Go Local - Meet the Locals - Historical Cultural Experience

Discover the most fascinating aspects of Bonaire’s history on an enlightening walk through downtown.

While strolling through the heart of Kralendijk, the island’s capital, you will see how the 17th-century Dutch-built Fort Oranje has been converted into the island’s main courthouse. Similarly, the Parliament House was once the private residence of a prominent family. As revealing as these architectural insights will be, few experiences will be quite so revealing as listening to the museum’s historical actors describe what life was like in the past. You may hear about the Dutch colonizers, how slavery was abolished and the origins of the island’s traditions. The exhibits cover more than 7,000 years of history through artifacts recovered from shipwrecks, 3D reconstructions, descriptive timelines and historical photographs.

After your walk through main street, you will have time for shopping at a market near the harbor.