Habaai estate, Curacao
Photographer: Lucky Ezechiëls, 1972
In the year 1659 Isaac da Costa leading a group of 80 Sephardic Jews, obtained permission to settle on Curacao. Many of them had lived in Dutch-Brazil, but in the year 1654 this Dutch colony was conquered by the Portuguese, and many Jewish settlers chose to leave. The new settlers were granted a two-mile stretch of land at the northwest side of the Schottegat. This territory has since become known as the "Jodenkwartier" (Jewish quarter). Several estates were founded, among these De Hoop, Habaai, Blenheim, and Marchena. Of these, only the Habaai estate has survived. Originally, this estate was named Welgelegen. It was renamed Habaai after a former Jewish owner of the estate. At the time of its foundation, the estate occupied a territory of 105 hectares. The main house originates around 1750. It probably had a predecessor from 1660.
Sources:
Landhuizen van Curacao en Bonaire, Dolf Huijgers & Lucky Ezechiëls, 1991