The bridges of Willemstad: which to walk, drive and photograph

Getting around · 6 min read · Checked November 9, 2026

The five bridges at a glance

Queen Emma Bridge, the Swinging Old Lady

This is the bridge most visitors come to see. Locals call it the Pontjesbrug, and its nickname is the Swinging Old Lady. It is about 167 meters long and floats on 16 pontoons. It opened in 1888 and is named after Queen Emma of the Netherlands.

The plan came from Leonard Burlington Smith, the American consul on the island. A fixed bridge would have blocked the ships going in and out of the harbor, so this one is hinged on one side and swings out of the way. Cars used it until 1974. Since then it has been for people on foot only.

Crossing is free today. Between 1901 and 1934 there was a toll, and only people walking barefoot could cross without paying.

Is the bridge open after the 2026 renovation?

The bridge was towed away on 2 August 2026 for its biggest technical overhaul in twenty years. It was back in its place by 22 September 2026 for a test phase. The old diesel engines were replaced by electric drive, so it now opens almost silently. The cables, controls, lighting and parts of the wooden deck were renewed, and the historic look was kept.

When does it swing open?

There is no timetable. The bridge opens whenever a ship needs to pass, so you cannot plan for it, but you may well see it happen if you spend a morning in Punda.

A bell rings, the gates close and a flag on the operator's cabin shows what kind of opening to expect. Visitor guides describe it like this:

• Orange flag: a short opening of roughly 10 to 15 minutes, and the bridge may only swing partway.
• Blue flag: a long opening, which can take 30 minutes or more.

These descriptions come from before the renovation, so go by what you see and hear on the day.

Can you stay on the bridge while it swings?

Accounts differ. Some visitors stayed on for a short opening and rode along, and others were told to get off. Follow the staff when the gates close. If you do stay on, you cannot get off until the bridge has closed again.

How do you cross when it is open?

Free ferries carry people across St. Anna Bay when the bridge is open for more than about 10 minutes. The landings are a short walk from the bridge, about 100 meters.

Queen Juliana Bridge, the high one

You will see this one from almost everywhere in Willemstad. It rises about 56.4 meters above the water and is about 500 meters long, high enough for large ships to pass underneath. It was built partly because cars could wait up to 45 minutes on the Handelskade while the Queen Emma Bridge was open.

The building of the bridge is also a sad part of the island's history. On 6 November 1967 a section collapsed during construction, and 15 workers died. The bridge was rebuilt, opened to traffic on 2 March 1974 and officially opened on 30 April 1974.

The bridge is for motor traffic only, so you cannot walk or cycle across it. It carries four lanes of busy road, so enjoy the view from the passenger seat if you can. If you are driving, read our guide to traffic signs in Curaçao first.

The bridges over the Waaigat

The Waaigat is the small inlet between Punda and Scharloo, and it has three bridges of its own.

• Queen Wilhelmina Bridge: this 1928 bridge links the shops of Punda with the old merchant houses of Scharloo, and it carries both cars and walkers. It replaced the Van den Brandhof Bridge of 1883 and was renewed in 2005. It was built as a lift bridge. Sources disagree on whether it can still open.
• Princess Amalia Bridge: this footbridge is 26 meters long and was officially opened on 10 November 2016. It links the Waaigat car park with the round covered market, so it is handy if you park there. Its design was inspired by the old Van den Brandhof Bridge.
• L.B. Smith Bridge: a footbridge across the Waaigat from 2007.

Sources: Curaçao Chronicle (3 and 7 August and 22 September 2026), nu.cw (2 August and 22 September 2026), curacao.nu (22 September 2026), Pitane Blue (18 September 2026), Curaçao Tourist Board, Nationaal Archief Curaçao, Curaçao History, Curaçao Voor Jou, Meerdink Bruggen, Tellerrand Stories, Hole in the Donut, The Bridge Guy and Wikipedia.

Photos, all via Wikimedia Commons: cover, the Queen Emma and Queen Juliana bridges, by Bjørn Christian Tørrissen, CC BY-SA 3.0. Queen Emma Bridge by The Cosmonaut, CC BY-SA 2.5 CA. Queen Juliana Bridge by -JvL-, CC BY 2.0. Queen Wilhelmina Bridge by Pi3.124, CC BY-SA 4.0.