History
Klein Curacao is a small island which is close to the island of Curacao itself. Although this little island is not that big nor has it been on the map for very long, it has a very interesting history.
The discovery of Klein Curacao
The exact moment Klein Curacao was discovered is unfortunately unknown. However, we do know from when the island was put on the map. This was in 1871 by an English mining engineer named John Godden. However, he did not just put Klein Curacao on the map; he had a reason for doing so. In fact, he thought the island was important enough to put on the map primarily because of the phosphate found on the island. This was a highly sought after product and so there was a lot of profit to be made here on Klein Curacao. In Europe, it was used in fertilizers and animal feed, among other things.
The Role of Little Curaçao in the Slave Trade.
Klein Curaçao, a small uninhabited island located about ten kilometers southeast of Curaçao in the Caribbean Sea, is known for its beautiful white sandy beaches and clear blue waters. Yet this idyllic island also has a dark history, intertwined with the transatlantic slave trade. In this article, we will describe Klein Curaçao’s role in the slave trade and highlight its impact on the history of the region.
The Slave Trade in the Caribbean
The slave trade in the Caribbean region was a gruesome and immoral practice that took place over several centuries, beginning in the 16th century and continuing into the 19th century. European colonial powers, including the Netherlands, France, Spain, and England, settled in the Caribbean and began exploiting the islands for their economic gain. Sugar cane plantations were an important source of income, and to exploit them, a huge number of African slaves were brought to the region.
The Role of Little Curaçao
Klein Curaçao played a crucial role in this gruesome trade. Although the island itself was not suitable for agriculture or large-scale plantations, it served as a stopover and staging area for ships involved in the slave trade. The Dutch West India Company (WIC) and private slave shippers used Klein Curaçao as a place to regroup slaves before transporting them further to other colonies in the region, such as Curaçao, St. Maarten, and surrounding islands.
The Horrors of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade
The life of the slaves managed by Klein Curaçao was extremely harsh and brutal. These people were snatched from their homelands in Africa, forced to survive on slave ships in deplorable conditions and eventually sold to plantation owners in the Caribbean. Many died during the gruesome crossing due to disease, starvation and mistreatment. Those who survived the journey faced a life of slavery, in which they were forced to perform hard labor and systematically deprived of their human dignity.
The Impact on the Region
The slave trade had profound effects on the people and society of the Caribbean region. It brought a large population of African descent to the islands, and their culture, traditions, and languages have had a lasting influence on Caribbean identity. It also contributed to the economic prosperity of the colonial powers, especially the Netherlands, which made huge profits by trading slaves and sugar.
The weather on Klein Curacao
The weather and climate on Klein Curacao are about the same as on Curacao. Thus, Klein Curacao has suffered relatively few hurricanes, although a violent hurricane did pass over the island in 1877. This hurricane destroyed the island’s first lighthouse. After this, a new lighthouse was built and it can still be visited today. Also, northeast winds and strong currents have always occurred around the island. This has caused several ships to run aground on the island. These shipwrecks can still be seen today during a Klein Curacao trip. For example, there is a French sailing yacht named Tchao, which ran ashore on April 1, 2007.
