Pietermaai
Pietermaai | ||
|---|---|---|
Neighbourhood | ||
Country Curaçao | | |
| City | Willemstad | |
Pietermaai is a neighbourhood and former suburb of
History
Willemstad, the capital of Curaçao, was constructed as a walled city.[3] It soon developed into one of the major centres of the Atlantic slave trade which triggered a rapid population growth.[1] In the late 17th century, there were over 200 houses within the city walls.[3] In 1675, it was decided to construct the town of Pietermaai outside of the enclosed city. It was to be separated from the city by an area of about 500 metres in which construction was not allowed as not to obstruct the cannons in Fort Amsterdam.[4] The town was named after captain Pieter de Meij.[3]
In 1707, the town of
In 1870, the Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral was built for the parish of Pietermaai as a replacement of the old Gothic church. In 1958, it was designated as the only cathedral of the island.[3]
On 23 September 1877, Curaçao was struck by Hurricane Pundi which caused massive destruction. Pietermaai was the hardest hit part of the island.[7] Large parts of the neighbourhood were destroyed or swept away by the waves.[8]
Pietermaai used to have a combination of wealthy, and working class wards.
References
- ^ a b c d Benjamins & Snelleman 1917, p. 747.
- ^ "Historische Wijken". Curacao.com. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Pietermaai Suburb". Curaçao History. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
- ^ Michael A. Newton (1990). "Architectuur en monumentenzorg". De Gids (in Dutch). p. 658.
- ^ Benjamins & Snelleman 1917, p. 749.
- ^ "Het opbouwen en afbreken van de stadsmuren". Dutch National Archive (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 April 2021.
- ^ a b Benjamins & Snelleman 1917, p. 748.
- ^ Benjamins & Snelleman 1917, p. 243.
- ^ a b "Pietermaai Smal". Werkgroep Caraibische Letteren (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 April 2021.
- ^ a b "The local SOHO on Curaçao:The Pietermaai District". Dolfijn Go. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
- ^ "Historic Area of Willemstad, Inner City and Harbour, Curaçao". Unesco. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
Bibliography
- Benjamins, Herman Daniël; Snelleman, Johannes (1917). Encyclopaedie van Nederlandsch West-Indië (in Dutch). Leiden: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers – via Digital Library for Dutch Literature.
External links
- Pietermaai District
Media related to Pietermaai at Wikimedia Commons
