Scuba Lodge & Ocean Suites (2022)

Where heritage and hospitality go hand in hand...

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Curaçao

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16. Tugboat

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17. Barbara Beach

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11. Daaibooi

18. Scuba Lodge House

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12. Vaersenbaai / Kokomo

Reef / City Beach 88

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6. Lagun

13. Superior Producer (wreck)

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7. Santa Cruz

14. Seaquarium

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1. Playa Kalki

8. Blue Room

15. Jan Thiel

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2. Playa Piscado

9. Cas Abao

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3. Knip

10. Porto Marie

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4. Knip Chikitu

Dive sites:

5. Jeremi

Welcome to Scuba Lodge!

Curaçao, Dutch Caribbean

Scuba Lodge is a small boutique hotel known for its personal service and gorgeous individually decorated rooms. It’s located in the Pietermaai District, a historic neighborhood known for its stunning Dutch colonial architecture, right next to the ocean, and in the city center of Willemstad.

Many tourist attractions can be found within walking distance including the Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge, The Handelskade, Plasa Bieu (Old Market), and the floating market.

All 28 rooms and 11 apartments are located in historic buildings that are rich with character and architectural detail, providing you with a timeless setting for your Caribbean getaway.

The accommodations all have unique historical features and a modern interior. In-room amenities include flat-screen TVs, coffee & tea making facilities, a minifridge and a safe. Several rooms are equipped with a kitchenette, a small terrace, or a private balcony. Ask us about our different rooms and special views.

From Brothel to Boutique Hotel At the beginning of the 18th century, Punda became crowded so people started to move outside of the city walls. Mayor Pieter de Meij (hence the name, Pietermaai) had already built a few first houses here in the late 17th century and as soon as the city walls were torn down around 1850, the district flourished with residential estates, theaters, and restaurants. Pietermaai soon became a vibrant area inhabited by entrepreneurs, artists and musicians.

But this wouldn’t last.

Because of the invention of the automobile, areas with cheaper land prices became more accessible.

In 1915, Royal Dutch Shell established an oil refinery on Curaçao and started building houses for its employees

Ad to announce the moving of K&E/CPV Advertising from Pietermaai 92 to 102 (1973)

in different parts of the island. Pietermaai became a run down neighborhood inhabited by homeless people and dominated by criminals, prostitutes, and drug users.

Efforts by the government, entrepreneurs, and determined residents have transformed the once crumbling Pietermaai District into the most exciting, colorful and creative neighborhood on

Looking for girl, day and night (1945)

the island. Many of the old buildings have been renovated and restored and converted into hotels, apartments, restaurants and bars.

The result is an amazing blend of traditional architecture with a fresh feel. Plus, the vibrant character of the old days is back!

Throughout the years, Scuba Lodge’s own five buildings have been restored with careful respect for the original characteristics and in perfect harmony with its surroundings.

Back in the day, Pietermaai was run-down and sketchy. We were on good terms with everyone so our guests were never bothered but it’s great to see how the neighborhood has flourished.”

Ms. Swinda Dap.

Painting by Matheus Petrus Nikolaas Meijer, resident of Pietermaai 104 (1958)

For sale: Pietermaai 98 (1994)

The Lodge Pietermaai 104 | Build in 1865

In the 1980s, Pietermaai 104 was abandoned and gradually began to deteriorate.

The building belonged to Jopie Dap, who used to rent out the rooms until he and his family moved to The Netherlands. He had asked his siblings on Curaçao to sell the property for him but they had a hard time finding a seller for the building that had lost all of its charm. The building was officially vacant but homeless people tend to stay in it.

It was Jopie’s brother Silvio Dap, who always had a keen interest in architecture and construction, who came up with the idea to restore their brother’s building and open up a hotel. In 1991, seven siblings of the Dap family decided to go into business together. They bundled their strength and skills to fix up The Lodge.

On January 25th, 1992, the family Dap opened hotel Buona Sera Inn at Pietermaai 104. Back then, the

I was born at Pietermaai 104 in 1961. I lived here together with my parents and my sisters before moving to the Penstraat. At age 8, we emigrated to the United States.

Many years later, my wife and I spent our honeymoon at Scuba Lodge. It gave me goosebumps when I first stepped back into the house after >40 years” Mr. Paul Meijer

hotel consisted of just 8 rooms but the family had plans to build an oceanfront restaurant and to add another 7 rooms above the restaurant.

Today, the Lodge consists of the hotel’s front desk and 13 rooms. The first 12 rooms are all standard rooms. In 2016, room #15 was upgraded after a spacious, private balcony overlooking the ocean was added. The private balcony overlooks the ocean and the infinity pool and is the ideal spot to watch cruise ships depart.

Two oceanview rooms for rent. GREAT SERVICE (1960)

Shared balcony

The Merchants Villa Pietermaai 102

Ever since its building in the 1800s, the Merchants Villa has served both as a residential home and a commercial property.

Since 2015, it’s been fully operational as part of Scuba Lodge.

On April 18th, 1948, Andre Theodoor was born at

Pietermaai 102 A. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Posthumus Meyjes-Reigersman posted an announcement of his birth in local newspaper Amigoe.

In 1966, the Merchants Villa was put up for sale. In 1970, Dr. T.H.A. Bierman turned it into a doctor’s office and

received his patients here.

‘In the 70s, otolaryngologist Dr. E.R. Haverman worked from The Merchants Villa where he treated people with ears, nose, and throat problems.

Fast forward to the beginning of the 21st century.

While Scuba Lodge has guests staying in Pietermaai 100 (The Presidents Home) and Pietermaai 104 (The Lodge), the Merchants Villa in between was empty and abandoned, its sagging steps blocked so people wouldn’t try to climb its once-stately front façade.

Since July 2015, the Merchant Villa’s elegant doors have been wide open, thanks to the herculean effort from a team of contractors who got the massive renovation project done without the building losing its original character.

Ear, Nose & Throat Specialist out of office till January 22nd (1973)

For sale: Mansion (1966).

‘Practice resumes (1968)

Did you know…

Several of our longterm employees still remember what the Merchants Villa used to look like before the renovations started!

The Presidents Home Pietermaai 100 | Build in 1848

The Presidents Home was built in 1848 on a narrow but deep plot in between Pietermaai and the ocean. What makes this building unique are the lacework sawed out panels of the covered balcony against the façade. Only a few examples of such sawed-out woodwork, called ‘a jour’ (cutwork), have been preserved in Curaçao.

The Presidents Home consists of two suites; one on the main floor featuring two bedrooms, and one on the first floor featuring three bedrooms. Depending on your needs, you can connect the entire main floor or ground floor as a whole.

In 1848, Jacob Abraham Jesurun bought a parcel of land and built a house on it, the current Pietermaaiweg 100. Three years later, in 1851, the house was bought at an auction by Samuel da Costa Gomez. He sold the house in 1884 to Jozef Willebrordus Christiaan Boom, who paid Nafl. 10,000.-, a considerable sum in those days.

Boom remained the owner until 1900, when the premises were auctioned off and bought by Johannes Anthony Bernardus Weeber for Nafl 6,100.-. Boom owned more real estate in Pietermaai that was also bought

by Weeber at that same auction: Pietermaaiweg 80 and 82, which yielded Nafl 4,200.- and Nafl 1,000.- respectively. Boom himself

My family, the Beaujon family, lived in Pietermaai 100 for decades. I spent much of my youth in this house with my grandparents, Hensey and Menita Beaujon.

The house remained in our family until 1990 when it was eventually sold.”

Carine Timmers.

had had houses built there after the acquisition of two parcels of land in 1871. Weeber bequeathed Pietermaaiweg 100 and his other houses in Pietermaai in 1903 to his son Leon Victor. Pietermaaiweg 100 was appraised at Nafl. 5,000.at the partition of the estate. Leon Weeber did not live in the house himself, but rented it to Elias Moreno Brandao. Weeber Jr. sold the premises in 1930 to the former governor of Saint Martin, Richard Johannes (Hensi) Beaujon Jr. Afterwards his son, serviceman Jan Jacob (Japa) Beaujon,

who has been the governor of Saint Martin from 1959 till 1968, became the owner. The Beaujon family held ownership till 1990. In 1994, the house was thororughly renovated.

These suites are perfect for a large family or couples travelling together. It offers privacy and comfort but also enough space for everyone to come together to enjoy a meal or drinks.

Amigoe Newsletter (1968)

Previous owners: 1848 – Jacob Abraham Jesurum 1851 – Samuel da Costa Comez 1884 – Jozef Willebrordus Christian Boom 1900 – Johannes Anthony Bernardus Weeber 1930 –Richard Johannes (Hensi) Beaujon Jr., followed by Jan Jacob (Japa) Beaujon

Governors Residence Pietermaai 98 | Build in 1897 At Pietermaai 98, what immediately catches the attention is the positioning of the house on the parcel; not aligned with the neighboring buildings, but significantly placed backwards. The date of the building, 1897, is mentioned in a beautifully

decorated oval medallion with two doves holding a shield in the tympanum over the façade.

In 1896, a year before the Governors Residence was built, Willem Coenraad Abraham Evertsz bought a double parcel (Pietermaai 96-98) from Eliza Guilhoux, the widow of Willem Pieter Maal. A mistake was made in the deed of transfer; only Pietermaai 96 was in his name, Pietermaai

I remember playing in this house as a young boy. My mom actually got married in this house. There used to be a wall between the ocean and the house and I would have to stand on my toes to be able to look out over the sea. Setting foot here today brings back so many memories.”

Joop Plu (2017).

98 was not. It wasn’t until 1907, that this mistake was corrected in a ‘deed of rectification’. In the meantime, Evertsz had already built a house on the parcel.

After his passing, his widow Catharina Elisabeth Hoyer sold both premises to Jacob Cardoze in 1914, who bestowed the houses that very same year on his daughter Belinda, married to Julio Cohen Henriquez. In both these deeds from 1914, the name of the house is mentioned: ‘Venus’.

In 1928, Belinda sold Pietermaai 96 to Ernesto Juacinto Rozendal.

This is the former parental house

of S.G.M. ‘Boy’ Rozendal, who was prime minister of the Netherlands Antilles from 1977 to 1979. Belinda sold Pietermaai 98 to Jozef Henriquez, his family kept the building until 1994. The next owner, Dignus Robert Nagelkerke, sold the house within a year to the next owner who restored the building in 19971998 and furnished four apartments in it.

Pietermaai 98 has a symmetrically set up façade with quoins, a triangular fronton, a balcony on Tuscan columns and curved frames of the fanlights over the doors.

Previous owners: Eliza Guilhoux, widow of Willem Pieter Maal 1897 – Coenraad Abraham Everts 1914 – Jacob Cardoze and his daughter Belinda 1928 - Jozef Henrique 1994 - Dignus Robert Nagelkerke

Executive Mansion Pietermaai 96 | Build in 1865 In 1928, Ernesto Juacinto Rozendal bought the building at Pietermaai 96.

This building is the former parental house of S.G.M. ‘Boy’ Rozendal, who was prime minister of the Netherlands Antilles from 1977 to 1979!

In 2017, we were able to open six new hotel rooms in Pietermaai 96. After months of hard work, the historic building had been fully renovated and converted into three superior rooms (equipped with a kitchenette) and three superior deluxe rooms (equipped with a kitchenette and private balcony or terrace).

Newspaper advertisement for Spanish lessons (1946)

For sale: Bedroom furniture.

Previous owners: 1897 - Coenraad Abraham Evertsz 1914 - Jacob Cardoze and his daughter Belinda (spouse of Julio Cohen Hendriquez) 1928 - Ernesto Juacinto Rozendal (father of ‘Boy’Rozendal, prime minister of the Netherlands Antilles from 1977 to 1979.)

For sale: 7-room house at sea

Executive Mansion Pietermaai 96A

Behind Pietermaai 96, facing the ocean, you will find Pietermaai 96A. This building consists of three 2-bedroom apartments. Each of these apartments feature two spacious bedrooms with air-conditioning and private bathrooms, a living area offering all the comforts of home, a fully equipped kitchen, a guest toilet, and a laundry room.

The three suites all have their own private terrace or balcony from which spectacular ocean views can be enjoyed. Even when it’s sunny outside, the ocean breeze keeps the indoor areas cool. From the balcony, you can step into the living room where you’ll find an open-plan, beautifully decorated area designed for relaxation and togetherness.

The suite on the ground floor is just steps away from the small sandy beach area. Comfortable pool beds complete this area, making it ideal for relaxing.

There is a staircase here that leads into the ocean. Guests are literally steps away from both the pool and the ocean.

Did you know...

That

Scuba Lodge opened its doors in

2008 and started with just

14 rooms?

That

Scuba Lodge now consists of

hotel rooms

and 11 apartments?

That we have

many different

room types ranging from standard hotel rooms to luxury apartments with a private balcony overlooking the ocean?

UNESCO World Heritage Sites?

That no two rooms are the same?

They all have their own atmosphere and unique character.

That all of our rooms are non-smoking rooms?

That our check-in time is at 3pm and our check-out time is at 12pm?

That we have two swimming pools on-site?

That we’ve been awarded

‘Best Apartment & Small Hotel’ on Curaçao for 4 consecutive years?

That you can pick up

beach towels at our front desk?

That Scuba Lodge Dive Center is the first

PADI

5-Star

IDC Resort in the Pietermaai District?

That

Scuba Lodge

is listed in the top 3 hotels in Curaçao on TripAdvisor?

Scuba Lodge & Ocean Suites is located in five historic buildings and consists of 28 rooms and 11 apartments. We have four different types of hotel rooms; »» »» »» »» »»

Standard rooms Superior rooms Deluxe rooms city view Deluxe rooms ocean view Zeelandia suite

Standard Rooms

Superior Rooms

Superior Deluxe Rooms

Superior Deluxe Ocean Rooms

All rooms are equipped with a king-size bed, a modern bathroom with rain shower, air conditioning and a fan, a mini-fridge, coffee & tea making facilities, and a safe. If you prefer more space and comfort during your stay with us, we can also offer you rooms with kitchenettes, private terraces, or even private balconies overlooking the ocean and our infinity pool.

Our apartments with one, two, and three bedrooms offer space, luxury, and comfort. Our apartments will allow you to enjoy all the conveniences of a hotel and at the same time you will have a secluded and quiet place to relax and enjoy your holiday.

The apartments are ideal for couples, families, or groups of friends, but also for solo travelers who prefer a spacious apartment over a hotel room. All bedrooms have air conditioning and their own private bathroom.

After a renovation and rebranding in 2020, Scuba Lodge’s oceanfront restaurant reopened under a new name—De Heeren @ sea (‘The Gentlemen at Sea.’) From early in the morning till late in the evening, tourists and residents are welcome for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks. We serve a variety of dishes for all tastes and food preferences. Plus, our chefs can customize our menu offerings to meet your dietary needs.

Take a seat at one of the tables on the beach area where you can curl your toes into the sand, sit down at one of the tables on our covered patio, or pick a spot inside. From all tables, you will be able to take in the gorgeous ocean views and refreshing breezes.

Reservations are recommended, especially when you don’t want to miss the sunset. Call (+5999) 465-2575 to reserve your table or ask one of our staff for assistance.

Scuba Lodge Dive Center is the first PADI 5-Star IDC Resort in the Pietermaai District. This means that we are trained and held to the highest standards of PADI— the largest diving organization in the world.

Our award-winning team consists of PADI Course Directors and professional Dive Instructors, whom all know the underwater world of Curaçao like the back of their hands. The team is multilingual, highly skilled, and dedicated to providing a friendly, professional, safe, and fun dive experience.

Whether you’re an experienced diver, or if it’s your first time exploring the underwater world, you will be in good hands.

Contact diving@scubalodge.com for more information about scuba diving and/or snorkeling trips or courses. You can also contact us to rent equipment or make reservations.

A chat with

Filippini Owner of Scuba Lodge & Ocean Suites

Back in 1991, Bas Filippini (1965) first set foot in a country that would eventually become his ‘home away from home’. Aside from the pleasant temperatures, Filippini was immediately charmed

by Curaçao’s laid back atmosphere. He repeatedly came back to the island but it wasn’t until 2007, 16 years after his first visit, that he purchased a building in the Pietermaai District. Fast forward to 2018, and Filippini owns the buildings between P i eter m a a i 80-106.

Was it always a dream for you to have your own boutique hotel?

“No, I had never envisioned myself to be a hotel owner.

I also never would have told you, ‘I hope to own multiple historic buildings in Curaçao one day.’ But these opportunities found their way onto my path and it has just kind of lead me into this.”

Why did you purchase a hotel without previous hospitality experience?

“I was actually interested in buying the adjacent building next to Scuba Lodge. However, the owners told me that they would only sell it to me if I would also buy their hotel. Although hesitant at first, I eventually decided to take a leap into the unknown. That’s how I became the owner of an intimate divers hotel with 15 rooms. At this point in time, I didn’t know much about the hospitality industry but my experience as manager and entrepreneur helped me envision a future for Scuba Lodge. Today, I can tell you that the world of hospitality is vibrant, lively, and always interesting!”

What are the main changes you have made at Scuba Lodge, and how have these changes influenced operations?

Scuba Lodge has grown from just one building in 2008 to five buildings in 2018. Instead of 15 hotel rooms, we now have 28 hotel rooms consisting of four different room types, and 11 apartments. We can now welcome larger families and groups of friends who like to travel together but appreciate their privacy.

In your opinion, what is the single best quality your employees can possess?

“It is my expectation for our team that we take a sincere interests in our guests. After all, without them, there is no need for us to be around. As a small boutique hotel, we can offer our guests a personal homey feel you won’t get from a chain hotel. We address and refer to our guests by their name and not their room number.”

Business wise, what puts a smile on your face?

“Whenever our team comes up with an innovative idea.

We’re a small boutique hotel but we strive to be big in terms of local involvement and development.

In January 2017, we were the first hotel on the island to launch a dollar-a- night program. For every night a room or apartment is occupied, Scuba Lodge donates one dollar to a local charity who strive to make the island better, greener or more desirable to visitors. Our staff selected two charities and they ask each one of our guests which of these two foundations they would like to support. Our guests will not just look back on a memorable stay in Curaçao,

but they will leave knowing that they have made a positive difference to the local community.”

What do you envision for the future of Scuba Lodge?

“Continuing to provide each guest with the personalized experience that we have become known for whilst investing in our staff, the local community, and environment. We are already actively working to go green and be more environment-friendly. Scuba Lodge is a work in progress and I still come up with new plans and dreams every day.”

Are you, personally, a difficult hotel guest?

“My eye is trained to criticize every detail and to pick up on every flaw. But I very rarely complain, even when it’s warranted.

I would rather learn from these experiences and observations and use them to improve Scuba Lodge and the services that we offer our guests.”

If you could pass on a message to the hospitality industry about Curaçao, what would it be?

“Sandy beaches, turquoise waters and year-round sunshine may come to mind when thinking of Curaçao.

But what not everyone knows is that this small island is big on culture and history. There’s so much to explore and discover, Curaçao is the perfect vacation destination for young and old alike!”

Scuba Lodge has grown from just one building in 2008 to five buildings in 2018.

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Scuba Lodge & Ocean Suites Pietermaai 104, Willemstad, Curaçao +5999 465-2575 www.scubalodge.com info@scubalodge.com

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