Sponsors

 
After the bridge was taken over by the Curaçao Trading Company it was purchased by the government in 1930 and was toll-free from 1934. In 1939 a completely new bridge was inaugurated and in 1974 the bridge was closed for motor traffic.

The square itself used to be built up with some smaller buildings. Next to the bridge-head was 'de Beer Saloon', specialized in beers and delicatessen. Then a small Sodawater Bar and next to that the studio of the well-known Court photographer Robert Soublette & Fils (Sons). Next there was another building whose use is unknown and a wooden police station, later replaced by one made of stone with two floors.

In the square a music pavilion named after Queen Wilhelmina was built in 1898 to commemorate her coronation. Around the same year the sparsely burning gaslamps were replaced by electric lights.

In 1925 a torso statue of Admiral Luis Brion was inaugurated in the square, named after him in 1921, the centenary of his death.

In 1937 a new music pavilion was inaugurated, named after the well-known conductor | composer Boskaljon. During the 20s and 30s he presented regularly performances with the military band in the pavilion, called, 'soirees'.

A new statue of Brion was inaugurated in 1950 with Brion in a 'thinking pose'. Not very well appreciated, this staue was replaced 6 years later by a more belligerent statue donated by the Venezuelan government. In the square there was also a kiosk where one could buy ice cream, newspapers, perfumes etc.

In the course of the years the square grew in size by filling parts of the St. Annabay and finally became more or less double the original size. Also the former Rifwater or 'Kreek' was filled in during the late 40s and 50s. A footbridge to the Riffort, built in 1888, was replaced by a concrete bridge carrying vehicle traffic, which was finally taken away by completely filling in of the water.

At the other end of the square a road was constructed over the former wharves during the 40s, which connected the square with the residential area of Hoogstraat.

Severe riots in 1969 ruined most of the buildings in the square. The result was traumatic. Although a new square lay-out was realised only two years after the fires, the reconstruction of the buildings was very slow. Only three new buildings were built; all of them on the north side of Breedestraat.

The new lay-out by the English design bureau Lawrence Halprin was never accepted by the public. It did not fit in with the people's memories.

Let's all hope that the recently realised new lay-out of the square and the realization of plans to build some new buildings will give way to a new and better future for this special place.

< Vorige | Volgende >
 

Content © Ir. J.M. Lanjouw 1997 - Copyright © CaribSeek 2004 - All Rights Reserved