UNSPECIFIED - JANUARY 20: Queen Emma pontoon bridge in St Anne bay at Willemstad (UNESCO World Heritage List, 1997), Curacao Island, Netherlands Antilles. (Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images)

De Agostini/Getty Images

Queen Emma Bridge

Willemstad


Spanning Sint Annabaai, this local landmark is sometimes called Our Swinging Old Lady. It's a pontoon bridge that swings open to make way for oceangoing ships. When the bridge is open, two free public ferries shuttle passengers back and forth between Punta and Otrobanda.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Willemstad attractions

1. Fort Amsterdam

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Dating from the 17th century, this much-modified fort is now home to government offices. Inside the large courtyard (enter through the gate on the western…

2. Museum Kura Hulanda

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Located in a 19th-century merchant's house and slave quarters, this excellent museum documents the brutal history of slavery in the New World, including…

3. Floating Market

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A colorful place to see piles of papayas, melons, plantains, grapes, oranges, apples, tomatoes and much more. The vendors sail 70km from Venezuela to set…

4. Steam for Oil

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At the Curaçao Maritime Museum, this exhibit includes a working model of the oil refinery that has been a centerpiece of the island's economy throughout…

5. Curaçao Maritime Museum

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Engaging displays trace the island’s history, including exhibits on the Dutch West India Co, the growth of Willemstad, the slave trade and more. A…

6. Jewish Cultural-Historical Museum

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The 1651 Mikvé Israel Emanuel Synagogue has the oldest continuously operating Jewish congregation in the western hemisphere. Its small but fascinating…

7. Miami Building

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An example of beautifully preserved art-deco architecture in the crumbling Scharloo district.

8. Curaçao Museum

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Small but worthwhile, this museum touches on art, history and society in its eclectic collections. In an unlikely residential location 1.6km west of…