Story of Bonaire

The Caquetio people arrived on Bonaire by canoe from the South American mainland around 1000 AD. They called the island "Bonay" and lived in small settlements along the coast, fishing and farming. The petroglyphs they carved into the limestone caves at Boca Onima, depicting animals, human figures, and geometric shapes, remain one of the most important archaeological sites in the Caribbean.

Salt was Bonaire's white gold. From the 16th century onward, the salt pans at Pekelmeer in the south of the island produced some of the finest solar salt in the Caribbean. Enslaved people were forced to work the pans under brutal conditions, and the salt was shipped to Europe and the Americas. The iconic white salt mountains and the brightly colored obelisks that guided ships into the harbor still stand as monuments to this era.

The history of slavery on Bonaire is a painful but essential part of the island's story. Enslaved Africans were brought to work the salt pans and plantations, but they never surrendered their spirit. They resisted — through escape, through preserving their language and culture, through the rhythms that would later become tumba and kompas. The small huts near the salt pans, barely taller than a person, were the only shelter granted to enslaved salt workers. Today, Bonaire honors this heritage through its music, festivals, and the enduring strength of its community.

"Kunuku" is the Papiamentu word for the countryside — the rural land outside Kralendijk where generations of Bonaireans have lived off the land. A traditional kunuku is more than a farm. It's a way of life: growing aloe, maize, and sorghum, raising goats and donkeys, catching rainwater in cisterns, and living by the rhythm of the sun. The kunuku represents independence, resilience, and deep connection to the soil. To this day, tending a kunuku is a source of pride and identity for many Bonairean families.

Rincon is Bonaire's oldest village, tucked into a valley in the north of the island. Founded in the early 16th century by the Spanish, it became a refuge — its inland location made it harder for pirates and raiders to reach than the coastal settlements. For centuries Rincon was the heart of Bonairean culture, where the Papiamentu language flourished and traditional music and dance were preserved. Every year on April 30th, the village celebrates Dia di Rincon, drawing visitors from across the island for a day of music, food, and pride in the oldest settlement on Bonaire.

Modern Bonaire is a special municipality of the Netherlands with a population of over 24,000, drawn from more than 75 nationalities. Tourism, diving, and salt production drive the economy. The island is a world-renowned destination for windsurfing and scuba diving, with protected marine parks and the famous flamingo sanctuary at Pekelmeer. Yet beneath the modern surface, the old ways endure: neighbors still greet each other with "kon ta bai?", the kompas still plays at celebrations, and the kunuku still feeds those who work it. Bonaire's story is still being written — by every person who calls this island home.