Language
Overview
The official language is Dutch. Papiamento (a mixture of Portuguese, West African languages, Arawak, Spanish, Dutch and English) is the common language. English and Spanish are also commonly spoken. Since people from over 50 different nations live on Curaçao, other languages are often spoken. Dutch is used in everyday life only in administration and in the school system and when dealing with European Dutch people. The locals almost exclusively speak Papiamento to each other. Most media such as newspapers, radio and television also mainly use Papiamento. The language is based on a simply structured makeshift language, with which the first settlers of the Caribbean islands, who came from different parts of the world, communicated with each other in the 1700s. The grammar is simple with only a few irregularities. For example, there is no gender, no distinction is made between masculine, feminine and neuter. Papiamento spoken in Aruba and Bonaire is closely related to Papiamento spoken in Curaçao. However, there are clear spelling and sound differences. Papiamento spoken in Aruba and Bonaire is closely related to Papiamento spoken in Curaçao. However, there are clear spelling and sound differences. Papiamento spoken in Aruba and Bonaire is closely related to Papiamento spoken in Curaçao. However, there are clear spelling and sound differences.
Idioms
Bread = Pan Thanks = Danki Food = Kuminda Hello = Bon dia I love Curaçao = Mi stima Kòrsou I’ll see you later = Te aweró Ja = Si I’m fine = Mi ta bon Nice = dushi Juice = Djus Very good = Mashá bon How are you? = Kon ta bai? Welcome = Bon biní
Public Holidays
01/01/2022 New Year
02/28/2022 Shrove Monday
04/17/2022 Easter Sunday
05/01/2022 Labor Day
05/26/2022 Ascension of Christ
07/02/2022 flag day
12/25/2022 Christmas
12/26/2022 Christmas
Source: Top-mba-universities.com
Duty free shopping
Overview
The following items can be brought into Curaçao duty-free (persons aged 17 and over): 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 50 cigarillos or 125 g of tobacco; 1 liter of spirits (over 18s) or 2 liters of non-sparkling wine. 50 ml perfume, 250 ml eau de toilette, 500 g coffee, 100 g coffee extract; 100 g tea, 40 g tea extract. The value of the baggage brought in may not exceed US$ 110 per passenger (or US$ 36 under the age of 15) or must then be declared. Personal items of a commercial nature acquired abroad may not exceed a value of 200 NAF.
Prohibited Imports
weapons and ammunition; Substances covered by the Opium Law; counterfeit money; dead animals and parts and products from dead animals; living animals; meat and meat products; plants and flowers. Neither leather goods from Haiti nor silver coins from Suriname and the Netherlands may be imported. Further information is available from Curacao Customs.
Contact addresses
Kabinet van de Gevolmachtigde Minister van Curaçao
Prinsegracht 63-65
The Hague
Netherlands
+31 (70) 306 61 11.
http://www.kgmc.nl/en/
http://www.kgmc.nl/en/
Mon-Thu 08.30-17.00, Fri 08.30-16.30.
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Curaçao is represented by the Dutch embassies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland (see Netherlands ).
Business
Business etiquette
A suit and tie or costume are appropriate for business appointments. Punctuality is a matter of course. Business hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
conferences and congresses
Further information and planning assistance are available from the Curaçao Chamber of Commerce and Industry (see contact addresses). document.write(unescape(“%3Cscript src='” + (document.location.protocol == “https:” ? “https://sb” : “http://b”) + “.scorecardresearch.com/ beacon.js’ %3E%3C/script%3E”)); COMSCORE.beacon({ c1:2, c2:6676302, c3:””, c4:””, c5:””, c6:””, c15:”” });
Business contacts
Curaçao Chamber of Commerce and Industry Kaya Junior Salas 1, Pietermaai, Curaçao Tel. +599 (0)9 461 39 18. Website: www.curacao-chamber.cw
Communication
Phone
The country code of Curaçao is 00599.
Mobile phone
GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G and 4G network. The main network operator is Digicel. Roaming contracts exist. In order to avoid high roaming charges, it may be worth purchasing a prepaid SIM card locally.
Internet
There are still a few internet cafes in Willemstad. Almost all accommodations offer their guests free WiFi. There are numerous public WiFi hotspots in Willemstad in particular.
Post office
Mail to Europe takes 4-6 days, by sea 6 weeks. Post office opening hours: Mon-Fri 07.30-12.00 and 13.30-16.30. The main post office and post office at the airport are also open on Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
