Brievengat
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Brievengat | |
|---|---|
Neighbourhood | |
_de_Jonge_(Fotograaf).jpg) Ronde Klip estate in Brievengat | |
  Brievengat Location in Curaçao | |
| Coordinates: 12°08′53″N 68°53′40″W / 12.14806°N 68.89437°W | |
| State | Kingdom of the Netherlands |
| Country | Curaçao |
| City | Willemstad |
| Area | |
• Total | 4.93 km2 (1.90 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[2] | |
• Total | 4,695 |
| • Density | 952/km2 (2,470/sq mi) |
Brievengat (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈbrivə(ŋ)ˌɣɑt]) is a neighbourhood of Willemstad in Curaçao.[3] It is located to the north of the centre of the capital, Willemstad, and to the east of the Hato International Airport.
The origin of the name Brievengat (English: Letter hole) is unclear. It was first mentioned in 1708 in a will as the name of a plantation.[4] The ground was very fertile, and the plantation flourished until 1877 when a hurricane destroyed the buildings, and killed about 75% of the animals. In 1924, the terrain was sold to Royal Dutch Shell who in turn sold it in 1954 to the monument trust who restored the buildings.[5] In 1956, construction started of a residential neighbourhood with 1,400 houses on the former plantation grounds.[6]
Landhuis Brievengat
The estate was built in the 18th century. The kitchen dates from the 19th century. The estate has a rectangular shape with galleries on the front and rear of the building. On the side of the buildings are two towers. The buildings has been designed a monument.[7] The estate is nowadays in use as an entertainment centre.[8]
