Sint Michiel (also Boca Samí) is a former fishing village in

Willemstad Willemstad ( ; ; ; ) is the capital city, capital and largest city of Curaçao, an island in the southern Caribbean Sea that is a Countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It was the cap ...

lying at the south end of

Bullenbaai Bullenbaai is a bay on the central west coast of Curaçao in the Netherlands Antilles. Covering one sixth of the length of the island's west coast, it extends from the lighthouse at Kaap Sint Marie in the north to the town of Sint Michiel in the ...

bay on the west coast of

Curaçao Curaçao, officially the Country of Curaçao, is a constituent island country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located in the southern Caribbean Sea (specifically the Dutch Caribbean region), about north of Venezuela. Curaçao includ ...

. It is located to the northwest of the island's city centre.

Overview

The St. Michiel Bay is locally known as "Boca Samí" and is situated between the much smaller Blue Bay and Vaersenbaai. It is named after

Saint Michael Michael, also called Saint Michael the Archangel, Archangel Michael and Saint Michael the Taxiarch is an archangel and the warrior of God in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. The earliest surviving mentions of his name are in third- and second- ...

. Vaersen Bay used to be the Curaçao Police recreational facility. It is now the beach club Kokomo Beach Curacao. The bay was once defended by two

WIC WIC may stand for: Businesses and organizations * WIC program, the U.S. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children * Dutch West India Company, in the 17th and 18th centuries * West Island College, a system of three pr ...

forts. The ruins of the main fort are still visible. These forts provided protection from

French pirates French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), a ...

and the

British Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

though they were occupied by both in the 18th and early 19th Century. The settlement started in 1701, and used to be a quiet fishing village. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, about 400 American troops were stationed at Sint Michiel. Tourism has resulted in the construction of hotels and holiday resorts in the neighbourhood. Sint Michael is the largest neighbourhood of Willemstad by area, and has a low population density. There is a steady population increase due to new housing developments. The per-capita income is above average, however there is a large income inequality in Sint Michiel. The neighbourhood is surrounded by nature areas around the hills. Blue Bay is a bay with a beach, with tourist attractions, luxury apartments, the

Blue Bay Sculpture Garden The Blue Bay Sculpture Garden is a sculpture park situated at the Blue Bay Golf & Beach Resort in Boca Samí, Curaçao, on an area of approximately 2000 square metres in front of and next to Landhuis Blauw. The Blue Bay Sculpture Garden Foundat ...

. and the Jong Colombia football team. A large salt pan near the bay is known for its population of

flamingo Flamingos or flamingoes () are a type of wading bird in the family Phoenicopteridae, which is the only extant family in the order Phoenicopteriformes. There are four flamingo species distributed throughout the Americas (including the Caribbe ...

es.

Klein Sint Michiel

Klein Sint Michiel was one of the major plantations of Curaçao, and used to produce salt. The current plantation house was constructed in 1863, and has a rectangular core with a gallery. The estate is privately owned and in near original condition, and has been designated a monument. Archaeological artefacts have been discovered on the Sint Michielsberg on the former plantation grounds which are between 1,500 and 4,500 years old. The graves from the Archaic Period were undisturbed. The site is about one

hectare The hectare (; SI symbol: ha) is a non-SI metric unit of area equal to a square with 100-metre sides (1 hm2), that is, square metres (), and is primarily used in the measurement of land. There are 100 hectares in one square kilometre. ...

in size, and the second largest archaeological site on Curaçao. Fundashon Kas Popular, a

housing association In Ireland and the United Kingdom, housing associations are private, Non-profit organization, non-profit organisations that provide low-cost "Public housing in the United Kingdom, social housing" for people in need of a home. Any budget surpl ...

, has constructed a housing estate on the plantation grounds.

Notable people

Shanon Carmelia Shanon David Carmelia (born 20 March 1989) is a Curaçaoan footballer who plays as a right-back for USV Hercules. Career Born in Boca Samí, Curaçao, in the former Netherlands Antilles, he formerly played for Deportivo Barber, NEC, JVC Cuijk ...

(born 1989), footballer

Gallery

File:Pano Bluebay front Cropped.jpg, Blue Bay from the air File:Hortence Brouwn-Big mama.jpg, Big mama sitting in the sculpture garden File:Collectie Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen TM-20029984 Kerk in Sint-Michiel Curacao Boy Lawson (Fotograaf).jpg, Church of Sint Michiel File:Blue Bay - Curacao.jpg, Beach at Blue Bay

References

Bibliography

* {{Authority control Populated places in Curaçao Willemstad