Report orientation tour Bonaire & Curacao

An account of the orientation tour of Luit Tebbens Torringa and Joost Bleijenberg to Bonaire/Curacao from 13 October to 20 October 2009. Written by Joost Bleijenberg.

13 October
Purpose of the trip was to visit the islands of Bonaire and Curacao together with my colleague friend Luit Tebbens Torringa to get acquainted with the second home projects and all other business related to purchasing real estate on the Antilles. We left at 12.45 pm from Schiphol Airport, a good and quiet flight with reliable KLM. I always enjoy flying with KLM. After a stop on St. Martin we landed at the airport near Willemstad at 5.45 pm local time. Unfortunately, a somewhat long and strange customs procedure, but after a while we could rent a car at Hertz and arrived slightly tired at the beautiful Renaissance Hotel. Late in the evening we had a drink at the quay watching with surprise the Pontjesbrug phenomenon. Everyone should see that once in their lifetime!

14 October
After a good night’s rest, a quick dive in the hotel swimming pool, a very special pool! Because of the absence of a beach, the hotel has made its own beach from the first floor down, with a large salt water pool, looks real. The view of the sea and the pier where the cruise ships are mooring makes it all very special. This day we made a tour of the island. Visited shopping mall Zuikertuin (with many luxurious European shops) and a large supermarket.  Also visited second home parks Grote Berg and Villapark Fontein. Further down the Northwest coast we saw many beautiful bays, small, beautifully colored water and intimate beach restaurants. Especially Cas Abao Bay is impressive. On the western end of the island  you’ll find park Kura Hulanda, partially in use already, but here too many great plots with sea view are still for sale. We ended the day with a visit to Blue Bay Park, 5½ acres of land, its own golf course and many amenities. At night we had a wonderful dinner at restaurant Gouverneur in the centre of Willemstad. I do like the food and drinks at Curacao. 

15 October
After a round of emails in the hotel room and a quick swim, we had a lovely breakfast. Walked around again in Willemstad to e.g. the quay with little Venezuelan boats selling vegetables. Venezuela is not far from Curacao (about 43 miles) and these little boats sail each day 6 hours back and forth. Visited Derek, who runs the company Green Media, which develops websites. Might be a welcome addition to www.newrealestateinthetropics.com . Luit and I spent the afternoon freely, doing a bit of shopping because we can´t come home empty handed…. Visited the Dolphin Academy at night, where you can swim with dolphins. A bit further down I found quite a few very nice beach tents. Curacao is so much fun! Had a nice dinner in Mambo beach.

16 October
Today we have scheduled an interesting meeting with Price Water House Coopers. We were warmly welcomed by Zuleika and Ivan. Received a lot of information about the Pensionado arrangement and other regulations which might be interesting for buyers from Holland. Also useful info for our website. Per 10 October 2010 a lot will change constitutionally and the three small islands, Bonaire included, will become Dutch municipalities. On to Santa Barbara where we were received by Jan-Peter Klijn, Millie´s husband, who we know from project developer Janssen de Jong. Jan-Peter shows us the complete complex for which he organizes sales. What an impressive complex! The Hyatt Regency Curacao Resort & Spa, which is under construction, is making good progress and the first grass is visible on the two 18 holes golf courses. Here too beautiful sea plots for sale, but from 1 million dollars upwards, but then you´ve got some property .  Quickly on to the airport for our flight to Bonaire. Just like a bus ride, flies at least 10 times a day and before you know it, the plane has landed again, the flight takes less than 15 minutes. Rented a car again and on Bonaire we´re guests  of Bertram. Bertram is a developer of three parks on Bonaire and we´re sleeping in the villa which is situated on one of the parks and will be demolished in the future. In the evening dinner in Kralendijk and many Dutch celebrities are “freely”  walking around. The place to be is café Havana,  everyone is gathering there.

17 October
A delicious breakfast at ´´It Raines Fishes”  in Kralendijk. We met Marielle, who handles the rentals for many villas on the island. The well-known Piet Boon (the new Jan de Bouvrie really) has designed many villas on Bonaire with his obvious Piet Boon signature. Made a nice tour of the northern part with e.g. a visit to Washington Slagbaai National Park. Rough landscape with impressive flora and fauna, you can easily spend a day in this park. Had lunch at the picturesque Rose Inn in the town of Rincon. Did our shopping at the supermarket in Kralendijk (everything available) and at the end of the afternoon visited the apartment complex Hausmann Follies. This complex has almost been completed, with only 4 apartments for sale left.  Park Bahia made also an impression on me. Detached and semi-detached houses on kind of a peninsula, each with their own boat dock. The construction is well under way. Had dinner in restaurant Bambu next to Hausmann Follies and of course a last beer in Havanna.

18 October
Woke up early and immediately made a lot of pictures of park Delfins (where the villa is located in which we are staying). One of the apartment towers is under construction.  144 apartments in total are being built here with many amenities, which will mean a lot for the island economically speaking. Luit and I are discussing how to optimally organize Sales and Marketing for this complex. We will have to meet Piet Boon soon as well.  The location at the seaside is really beautiful and what a large area. Gerrit Tijhuis of Roosdom Tijhuis Construction and Developing has had a good eye for this! Also an appointment with Frank Nelissen, our real estate agent on location for Delfins. Used the afternoon for a tour of the southern part of Bonaire. Very different scenery, many great diving locations, large salt pans where salt is still obtained,  great places for kite surfing and of course the immense lake which is considered one of the 3 best surfing  spots on earth by experts. What a place to be! Wonderful Caribbean  atmosphere, with small restaurants in the sand, you´ve got to see this!

19 October
After a good night´s rest, rose early to pack my suitcase for the return to Curacao. Had breakfast at the (small) airport with one of the longest airstrips in the Caribbean. Rented a car on Curacao with difficulty, because it is fall break now and very busy on Curacao. Rented rooms in the grand Hotel Avila, just outside the centre of Willemstad. Here a real beach, and a great outdoor bar. Gerrit Tijhuis just arrived with his wife and youngest daughter, had a couple of drinks and met Richard Dagelet, who can guide us on the island as sort of a base on the island. An acquaintance of Ivan and Curacao society  is not that big anyhow. Dinner again in a tasteful ambiance, the lounge restaurant Moon.

20 October
Time to say goodbye, but I know one thing for sure, I want to return here often. On this last day in the morning a quick meeting with the Tijhuis Family and next an appointment at Janssen de Jong, not just a great developer on the islands, but also the company which builds much of the infrastructure. Had an elaborate conversation with Walter and Milly about the developments on the island and their projects.  Afterwards a quick lunch at the famous Fort Nassau (the place where our royal family frequents) with a magnificent view of Willemstad and surroundings. In conclusion a visit to the parks Papagayo, Chogogo and Spanish Water. Papagayo would be a location where I might go with my family next summer.  A quick wash up in the hotel, returning the rental car and KLM departs, as usual, right on time at 7.45 pm for a flight of less than 9 hours back to Amsterdam.

Joost Bleijenberg, Bleijenberg Real Estate Communication