Obelisks on Bonaire

In the 19th century, more than 50,000 tons of salt were scraped from the salt pans of Bonaire by African slaves. This enormous mass of salt was transported to the Netherlands by hundreds of salt ships. Naturally, these ships needed to know exactly where to drop anchor along the southern coast of Bonaire. For this purpose, the Dutch erected four beacons (maritime obelisks) in 1837: a red, blue, white, and orange obelisk. These represented the colors of the Dutch flag and the royal family. The stone obelisks are needle-shaped and over 10 meters tall!

Orange obelisk with slave huts in the background.

Four Zones

For logistical purposes, the salt pans in the south of Bonaire were divided into four zones by the Dutch West India Company (WIC): the red pan, the blue pan (Saliña Abou), the white pan (Kabayé), and the orange pan. At the red pan stood a red-colored, needle-shaped obelisk and a tall flagpole. A red, blue, white, or orange flag would be hoisted here, so ship captains would know exactly at which salt pan to collect the salt—whether it was the red, blue, white, or orange pan. The design of these maritime markers on Bonaire is unique in the world. The orange obelisk was once largely swallowed by the rough Caribbean Sea during a heavy storm, but fortunately, the monument was fully restored in 2007.

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Rated: 9.4

Belnem House Bonaire

Personal Tip!

Planning to visit the obelisks on Bonaire? Then Belnem House Bonaire is a fantastic place to spend your vacation. From your apartment or suite, just turn left and you'll reach the colorful obelisks in no time. We stayed at Belnem House during our trip and would love to return. It’s a small-scale accommodation with a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere — perfect for anyone looking to truly unwind! Our suite wasn’t just beautifully decorated, it also had super comfortable beds. Every morning, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast on our private patio. In short, Belnem House Bonaire has everything you need for an unforgettable stay. More info & booking

Ernst Hellmund

Until 1792, the Dutch West India Company (WIC) controlled the salt pans. From that point on, the coral island came under British rule for a while, but in 1816 Bonaire once again became Dutch territory. However, in 1863 slavery was abolished, and the exploitation of Bonaire’s salt pans became barely profitable. At a certain point, the salt pans were therefore sold to Ernst Hellmund. He kept the salt industry alive until the 1920s. After that, he sold the salt pans to another entrepreneur, who managed to keep the business going until the 1950s.

Red obelisk.

Cargill

In the 1960s, the American company International Salt gained control over the salt pans. Later, the Dutch company Akzo Nobel took over, and today the American-Canadian company Cargill harvests 500,000 tons of salt annually from the salt flats of the Caribbean island. Modern ships can be loaded with up to 50,000 tons of salt. Thanks to modern communication tools, navigation equipment, and a large loading pier at sea, the distinctive obelisks have lost their original function.

As of 2025, salt is still being produced on Bonaire.The Governor’s House.

Also read:

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• Discover Kralendijk, the colorful capital of Bonaire!

• Snorkeling and the Best Snorkeling Spots on Bonaire!