Museum Kura Hulanda — Attraction in Curaçao

The Kura Hulanda Museum is a series of separate buildings recounting the history of slavery and cultures on the Island and in other countries. The artifacts are one man’s eclectic collection of items acquired on journeys throughout his life, along with donations from others. The tour started in the entrance building where antiquities are appealingly arranged in glass cases. A guide met us there and requested three dollars cash up front to pay for her services before beginning the tour. As we progressed through the buildings inspecting the evidence of atrocities committed against humanity and discussing how people still enslave others today, it seemed that we had an understanding. But our likable, informative guide who had been helpful throughout the visit made an unexpected disclosure toward the end of the journey. In a room dedicated to propaganda on the wall right of the doorway, was a short display where Thomas Jefferson stood accused of unspeakable atrocities, none verifiable nonetheless our guide dubbed him “not a good man”. Moving onward to the left, a long display featured Obama, “a good man” on the wall of fame with other Democrats. Exploiting the exploited to push an agenda left her exposed.

She expressed her dismay over colleagues being reprimanded for attempting to spread the same perverse misinformation while conducting guided museum tours in the USA. Despite objections, she continued her attempt to undermine freedom from the inside out by planting seeds of discontent into the assumedly unguarded minds of two Americans. An outline of her position further took shape during our stroll through the Indigenous African section. Subdued exuberance about the Quran was noticeable in response to a question about the only text on display. Accosting guests is not the best way for a country to extend universal sentiments of peace and goodwill. The earth is a battleground. People who love life and freedom versus people who prefer death and bondage meet in unexpected arenas; museums, grade school classrooms, universities, churches, and social media platforms. The fight never ends and the indulgence of hatred is often disguised as...

Let's start by saying this.... If you are of African Decent you will find this museum hard to complete and very very emotional. This national gem Is carefully and masterfully curated to showcase a history that is constantly pushed to be forgotten. Relics from the Middle East, Africa, American History, History of the Island of Curacao and more are beautifully displayed with lots of historical information to read along the way. The items displayed will break your heart, leave you in disgust and angry at a global history that Is filled with cruelty and shame. At the same time you can bask in the brilliant culture that has been discovered of a people who once lived a life of pride, art, architecture and grace. This museum for me was one I planned on visiting but left me in a small corner shedding tears. It was amazing but touching and once again extremely emotional. I was grateful for the opportunity to learn more and experience a historic exhibition. I am grateful to the staff and curators for creating such an amazing interactive and informative well organized, well preserved, outstanding space to display the history of people who came before me who endured more than anyone can imagine and suffered more than anyone on this planet. This museum is a harsh reminder of how beautiful humans can be and how disgustingly cruel many have been throughout history and continue to be until this day. This place truly exemplified the great quote "In this great future you cannot forget your...

Cost for an adult ticket at time of writing was ANG 17.80. It's possible to go on a guided tour for ANG 5,- pp extra.

Quite an extensive collection from different geographical areas and time frames (extensive compared to the number of inhabitants on Curacao).

I recommend a visit if you want to know more about the island's history on slavery, but the museum as said earlier also has pieces and documents related to slavery in the US, other islands in the Antilles and Surinam to name a few.

You can easily spend 3 hours including the guided tour. Our tour guide was convincing in his storytelling about the hardships slaves had to endure. This is partly done by taking you into a mockup of the "cargohold" of a slaveship.

If you visit during the morning, you'll be able to have lunch in Willemstad as the city centre and its restaurants are close by. For an authentic local lunch visit the plasa Bieu!

To recap: a visit to this museum is...