WILLEMSTAD – Plantation house Rif Sint Marie has officially been designated as a protected monument, the government announced through the Ministry of Traffic, Transport and Urban Planning (VVRP). The monument status applies not only to the main plantation house, but also to the surrounding outbuildings and other associated structures on the site.
With the designation now in effect, a legal obligation exists to preserve the property and to handle the historic site with due care. Although the landhuis is currently in a state of disrepair, the designation is seen as an important step toward safeguarding the heritage and enabling future restoration efforts.
The official documents related to the monument status are available for public inspection from today through March 16, 2026, at the Spatial Planning and Development Office (ROP). Interested parties may consult the documents on weekday mornings. Those who disagree with the decision have a six-week period to file an objection or lodge an appeal.
Plantage Rif Sint Marie is among the oldest plantations on Curaçao, with origins dating back to the 17th century, when the area was developed under the West India Company. The current landhuis was built around 1840 and is regarded as a significant, yet vulnerable, element of Curaçao’s cultural and architectural heritage.
The government says the designation underscores the importance of protecting historically valuable sites and ensuring that future development respects Curaçao’s past.
