The Traffic Nightmare on Cura?ao: A Reflection of Our Governance?

The Traffic Nightmare on Cura?ao: A Reflection of Our Governance?

March 2, 2025

Traffic in Cura?ao is not just congested—it is pure chaos. Nowhere is this more evident than on the Caracasbaaiweg, which has become a near-permanent traffic jam. Only between late at night and 6:30 AM can one drive freely. Everyone, including politicians, is calling for a solution.

Among the most bizarre proposals is a bridge cutting straight through a protected natural area. There has been no environmental impact assessment, just the na?ve assumption that if the bridge is built above the area, it will not cause harm. However, noise pollution and the fact that it is a vital bird habitat seem to be ignored entirely.

Even more striking is that no one is talking about the real causes of traffic congestion. The problem is often blamed on the growing number of hotels in the Jan Thiel area, which attract rental cars. However, the issue runs deeper. Restaurants, snack bars, and bed-and-breakfasts have multiplied. Houses are being bought up and converted into B&Bs. Nearly every available house or plot has been turned into commercial property with insufficient parking.

On top of that, cars can enter and exit Caracasbaaiweg from all directions along the total length—left, right, on, and off—creating a constant stop-and-go situation. More and more tourists, who are used to walking and cycling back home, are doing the same here, further complicating traffic flow. Add to this the visual pollution of countless billboards, messy electrical and internet cables, street dogs, and the fact that a past minister merely had a thin layer of asphalt applied without even bothering to add road markings. To this day, there’s no budget for something as basic as traffic lines.

Yet, somehow, everyone has gotten used to it. This is just how things are.

But is this chaotic reality a reflection of our governance?

Join us in April 2025 for a masterclass on governance, and let’s discuss it together. https://www.universityofgovernance.com/master-class...

Miguel Goede