 1989: Van der Valk rolled into town, determined to spruce up the place amidst ever-stubborn negotiations and a crowd of beach-hungry tourists. Drama swirled like a tropical storm, especially when ownership disputes, unpaid bills, and legal battles left the hotel’s management wheeling and dealing from Florida courtrooms to Curaçao’s own capital. By 2017, though, the glamour had faded. The once-mighty hotel had seen years of neglect, and bankruptcy loomed with the kind of suspense you’d find in a soap opera.
The tale takes a bittersweet turn-at auction after auction, fortunes were promised and missed. Pieces literally fell from the building, as experts warned the safest visitor would be one with a hard hat. By 2020, a pension fund finally took control, with big plans for redevelopment. For now, Plaza Hotel stands as a reminder: here, in the heart of Willemstad, you can almost hear echoes of old parties and bustling guests. Every creak, every chipped tile tells a story. So, as you stand under its shadow, take a moment to imagine the whisper of the wind-the stories aren’t over just yet!
