Apart from its core activities, development of initiatives in the field of preservation forms an integral part of the Foundation’s philosophy and strategy.
Since its establishment, the Foundation’s pioneer activities and keen initiatives have stimulated and triggered private initiatives and eventually the development of a government policy for the preservation of Curaçao’s cultural property.

A typical example is the initiative to restore a characteristic complex of dwellings locally known as het Vierstegenplan, ‘The Four Alley Plan’, in the heart of Otrobanda historic district in 1985. A first step towards the preservation of historic districts in addition to that of individual buildings, this initiative has triggered private and institutional investment in lively and colourful Otrobanda. The Curaçao Housing Corporation FKP has restored and renovated large parts of historic Otrobanda since.

(Photo Four Alley Plan)

Another case is the reconstruction of former Hotel Venezuela destroyed by fire in 1988, a historical landmark in Scharloo Abou historic district. Then a dilapidated and neglected historic area occupied by squatters, by taking up its reconstruction in 1997 as the Maritime Museum, the Foundation set the first pace for the development of Scharloo Abou historic district and opened up its many potentials. The Maritime Museum is a state-of-the-art museum on the maritime history of the Netherlands Antilles and has been acknowledged to be among the museums of regional importance in the Caribbean.

(Photo Maritime Museum, before and after reconstruction)

In 1988 Stichting Monumentenzorg Curaçao actively participated in ICAW Interregional Commission Action Willemstad for the promotion of Historic Willemstad as World Heritage. In the next decade the necessary instruments for an adequate protection of the historic nucleus such as a monument law, funding and a monuments plan were put in place.
After ten years the joint efforts finally gained success. In December 1997 the Historic Inner City and Harbour of Willemstad was inscribed on the World Heritage List of UNESCO to become heritage of mankind.

(Photo WH-logo Patrimonio Mundial and/or typical historic townscape)