Walking Willemstad in 2016

Wall opposite the guardhouse

The fort was built with two entrances - one if by land and one if by sea. The land entrance has a gatehouse where the gate keeper lived and that still survives. I did not get out to the gatehouse, but this was the sea entrance

The Arsenal

I took some photos of the Arsenal (which is right inside the sea gate) but found it confusing to identify it, because during the Napoleonic Wars there was another armory which is where there is a warehouse now, and that photo kept coming up.

Possible warehouse location of the first arsenal

I was only able to identify it positively after I saw an article which said that a subsequent owner of the building put bells on the front.

Carillon Bells

In 1791 Prince William V told the State Council that he was willing to contribute to the reconstruction of the armory at Willemstad. The new one would have the same length, but they would widen the shore side so the total width of the new building would be about 44 feet. The new arsenal also needed a cistern with a capacity of four hundred tons of water for the garrison. The Arsenal was designed by the architect Philip William of Orange Schonck. It was originally divided into three naves with the corresponding three-part facade. However, its design has since been adapted. This is described (as translated from the Dutch) as: The tripodal ground floor with two rows of thick wooden poles, for practical reasons has been changed to a naves, whereby there were also needed instead of three, but two ports. Those gates were provided with a hard stone classicist frame in which black ornament painting. The keystones show to deter a Medusa head with snakes and two swords surrounded by two eagles.
After 1926, the arsenal remained in use for storage of military equipment. In the late sixties, the building was sold to Mr F. van Welzenes, who applied to a carillon bells. On January 19, 1973 the completely restored Arsenal was officially opened and is now used for cultural events like concerts and exhibitions as well as for receptions.

The Arsenal from near Anno 1610


Hotel and restaurant

Near the Arsenal was a hotel, Het Wapen van Willemstad: The Weapon of Willemstad This is the oldest hotel-restaurant of Willemstad. It underwent a thorough renovation in February 2013.


Menu board outside


Water pump opposite the hotel


Trash can


Tourist information board

There is a bulletin board with Tourist Information by the Old Town Hall.

Handicapped parking


Old Town Hall and cannon


Old Town Hall from the side

Our information from the ship said In front of the harbor, the 16th century former Stadhuis is distinguished by it's octagonal tower, double curved gable and black and white shutters.


Town hall mermaid wind vane

In the Napoleons time the tower top was replaced by a semaphore, but after the fall of Napoleon in 1815 the top was reconstructed.

Old Town Hall


Tower from below

The Old Town Hall was build on order of Prince Maurits in 1587. The building was was designed in such a way, that on Sundays church services could be held (there was no funding to build two buildings at that time).

Detail of the arches on the ground floor

It now houses the Ceramic Museum (Ceramisch Museum), with pottery and other wares (17th-20th centuries) recovered by excavation

Old Town Hall Tower


Town crest over the Old Town Hall door