We’ve all been there: you’re somewhere in the world and you need, want, or are allowed to bring a souvenir back to your loved ones. This often ends with a trip to the gift shop around the corner. We brought home memories from all our vacations and gave them to our friends and neighbors who took care of the house: a beautiful handmade bowl or tablecloth from Venice, for example, or a fresh ham or wine from South Tyrol. But what do you bring from Curacao?

Sure, you can buy a magnet, a towel or something similar in the souvenir shop. Ideally at the “tourist price” just after the Queen Emma Bridge, when you cross it from Otrobanda towards Punda. Or do you prefer it individual, like us?

Buy an original instead of a copy

Then you might want to look for a discarded license plate, which, like Curacao itself, is colorful and unique. The license plates are printed with the vibrant Handelskade at the bottom and have the typical Caribbean format. The standard plate with the inscription “Curacao” or “DUSHI” can be found in almost every tourist store.

If you go a few meters further, to the so-called Ronde Market, you will find discarded original “License Plates” with a real retro look.

Original Curacao license plate in retro look

We searched for ages and asked around until we found this insider tip. The “Round Market” is also an absolute must for sightseeing. Various vendors present their wares in a rather inconspicuous rondelle from the outside, which you would actually walk past.

The classic of the Caribbean beach

Or do you prefer something more individual? Then you’ll love one of these beautiful “beach signs”, such as those at Cas Abao. There are signs like this right next to the cruise pier at the “Rif Fort”. Here you can get prefabricated colorful signs, which can be completed with a text of your choice – of course for the “cruise price”. You can do that – but you don’t have to.

Shirley Wimpel with us in her store “Signs & Crafts”

A few meters further on, on the other side of the Queen Emma Bridge, you will find Signs & Crafts in the middle of Punda. A small, friendly shop where you can have your personal sign made by local artist Shirley Wimpel. According to your ideas. Take a look at our photos! Then you’ll see what we mean.

Shop like the locals

Where do the islanders shop? That’s right: in “La Curacao” – a department store for locals. You won’t find any tourists there and you’ll get the best price possible. You should have a look around. It’s not only entertaining and interesting, but you’re sure to find one or two things that you won’t find at home. For example, a beautiful entrance mat in the shape of flip-flops. It just fits in your suitcase and will give you years of pleasure – every day!

La Curacao” has everything you need for your daily needs. You can also buy a special item that is cult on the island: the cool trolley, which you will often see on your visits to the beach. Or useful items like Glacial, a cooling menthol spray that is great for itchy mosquito bites (even at home).

Flip-flop doormat – find at La Curacao

The best souvenirs can often be found in the market around the corner

And while you’re on Jan Noorduynweg, walk a few meters east. Between “La Curacao” and the roundabout you will pass many small shops, including “Party City Curacao”. In this small but excellent store you will find an almost endless selection of party supplies: from a huge selection of balloons to matching napkins.

Across the street from “La Curacao” you can go straight to “Esperamos”, a huge supermarket that is very popular with the locals. Everything is a little cheaper here than in the big, sometimes international chains. If you drive a little further west, you will find the Kooyman Megastore. Have fun and end your tour of the Jan Noorduynweg in this hardware store. It’s exciting what you can find there. We were especially fascinated by the huge paint department. It’s necessary, because everywhere on the island there is colorful painting every day.

Something new in the west

On the way to Westpunt you pass the village of Tera Kora. Since summer 2023 there is a new supermarket here called “New California”. Right after the entrance you’ll find snorkeling masks, books and other useful things you might need on your vacation, as well as all kinds of nice little things. We couldn’t pass the wonderful flip-flop towel racks. I’ve always refused to buy anything like that. But I gave in and now they are part of our travel gear. Bourgeois, but practical 😉

Flip-flop towel clips in use

A bag full of good mood

The colorful and durable Albert Heijn / Van den Tweel shopping bags are with us every day when we go shopping in Germany. These sturdy shopping bags with the unique Curacao motifs are only available here. They are practical, put a smile on your face when you are packing and remind you of your vacation in everyday life.

Van den Tweel Shopping Bag with Curacao theme

Blue Curacao and Green Rum

The blue liqueur is known all over the world and gives some cocktails their turquoise color (reminiscent of the sea). Did you know that there is only one original Blue Curacao? The rest (= what you can buy in Europe) is a copy. If this is your souvenir of choice, combine it with a visit to the production site at Landhuis Chobolobo. We have dedicated a separate article to this experience. In the article “National Drink” [link to national drink] we also tell you all about Rom Berdé, the green rum. This became famous thanks to the Nettobar in Otrobanda.

Collecting and crafting

Does one of your best friends have a birthday coming up? Then why not carefully collect detached (and not bent) crown caps from the beers on Curacao that you can’t get here (Amstel & Co.). Take them with you, stick a magnet in the bottom (= cheap at Amazon), buy a magnetic board or a fancy magnetic whiteboard and give it to your friend with photos of you and of course the crown cap magnets from Curacao.

Good things take time

Do your friends enjoy gardening? Then bring an avocado stone from Curacao (= could be discarded of by customs, but we’ve never had any problems). The fruits are much bigger and tastier on Curacao than we are used to in Europe. The same goes for the seeds of the incredibly tasty cactus fruit (from Colombia), which are available fresh (in yellow) at the floating market on Curacao. Get one sliced directly at the market stall and eat it right out of your hand. A sweet refreshment while strolling through Willemstad. In Europe, you will usually find the pink variety, which is not very tasty. Rather something for friends who love the nursery, like I said.

Conclusion

Far away from the “tourist shops” near the Queen Emma Bridge, there are numerous and inexpensive possibilities for an individual souvenir.

Our highlights on every visit are and always will be Shirley’s unique beach signs, which she lovingly and artistically creates just for you. An exceptional souvenir and pure “Caribbean”.