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(Photo of book) <<The Historic Area of Willemstad is a European colonial ensemble in the Caribbean of outstanding value and integrity, which illustrates the organic growth of a multicultural community over three centuries and preserves to a high degree significant elements of the many strands that came together to create it.>> (Text of the recommendation to the World Heritage Committee to inscribe The Historic Area of Willemstad Inner City and Harbour on the World Heritage List) (Picture of World Heritage logo) In 1964 at its 10th anniversary Stichting Monumenetenzorg Curaçao started to issue a series of Delft Blue plates depicting restored monuments each year. The precious plates totalling fourteen, have become collector’s items since. (Photo of Delft Blue plate - Pachi di Sola?) To stimulate proper maintenance and ownership of monuments the Foundation awards owners of monuments a tablet for their monumentsdepicting the Foundation’s motto “Tua Res Agitur.” (Photo of tablet) By tradition the Foundation issues a monuments calendar each year which has become an item very much sought after by aficionado’s both local and overseas. (Illustration of calendar) Actively involved in the promotion of public awareness, especially among the youth of Curaçao, the Foundation produced a half-hour multi-language educational video on monuments for television broadcasts and for heritage education at schools in 2001. (Illustration ‘Aki ta papia Korsou’) The Foundation was the first to initiate the restoration of a characteristic complex of dwellings locally known as ‘The Four Alley Plan’ (1985) in Otrobanda historic district as a spearhead project which has triggered private and institutional investment in Otrobanda since. (Photo Four Alley Plan) To raise the alarm on the continuing deterioration of the historic inner city of Willemstad, the Foundation produced the film ‘Willemstad, nu of nooit' (Willemstad, now or never”) to make the community and the decision-makers aware of the disaster at hand. (Photo of monument in severe disrepair) In 1997 the Foundation set the first pace for the development of Scharloo Abou historic district by taking up the reconstruction of former Hotel Venezuela, a landmark monument, and turning it into a state-of-the-art museum on maritime history of the Netherlands Antilles. (Photo Maritime Museum) Apart from monuments, other important elements of Curaçao’s legacy such as public statues, are put in the Foundation’s custody. (Photo of statue) Part of the Foundation’s conservation philosophy and strategy is to intervene when necessary when a monument, although not its own property, is in imminent danger as happened with 19th century Sint Willibrordus Church in Bandabou and with 17th century Beth Haim Jewish Cemetery which underwent necessary repair in 1999 and 2001. (Photo of St. Willibrordus Church and Beth Haim cemetery) In 2002 the Foundation assisted the Island of Saba, with 12 square kilometres smallest of the five islands of the Netherlands Antilles, in its efforts to qualify for World Heritage through the provision of expertise and financial support. (Photo of Saba) In 1988 The Foundation saved, restored and furnished an authentic Curaçao slave hut in Ascension with traditional furniture and utensils and opened it up for the public as a small museum to display the traditional way of life of the people in old Curaçao. (Photo of Kas di PaI’i Maishi) Typical examples of adaptable re-use of monuments are the major restorations of the Foundation’s De Tempel, a former 19th century synagogue in Punda, and Casa Blanca an impressive 19th century mansion in Otrobanda, to become modern government offices opened in 1999 and 2002 respectively. (Photos of De Tempel and Casa Blanca) In April 2004 Stichting Monumentenzorg Curaçao will celebrate its 50th anniversary, completing half a century of dedication and care for the monuments of Curaçao.
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