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.
Remembering the war: The 2015 exhibition ‘Guera na Kòrsou – Curaçao at war’
In 2015, the Curaçao museum hosted the powerful and widely visited exhibition “Guera na Kòrsou – Curaçao at War”, a landmark event in the island’s remembrance of World War II. Opened in the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands, the exhibition offered a deep and multifaceted look at Curaçao’s wartime experience.
Watch the video about the opening on NOS.nl
Through four central themes, the exhibition told the story of how the global conflict impacted the island:
- Tribute to the war victims – Honoring the memory of those who lost their lives during the war, both on the island and abroad.
- Defending our island – Exploring how Curaçao was protected during wartime, including the presence of foreign troops and coastal defense.
- Life goes on – Highlighting how daily life continued under wartime conditions, showing the resilience and adaptability of the local population.
- Money and power entangled in war – Revealing how global economic interests and wartime politics influenced Curaçao’s strategic importance.
The exhibition drew many visitors, including numerous school groups, who came to learn about this often-overlooked chapter of local and global history. Guera na Kòrsou served not only as an educational experience but also as a meaningful tribute to the island’s role in a world at war—ensuring that the stories and lessons of the past are not forgotten.
