{{short description|Region of Curaçao}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Oostpunt | other_name = Land van Maal | image_skyline = File:Landhuis Klein Sint Joris, nu de plantage San Juan van Harry Maal op de Noordkus, Bestanddeelnr 252-7533.jpg | caption = Landhuis Klein Sint Joris | pushpin_map = Curaçao | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Curaçao | pushpin_label_position = right | coordinates = {{coord|12.0587|-68.7807|region:CW|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type = State | subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = Curaçao | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = Bandariba<ref name="villa">{{cite web|url=https://www.villaseashell.com/post/where-is-curacao-located |title=Where is Curaçao located|website=Villa Sea Shell|access-date=25 April 2021}}</ref> | population_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://curacaodata.cbs.cw/census-2011|title=Census 2011|website=Central Bureau of Statistics|access-date=25 April 2021|archive-date=1 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601011149/https://curacaodata.cbs.cw/census-2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> | population_as_of = 2011 | population_total = 555 | population_density_km2 = auto | area_total_km2 = 54.24 | area_footnotes = {{sfn|Buurtprofiel Oostpunt|2011|p=10}} }}
'''Oostpunt''' (also '''Land van Maal'''){{sfn|Buurtprofiel Oostpunt|2011|p=10}} is a geozone (''region'') on the island of Curaçao. It is located on the easternmost point of the island.{{sfn|Buurtprofiel Oostpunt|2011|p=10}} Since the 1870s,<ref name="road">{{cite news|url=https://curacaochronicle.com/economy/the-road-to-economic-recovery-the-oostpunt-scenario/|title="The Road To Economic Recovery, The Oostpunt Scenario"|website=Curaçao Chronicle|access-date=25 April 2021|archive-date=3 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703045548/https://curacaochronicle.com/economy/the-road-to-economic-recovery-the-oostpunt-scenario/|url-status=dead}}</ref> the area has been privately owned by the Maal family, and most of the area is off-limits,{{sfn|Buurtprofiel Oostpunt|2011|p=8}} with the exception of the villages of Oostpunt, Sint Joris, and Santa Catharina. The geozone of Oostpunt covers about 10% of the island.{{sfn|Buurtprofiel Oostpunt|2011|p=6}}
==History== Plantation Klein Sint Joris (also ''San Juan'') was founded in 1662 by Matthias Beck and is one of the oldest plantations on Curaçao.{{sfn|Buurtprofiel Oostpunt|2011|p=9}} Around 1840, Oostpunt was inhabited by 150 to 200 people, most of whom were slaves.{{sfn|Buurtprofiel Oostpunt|2011|p=8}} The Maal family, army officers from the Netherlands, arrived in Curaçao in the late 18th century<ref name="janthiel">{{cite web|url=https://janthiel.blogspot.com/2007/09/de-kwestie-maal-1.html |title=De kwestie Maal (1)|website=Jan Thiel Blogspot|access-date=25 April 2021|language=nl}}</ref> and had acquired five plantations by the 1870s. The plantations were used for agriculture, livestock, and mining,<ref name="road"/> however, the vast majority of land is pristine wilderness.{{sfn|Buurtprofiel Oostpunt|2011|p=10}}<ref name="janthiel"/> The coral reefs in Oostpunt are considered one of the best preserved reefs of the Caribbean.<ref name="reef">{{cite web|url=http://www.researchstationcarmabi.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Importance-of-Oostpunt-to-Curacao-s-Marine-resources-with-subtitles.pdf |title=CURAÇAO 1 of the 3 BEST REEFS IN THE CARIBBEAN|website=Research Station Carmabi|access-date=25 April 2021|page=13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://duiken.nl/oogstrelend-oostpunt-van-curacao/ |title=Oogstrelend, Oostpunt van Curaçao |website=Duiken.nl|access-date=25 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://repeatingislands.com/2013/07/07/curacaos-oostpunt-reef-among-the-best-in-the-caribbean/ |title=Curaçao's Oostpunt Reef among the Best in the Caribbean |website=Repeating Islands |access-date=25 April 2021 |archive-date=24 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324033054/https://repeatingislands.com/2013/07/07/curacaos-oostpunt-reef-among-the-best-in-the-caribbean/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Settlements== The village of Oostpunt is only inhabited by Willy Maal and his mother.{{sfn|Buurtprofiel Oostpunt|2011|p=24}} Sint Joris consists of a collection of houses across Landhuis Klein Sint Joris, and is mainly inhabited by locals who have been born there. Santa Catharina is a recent addition which started to develop in the 1960s, and has attracted many Dutch citizens.{{sfn|Buurtprofiel Oostpunt|2011|p=25}} There are paved roads to Sint Joris and Santa Catharina. {{As of|2011}}, the remainder of Oostpunt can only be accessed via unpaved paths with large holes.{{sfn|Buurtprofiel Oostpunt|2011|p=22}}
==National Park and Curaçao Marine Park== In 1987, the Government of Curaçao approached the Maal family to develop a conservation plan, and discuss the proposed development of a tourist resort in Oostpunt. In 1993, an area of {{convert|4400|ha}} was unilaterally declared a national park in which no development was possible.<ref name="road"/> Along the coast, the Curaçao Marine Park was announced to protect the coral reef.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.beautiful-curacao.nl/natuur/curacao-marine-park.php| title=Curaçao Marine Park|website=Beautiful Curaçao|access-date=25 April 2021}}</ref> The Maal family responded by suing the government for ƒ100 million (~US$56 million) for breach of contract.<ref name="dreigt">{{cite news|url=https://antilliaansdagblad.com/nieuws-menu/15589-schadeclaim-maal-dreigt-opnieuw |title=Schadeclaim Maal dreigt opnieuw|website=Antilliaans Dagblad|access-date=25 April 2021|language=nl}}</ref> A long legal battle followed, and the resort was built in the Bahamas instead.<ref name="road"/> On 7 June 1999, the Government of Curaçao was ordered to allow development in 50 percent of the area, and pay the Maal family ƒ20 million plus interest in damages.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dutchcaribbeanlegalportal.com/news/latest-news/5922-maal-wil-schadevergoeding-voor-niet-nakomen-afspraken-oostpunt-in-curacao |title=Maal wil schadevergoeding voor niet nakomen afspraken Oostpunt in Curacao|website=Dutch Caribbean Legal Portal|access-date=25 April 2021|language=nl}}</ref>
In 2010, the development plans of the Maal family were approved by the States of Curaçao.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.versgeperst.com/nieuws/49430/groen-licht-voor-bouwplan-oostpunt.html|title=Groen licht voor bouwplan Oostpunt|website=Versgeperst|access-date=25 April 2021|language=nl|archive-date=29 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129211833/https://www.versgeperst.com/nieuws/49430/groen-licht-voor-bouwplan-oostpunt.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="road"/> The battle is not over, because CARMABI, the national institute for protected areas, wants to prevent any development,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.researchstationcarmabi.org/reef-will-die-with-development-at-oostpunt/|title='Reef will die with development at Oostpunt'|website=Research Station Carmabi|access-date=25 April 2021|archive-date=25 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425085248/http://www.researchstationcarmabi.org/reef-will-die-with-development-at-oostpunt/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and is backed by the International Coral Reef Society, National Geographic, NOAA, and others.<ref name="reef"/> In April 2016, an attempt was made to stop the development plans using an outdated map<ref>{{cite news|url=https://knipselkrant-curacao.com/amigoe-bestemming-oostpunt-ondanks-bezwaren-ongewijzigd/ |title=Bestemming Oostpunt ondanks bezwaren ongewijzigd|website=Amigoe via Knipselkrant Curaçao|access-date=25 April 2021|language=nl}}</ref> which resulted in a threat from the Maal family to resume litigation.<ref name="dreigt"/> In December 2016, the development plans were once again approved by the States.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://knipselkrant-curacao.com/ad-maal-eindelijk-gerechtigheid/ |title=Maal: Eindelijk gerechtigheid|website=Antilliaans Dagblad via Knipselkrant Curaçao|access-date=25 April 2021|language=nl}}</ref>
==References== <references/>
==Bibliography== * {{cite web|url=https://gobiernu.cw/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Buurtprofiel_Oostpunt_.pdf |title=Buurtprofiel Oostpunt|year=2011|website=Government of Curaçao|language=nl|ref={{harvid|Buurtprofiel Oostpunt|2011}}}}
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Category:Populated places in Curaçao