According to National Geographic, the island is a territory with a relevant historical weight in the Caribbean, marked by migratory processes, colonial influence and a strategic role in different moments of regional history.

A small island with a unique demographic history

The capital of Curaçao is Willemstad, a port that summarizes much of the character of the island: although its territory is small, its position just 160 km from the Venezuelan coast has deeply marked its social history.

According to the Center for Strategies and International Studies (CSIS), Curaçao and neighboring Aruba have been, in proportion to their size, the territories that have received the most displaced Venezuelan citizens in recent years.

This strategic location also explains why the island has played a relevant role in key moments of the continent’s history.

From Spanish rule to Dutch control

The European presence began in 1499, when the expedition of Alonso de Ojeda arrived on the island; in the following years, as part of the governorship of Nueva Andalucía, Curaçao, Aruba and Bonaire came under Spanish administration.

Disappointment due to the absence of precious metals led Diego Columbus to baptize them as «Useless Islands». The indigenous population was massively deported to Hispaniola to work in mines.

In 1634, history took a definitive turn: the Dutch West India Company (WIC) took possession of the island after an expedition led by Johan van Walbeeck. The formal capitulation allowed a small group of Spaniards and Indians to leave the island for Venezuela.

Since then, Curaçao was integrated into the Dutch orbit, a configuration that has been maintained to this day.

Curaçao as a Caribbean trade hub and slave center

Under Dutch rule, Curaçao became a key commercial enclave. Its port, managed by the WIC, became one of the main points of entry and redistribution of enslaved people from Africa to different colonies in the Caribbean and South America.

This stage also consolidated Dutch as an administrative language. Although Papiamentu remained the everyday language, it incorporated an abundance of Dutch lexicon, especially related to commerce, governance and urban life.

Willemstad: the city born of the Caribbean and Dutch style

One of the most recognizable images of Curaçao is its colonial architecture. Willemstad, known as the «tropical Amsterdam», combines typically Dutch designs with brightly painted facades.

The explanation for this colorful palette is attributed to Governor Albert Kikkert, who in the early 19th century claimed that white dazzled in the Caribbean sun and ordered the buildings to be painted in darker and more varied tones.

The practice became a tradition and, decades later, part of the tourist attraction that helped the city be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Shelter for Sephardic Jewish communities

In the 17th century, Curaçao became home to Sephardic Jews expelled from Spain and Portugal. Many had previously resided in Brazil and brought with them the daily use of Portuguese, which influenced commercial and religious practices.

His legacy lives on in the Mikveh Israel-Emanuel Synagogue, inaugurated in 1732 and considered the oldest continuously operating synagogue on the American continent. Its sand-covered interior recalls the ancient persecutions and symbolizes the Jewish people’s passage through the desert.

Its own currency and an economy anchored to the dollar

Although Curaçao is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, it has autonomy in several areas, including monetary affairs.

Since 1828, it has been using the Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG), which is pegged to the U.S. dollar through a fixed exchange rate that provides financial stability to the island. This currency is a vestige of its colonial past and its regional economic integration.

Curaçao’s key role in World War II

During World War II, the island became one of the most strategic points in the hemisphere. Its refineries processed Venezuelan oil, which was crucial for supplying the Allies, especially for the production of fuel for planes and ships.

That importance also made it a military target: in 1942, German submarines attacked ships and oil installations in Curaçao’s waters, as part of the Axis campaign in the Caribbean.

Curaçao’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup is a turning point for a national team that until now has had little presence on the big international stages. Beyond the sporting impact, the achievement will allow the island to gain visibility and its name to circulate more frequently on the news agenda.

La entrada Shocking facts about Curaçao, the smallest country in the World Cup 2026 se publicó primero en La Voz De Ibiza.

The feat is even more extraordinary if one considers an unusual fact: all 24 players called up for this double date were born in Europe, especially in Dutch cities such as Rotterdam, Utrecht, Groningen or Amsterdam. A reflection of the close historical ties between Curaçao and the Netherlands.

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The team, led by veteran coach Dick Advocaat, a former Netherlands national team manager, sealed its qualification with a 0-0 draw against Jamaica in Kingston, enough to finish top of Group B of the CONCACAF qualifiers for the 2026 North American World Cup.

A historic tie that sparked a national celebration

In a packed Independence Park, Curaçao needed only a point to secure its place in the tournament. The team maintained its defensive order and withstood the Jamaican pressure, postponing the local dream of returning to the World Cup after 28 years. Curaçao’s campaign was impeccable: undefeated and with a 7-0 thrashing of Bermuda that set the tone.

Advocaat, who was absent from the match for personal reasons, adds another page to his extensive resume. The coach coached the Netherlands in three stints and also coached South Korea, Belgium and Russia before taking over the Curaçao bench.

CURAÇAO BECOME THE SMALLEST COUNTRY TO EVER QUALIFY FOR THE WORLD CUP!

The nation of just 156,115 people have surpassed Iceland as the smallest ever nation to ever make it to the biggest tournament on the planet pic.twitter.com/qbe8TtNyif

– ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 19, 2025

The national team will find out its group rivals on December 5 at the draw to be held at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.

An island with a Spanish past: Curaçao, from «useless island» to unexpected soccer powerhouse

Beyond the sporting achievement, Curaçao’s history has a deep connection with Spain. The island was initially inhabited by the Arawak and Caquetío peoples, originally from South America, until the Spanish explorer Alonso de Ojeda arrived in 1499. Thanks to him, Curaçao appeared for the first time on the world map of the cartographer Juan de la Cosa.

The Spanish administration was established in 1526, although they soon observed that the territory offered no economic interest. Finding neither gold nor productive land, the colonizers renamed Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao as «islands of the giants» due to the size of their inhabitants, and later as «useless islands» for their apparent lack of resources.

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In 1634, the Dutch took control of the island, which became an important center of the transatlantic slave trade. Decades later, the arrival of the European Jewish community profoundly marked the local economy and culture.

The abolition of slavery in the Antilles came in 1863 and the 20th century transformed Curaçao into a key energy enclave thanks to the Royal Dutch Shell refinery, vital to the Allies during World War II.

In 1954, the island became part of the Netherlands Antilles and it was not until 2020 that it reached the status of an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

A World Cup that amplifies diversity: qualifiers so far

With its qualification, Curaçao joins the 42 teams that have already secured their ticket to the 2026 World Cup. Among them are:

• Hosts: Canada, United States and Mexico.
• Asia: Australia, Qatar, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, South Korea and Uzbekistan.
• Africa: Algeria, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia.
• Conmebol: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Uruguay.
• CONCACAF: Panama, Curacao and Haiti.
• Europe: England, France, Croatia, Portugal, Norway, Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Austria, Scotland and Switzerland.
• Oceania: New Zealand.

In addition, six teams are still fighting for the two additional berths through the intercontinental play-offs: Bolivia, New Caledonia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Jamaica and Suriname.

La entrada Curaçao makes soccer history and surprises with a milestone never seen before in a World Cup se publicó primero en La Voz De Ibiza.