
Treasure of History
Plantation house “Rooi Catootje”, located in one of Curaçao’s busiest residential areas, does not instantly catch one’s eye. Set back from the road, surrounded by a wooded area, it is passed daily by many who do not realize that the house and its collection represent a unique historical monument. Not only for Curaçao, but also for the Caribbean.
Dating from about 1735 the mansion was built on the plantation known as “Rust en Vrede” (Rest & Peace). The name was changed into “Rooi Catootje” around 1830.
The house and plantation have been owned by the Maduro family since 1853, when S.E.L. Maduro (Manchi) bought it as a gift for his wife Rebecca Curiel. That is how Rooi Catootje became the family’s country residence.