Michel Wilhelm Nuboer (1916-1980) left Paramaribo in 1941/42 as an Assistant in the engine’s department of a freight ship bound to Curaçao during the Second World War. The ship may have likely been carrying aluminum aggregates for making fighter planes in the U.S. as cargo. Upon arrival, he probably was a gunner first, but then became a Medical Assistant stationed on Bonaire. During the 1960s - 1974+ he was a First Aid Medical Trainer in the Volunteer Corps Curaçao (VKC). On August 21st , 1969, Michel Wilhelm Nuboer received the Order of Orange-Nassau (no. 122) from Her Majesty the Queen.
WWII Heritage in the Dutch Caribbean
The impact of World War II reached far beyond the battlefields of Europe and the Pacific. Even the Caribbean, thousands of miles away from the front lines, was deeply affected. For the Dutch Caribbean islands, including Curaçao, Aruba, and Bonaire, the war left a legacy that shaped the region’s economic, political, and social landscape. This legacy is an important part of our shared heritage—one that deserves to be remembered, explored, and understood.
As part of the public history project ‘Guera na Kòrsou?!’ (War in Curaçao?!), the National Archives of Curaçao organized in 2015 a thought-provoking lecture series that brought this lesser-known chapter of global history into focus. Through the voices of local experts, historians, and invited guests, the lectures shed light on various aspects of the wartime experience in the Dutch Caribbean—ranging from the presence of internment camps and submarine attacks, to legal shifts in the economy and the arrival of American troops on the islands.
This website is not only a tribute to the past, but also a call to recognize the enduring influence of World War II on the identity, memory, and development of the islands. By preserving and sharing this knowledge, we acknowledge that the stories of war are not only those of combat, but also of resilience, change, and community—making them a vital part of our cultural heritage.
