“The Swinging Old Lady” refers to the Queen Emma Bridge, the floating pontoon bridge which connects the Historic districts of Punda and Otrobanda. Together with the Queen Wilhelmina Bridge, the drawbridge over the water channel giving access to Waaigat, and the Queen Juliana Bridge which spans Sint Annabaai with a clearance of over 50 meters to allow for the passage of large ships and tankers to Schottegat, it is the oldest of “The Three Queens of Willemstad”.
The floating bridge was built according to a plan of L.B.Smith, consul of the United States, and came in operation in 1888. Its exploitation was a profitable business. Passage cost two cents, later on cars paid 25 cents to cross Sint Annabaai. With harbour traffic increasing, a permanent solution was urgently needed to avoid long waiting hours on both sides of Sint Annabaai. With its opening in 1974 Queen Juliana Bridge brought relief. But “The Swinging Old Lady” has retained its claim as one of the prominent historical landmarks in the townscape of Historic Willemstad.

Heritage Tourism

With around 220 cruise calls per annum cruise tourism brings roughly 300,000 cruise visitors to the island. Stay-over tourism amounts to slightly over 200,000 visitors per annum. In the Multi-Year Economic Program 2001-2005 a growth is targeted for cruise passengers and stay-over visitors to reach 400,000 and 350,000 respectively.

Curaçao’s historic buildings and sites in the historic inner city and the cultural landscape outside the city with its country estates and archaeological sites have increasingly become tourist destinations.
Tourists and visitors can enjoy quite a few guided heritage tours, either by trolley-train, by minibus, by boat or on foot.

By trolley-train

The trolley-train rides through the historic district of Punda and of Scharloo with its stately 19th century mansions.
Information and reservations via shorex@cura.net

By boat

The Maritime Museum organizes a guided museum tour followed by a boat trip through the waters of Sint Anna Bay and Schottegat.
Information and reservations via info@curacaomaritime.com.

By minibus

Peter Trips offers cultural and historical trips to the inner city, Bandabou and Bandariba, the western and eastern part of the island.

Information and reservations via peter-trips@carib-online.net

On foot

Historical city tours through lively and colourful historic Otrobanda are offered by:

Anko van der Woude, architect, on Otrobanda’s historical architecture information and reservations via tel. (5999)-4613554.
Jopie Hart, Otrobandista, on Otrobanda’s social and cultural history. Information and reservations via tel. (5999)-7673798.

See also: Curaçao Tourism Board
www.curacao-tourism.com

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