Minister Plenipotentiary of Sint Maarten, Drs. Gracita R. Arrindell, attended the presentation of the book Nieuw Nederland, e bario serka Avila Beach Hotel, fundá riba honor i humiltat, hosted by the OCAN Foundation on Friday, August 14, at the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary of Curaçao in The Hague.
Published in 2023, the book’s author, Rensley Victoria, was born and raised in the neighbourhood of Nieuw Nederland, Curaçao. The publication makes an important contribution to the oral history of Curaçao by documenting the memories, experiences, and people who were shaped by the neighbourhood they grew up in.
For the book, 12 people from the area were interviewed, including individuals who had a positive influence on Victoria and his family. Among those featured are prominent persons connected to Nieuw Nederland, including former Prime Minister Maria Liberia-Peters, alongside residents whose personal stories form part of the neighbourhood’s collective memory.
The book is presented in Papiamentu, Dutch, and English, making the history of Nieuw Nederland accessible to a wider audience and helping preserve these stories for future generations.
For Minister Arrindell, who herself grew up in Nieuw Nederland, the presentation held special personal significance. She also highlighted the longstanding ties between the neighbourhood and Sint Maarten, noting that persons and families of Sint Maarten descent have lived, and continue to live, in the area.
“Nieuw Nederland also forms part of my family’s history who hail from Sint Maarten. It is meaningful to see the voices and experiences of its people documented and preserved. This publication also reminds us of the strong family and historical connections between Curaçao and Sint Maarten and of the importance of passing these stories on to future generations,” Minister Arrindell stated.
Minister Arrindell was presented a copy of the book by Victoria, congratulated Rensley Victoria on his valuable contribution to preserving Curaçao’s oral history, and commended the initiative for ensuring that the stories, people, and community spirit of Nieuw Nederland are not forgotten.