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Sep 6, 1499
Bonaire claimed for Spaniards
On September 6th, Alonso de Ojeda and Amerigo Vespucci arrived in Bonaire and claimed Bonaire for the Spaniards. -
1515
Rincon Village
Rincon Village is the oldest town/city still used or standing in Bonaire. In the 1500s Rincon Village was used as housing for slaves. -
1526
Cattle
Cattle were finally brought to the island after about 30 years of settlement. -
1526
Where the name Bonaire came from
The name Bonaire is thought to have originally come from the Caiquetio word 'Bonay', a name that meant low country. The early Spanish and Dutch modified their spelling to Bojnaj and also Bonaire. The French influence while present at various times never was strong enough to make the assumption that the name means 'good air'. Regardless of how the name came about, the island remained as a lonely outpost until 1526. -
Dutch Take over
In the year of 1633 Bonaire, Curacao, and Aruba were taken over by the Dutch. The largest island, Curacao, emerged as a center of the notorious slave trade. Bonaire then became a plantation island belonging to the Dutch West Indies Company. It was during those early years that the first African slaves were forced to work, cutting dyewood and cultivating maize, and harvesting solar salt. -
Back to the Dutch
Until 1816, ownership of Bonaire changed hands a number of times, finally being returned that year to the Dutch as a result of the Treaty of Paris. A small fort, Fort Oranje, was built to protect the island's main resource, salt. Salt was one commodity that Bonaire had an endless supply of, although it took back-breaking slave labor to produce it. In the early days of the industry, the most important use for salt was in the preservation of food, since refrigeration was still centuries away. -
Salt Mine
By 1837, Bonaire was a thriving center of salt production. The government, who by then controlled the industry, built four obelisks, each painted a different color, red, white, blue, and orange. -
Slavery Freed
The Emancipation Regulation freed all slaves in 1863. After that 758 slaves were released on Bonaire. -
Dutch Take Possession
By 1636 the Dutch had taken possession of the island after being in Bonaire before. -
Construction of a Modern Airport
Tourism was born when the island government constructed the first ship's pier in the harbor. It allowed cruise ships to tie up alongside the wharf and discharge passengers. It also made it easier to bring in goods and supplies for the island's residents. Hotels began to spring up and cater to the early visitors who enjoyed the tranquility of Bonaire. In 1943, the construction of a modern airport south of Kralendijk made it even easier for tourists to reach the island.