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Nineteenth Century Willemstad[21]

In 1789 Curaçao had a total population of 19,544, of which the majority, 12,804, were slaves; 3964 were whites and 2776 were free blacks and mulattos (see Table 1). These numbers clearly indicate that Curaçao was not a plantation economy; on islands with vast sugar estates, for example, slaves outnumbered whites by as much as ten to one. At the turn of the century, only half of the population was rural, scattered over the marginally productive country estates.

Table 1
Curaçao's Population: 1789-1833

Rather than living isolated from each other on extensive rural holdings, fully half of the island's entire population lived in Willemstad, "in the stifling walled city, Punda, the somewhat larger Otrobanda, or at Pietermaai;"[22] Scharloo remained sparsely inhabited until late in the century. This level of urbanization was quite unusual for the Caribbean at the time. Also unusual was the fact that urbanization was not accompanied by industrialization. Willemstad was and remained a mercantile center, albeit now a poor one.

While Punda and Pietermaai were the residential enclaves of the wealthy merchant elite, Otrobanda had become a vibrant multi-ethnic center, home to the majority of the island's free blacks. In 1790, of Willemstad's total population of 4692, almost 80% - 3706 individuals - resided in Otrobanda. Of these Otrobanda residents, 1538 were slaves, 1495 were free blacks and mulattos, 593 were listed as "Christians" (primarily white Protestants) and 80 were Jews.[23] The number of free coloreds in Otrobanda almost equaled the number of slaves and was over double the total number of whites. On the narrow streets and alleyways of this close community the different social groups came into frequent contact with each other; it was almost impossible for even the most privileged families to escape the cultural influence of the island's free blacks.

By 1817, the total population of Curaçao had declined by over five thousand, primarily due to emigration, rebounding slightly by 1833. By then, the racial and ethnic composition had changed dramatically. Many wealthy white merchants, especially Jews, had fled the island in search of better economic fortunes. With the decline of the slave trade (see Chapter 7) and the overall economic stagnation, the number of slaves was slashed by over 50% in less than half a century. Of a total island population of 15,027 in 1833, the majority, 6531, were now free blacks and mulattos, 5894 were slaves, and only 2602 were whites (see Table 1). While it was typical of a Caribbean slave society for slaves to outnumber whites, even while the latter held all the economic and political power, it was unusual for free blacks and mulattos to outnumber either group. In nineteenth century Curaçao they were the simple majority, outnumbering whites by over two to one.

The basic social groups that were discussed in Chapter 2 remained the core of Curaçaoan society throughout the first half of the nineteenth century. However, as the prosperity of the previous period had given way to major economic stagnation, and the demographics shifted, some groups saw significant changes in their situation.

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