Many people may have seen the term Blue Curaçao on bottles of liquor or blue syrup in bars and cafes, but few know that Curaçao is the name of a country—a small island in the Caribbean Sea, written in Thai as กือราเซา (Curaçao). Earlier this year, this country qualified for the World Cup for the first time.
The island’s name became known on bottles thanks to the orange. About 500 years ago, Spanish explorers brought orange seedlings to plant on the island. However, due to the hot, dry climate, the oranges became bitter and inedible. The islanders called this fruit "Laraha." Over time, people discovered that its dried peel had a fragrant aroma, so they soaked it in alcohol to make a liqueur. The liqueur was named after the island, and the blue color was added later.
Curaçao is located south of the Caribbean Sea, about 65 kilometers off the coast of Venezuela. It covers 444 square kilometers, smaller than Phuket Island. According to Curaçao’s Central Statistics Office, as of January 2025, its population was about 156,115. The capital, Willemstad, is famous for its brightly painted Dutch-style buildings lining the harbor, in a historic district designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
The island was originally inhabited by the Arawak indigenous people before Spanish ships arrived in 1499. However, the Dutch were the longest-standing settlers, taking control in 1634. Within a few decades, the port became a Dutch slave trade hub in the Caribbean. Many Africans were brought here before being sold on to Spanish colonies.
On August 17, 1795, a slave named Tula led a major uprising. He was captured and executed in October of the same year. The slavery system persisted for nearly 70 more years until its abolition in 1863. Today, Curaçaoans commemorate freedom on August 17, the day Tula rose up, rather than on July 1, which the Netherlands observes as abolition day.
After being part of the Netherlands Antilles for a long time, on October 10, 2010, Curaçao became a self-governing country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with the Dutch monarch as head of state. The Dutch government manages defense and foreign affairs. The official languages are Papiamentu, Dutch, English, as well as French and Arawak. Notably, Papiamentu is a language that developed about 300 years ago, blending Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, and African languages.
In football, Curaçao drew 0-0 with Jamaica in November 2025 and qualified for the World Cup for the first time. Guinness World Records recognized them as the nation with the smallest population ever to play in a World Cup, breaking Iceland’s previous record. The team is coached by 78-year-old Dutch head coach Dick Advocaat. Of the 26 players, all were born in the Netherlands except for Tahith Chong, a former Manchester United prospect born on the island.
In a fictional world, Curaçao might have succeeded at the 2026 World Cup, but in reality, it was different. Curaçao lost their opening match 1-7 to Germany, then held Ecuador to a 0-0 draw in the second match, with Eloy Room making 15 saves to secure their first ever World Cup point. In the final group match, they lost 0-2 to Ivory Coast, finishing last in their group with just 1 point.