Curaçao news, week 36 of 2026: EU works, coast guards and road closures

Curaçao news for week 36 of 2026 comes down to five stories worth knowing if you are visiting. First, three Willemstad neighbourhoods are getting EU-funded renovation work. Next, sixteen new coast guards have graduated. A free training programme has also opened for farming entrepreneurs. Finally, two sets of road closures matter if you are renting a car. Every fact below comes from a dated article we have read ourselves.

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Curaçao news: work begins in Otrobanda, Sapaté and Fortuna Ariba

The government of Curaçao and the European Union have launched a renovation programme in three neighbourhoods. Funding comes from the 11th European Development Fund. The Ministry of Traffic and Urban Planning oversees the work, under minister Charles Cooper.

In Otrobanda, the focus is the sewer network along Breedestraat and Roodeweg. Wastewater and rainwater will be separated. A small square is also planned near the Scheidelaar station, with pavements, benches and a play area. In Sapaté, crews are resurfacing the roads and improving the street lighting. As for Fortuna Ariba, the plans include public housing, pavements and a community centre.

Many visitors explore Otrobanda, the historic quarter, on foot. So expect to walk past some roadworks there in the coming months. No budget or detailed timetable has been announced yet, and we are not going to guess.

Sixteen new coast guards join the service

Sixteen recruits have completed more than a year of training with the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard. Their graduation took place at the Suffisant barracks in Willemstad. They come from Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Saba and Sint Eustatius.

Their training, run by the ORV institute, covered navigation, boarding, first aid and criminal law. They now start work as seamen, patrolling the coast and the open sea. For us, this is good news. We are out on these waters every week, and a well-trained coast guard helps keep a day at sea safe.

A free business course for farming entrepreneurs

The Ministry of Economic Development, Qredits Curaçao and the FKUP federation have opened registrations for the Agri Business Academy. This eleven-week programme starts on 22 September. There are two sessions a week, focused on writing a business plan and pitching a project.

Because the ministry covers the full cost, the course is free for selected applicants. Places are limited, though. Graduates can then apply to Qredits Curaçao for funding of up to 100,000 XCG. Registration is through Qredits, on 465-8282.

Curaçao news: road closures to plan around

Two disruptions are worth knowing about. The first is a long one. Aqualectra is working on the water and power network around Klein Hofje, near Bullenbaai. As a result, the Kaya Tene Kòrsou Limpi road (formerly Oude Weg naar Bullenbaai) will close at times between 7 September and 20 November. Work runs from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., with closures before and after those hours. Diversions are signposted.

By contrast, the second was brief. The opening of the parliamentary year brought restrictions to central Willemstad. These covered Hendrikplein, Breedestraat on the Punda side, Waterfortstraat, Fort Amsterdam, Wilhelminaplein, Pietermaai, Keukenstraat and Handelskade. Parking was banned from midnight on the night of 7 September. Traffic was then restricted from 4 a.m. on 8 September.

What this week means for your stay

None of this affects a day on the water. The Aqualectra works are on an inland road, not at a dive site. Moreover, the Willemstad restrictions only lasted two days. Still, if you plan to drive to the west coast this autumn, allow extra time for the Bullenbaai works.

We follow the island’s news every week because a good trip often comes down to small logistical details. Even a private sunset cruise from Spanish Water is easier to enjoy when you know which roads are closed on the drive back. Our Turtle Spotter dives, meanwhile, start from the shore at a site we pick on the day. Knowing which roads are open helps there too. For everything else, our FAQ page answers the questions we hear most often.

This week’s source: Curaçao Chronicle, articles dated 7 September on the EU programme, the coast guard graduation, the Agri Business Academy, the Aqualectra works and the traffic restrictions.

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