Rincon (Rincón) (12˚15 'north latitude and 68˚19' west longitude) is the oldest village of Bonaire and is located in the north-west of the island in a kind of valley. Rincon is also the oldest village of the former Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. The first Spaniards built this settlement at the beginning of the 16th century to stay out of sight of pirates. The Spanish colonists had the administrative management of the coral island in Rincon. The Spanish settlers discovered Bonaire in 1499. Rincon was founded by them in 1527.
Rincón, the oldest village on Bonaire.
From the hills of Rincon you have both a view on the eastern side and the western side of the Caribbean Sea. In this way, a surprise attack by Dutch, French and English naval forces on Rincon was impossible. The name Rincon means 'corner' in Spanish. The village is located in the corner of the rolling valley and has more than 1,800 inhabitants.
Tip!Want to Drive a Scenic Route from Kralendijk to Rincón?
We always take the west coast route to Rincón, as it’s one of the most beautiful drives on the island. Along the way, you’ll pass stretches where the road runs close to the sea, offering breathtaking views. One of the highlights is the area near 1000 Steps Beach, which is absolutely stunning. Continue driving all the way to Goto Lake—a spectacular sight in itself—and then follow the road towards Rincón. Along the way, you’ll often spot pelicans and flamingos, a truly magical experience!
The village has a real center. This is unique in the region. Most (early) settlements on the islands of the Caribbean archipelago do not really have a center. Rincon is the only village on Bonaire that has not grown against Kralendijk and so the Caribbean island actually has only two residential areas: Kralendijk with its suburbs and Rincon.
Because Rincon has such a long and eventful history and the village has a lot of old traditions, festivities and customs, it is called the cultural center of the island. Rincon has its own flag and national anthem.
In the center of Rincon you’ll find the traditional Cadushy Distillery. This is the only place in the world where liqueur is made from cacti. Visitors can see the production process and, of course, taste the different liqueurs. There are various types of liqueurs, each named after Caribbean islands: Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Sint Eustatius, and Saba. Additionall, there is a special orange liqueur called "Orange."
If you're in Rincón you absolutely must visit Cadushy Distillery. During our visit we had the chance to taste their liqueur. This special and unique liqueur is truly delicious!
Rincon lies in a valley and is embedded in beautiful hills. This makes it possible to have breathtaking views of the village from certain places in the hills. For example, if you drive via the Kaya Para Mira - this is the road from the Gotomeer - to Rincon, it is best to park your car along the side of the road to enjoy the unbelievably beautiful view you have on Rincon. 'Para Mira' is Papiamento and means 'stop and watch'.
Beautiful view over Rincón.
If you drive from the northern tourist route (the beautiful one-way road along the west coast) to Rincon, you pass at a certain point with the sign 'Altamira Unjo'. It is very worthwhile to turn right here and get via the sandy path to a great vantage point within ten minutes. At the viewpoint there are several stone benches where you can sit and enjoy Rincon and its beautiful surroundings for a long time. Especially in clear weather the view here is fantastic.
In Rincon there are two churches: the Roman Catholic St. Ludovicus Bertrandus church from 1907 and the Protestant church dating back to 1934.
The Protestant Church of Rincón.
Next to the St. Ludovicus Bertrandus Church is the so-called Cocari complex. The Cocari complex consists of three historic school buildings and a former convent (monastery). Since 2012 they have started restoring this beautiful complex. Eventually a multifunctional Care and Service Center will be housed in the Cacari complex.
Furthermore the village has a real pilgrimage place in the form of a small cave with a statue of Mary: the Gruta di Lourdes. A beautiful statue of the Virgin Mary is placed in the half overhanging cave. This sacred place underlines once again that religion on Bonaire plays a prominent role in society.
The serene village contains a number of historic buildings that are worth a visit, such as the Kas Krioyo Rincon (an authentic Bonairian house and also the oldest house of Rincon) and the Magasina di Rei (the second oldest building in Bonaire) dating back to 1824 that served as a storage place). The Kas Krioyo Rincon can also be viewed from inside. In addition there is a monument in the center of Rincon in the form of a statue of the statesman Julio Antonio Abraham.
St. Ludovicus Bertrandus Church.
The Dutch also brought slaves during the West India Company's time. The men worked in the salt pans during the week and the women and children had to work on the plantations. This makes Rincon the oldest slave village in the former Netherlands Antilles. The current inhabitants of Rincon are still directly from the former slave community and are called Rinconeans or Rinconero's.
Rincón has excellent groundwater due to the presence of freshwater springs, which have supported local agricultural development. The first drilling for Rincón’s two freshwater springs took place in 1898. These two springs, located just outside Rincón, were named "Dos Pos" (English: "two wells"). Water from these sources was used to irrigate the plantations, but the people of Rincón also depended on Dos Pos for their drinking water. The water was carried back to the village in buckets balanced on the head—a walk of about an hour. It was used for drinking, cooking, and laundry.
In 1940 a windmill was added to help pump the water to the surface. It wasn’t until 1949 that the people of Rincón no longer needed to rely on Dos Pos for their water supply. Today, a lush green oasis of plants—including palm trees and coconut trees—has grown around Dos Pos, attracting a variety of birds, reptiles, and other wildlife.
In 2014 the Water and Energy Company Bonaire (WEB) restored the historic water mill. That year WEB celebrated 50 years of providing water and electricity to Bonaire and the restoration of the historic water mill was one of the celebratory initiatives.
Rincón has a beautiful location.
There is an important date to put in the agenda regarding Rincon. Every year on Bonaire, the Rincon Day (Dia di Rincon) is celebrated on April 30th. Rincon Day is a very impressive party. Two weeks before Rincon Day the 'Festival Criolla' is organized. During this festival is the election of the special festival song of the Rincon Day.
On Rincon Day itself the streets are filled with musicians dressed in cheerful costumes and dancers who play traditional and modern music. There are numerous food stalls where you can buy delicious snacks. Rincon Day is the perfect opportunity to taste the atmosphere of the typical kunuku (country) lifestyle of Rincon.
Anyone who wants to visit the Washington Slagbaai National Park will also have to drive through Rincon. From the small village starts the 2.5-mile-long long road to the beautiful nature park. The route from Rincon to the park is indicated in a specific way. On all lampposts along the route to the park are images of green lizards.
Rincón is well worth a visit.
In 1863 slavery was abolished on Bonaire. A year later, in 1864, the Sisters of Roosendaal, along with several teachers from Rincón, began providing education to the children of Rincón. It was Sister (Soeur) Aurelia and Sister (Soeur) Sabine who took the lead. Other sisters who followed included Sister (Soeur) Amica and Sister (Soeur) Caritas. Initially they used an old church building as a classroom. However, in 1895, under the leadership of Father J.M.G. Meyknecht, a new school building was constructed. This school building consisted of five classrooms and was named St. Michael's School, later renamed St. Ludovicus School. Both boys and girls received education at this school. By 1905 the school had 261 students and a sixth classroom was added. In 1947 the school was further expanded with a seventh classroom.
Today the St. Ludovicus School serves as the retirement home De Cocari. Next to the St. Ludovicus School stands the convent, where the sisters lived and received their own education. The convent is a two-story building (kas di kaha), making it the only monumental two-story building in Rincón—truly unique! Anyone visiting Rincón should definitely take a look at the former St. Ludovicus School and the convent. Both buildings are located near the St. Ludovicus Bertrandus Church (Kaya Prome 48) in the center of Rincón.
It may be hard to imagine now but centuries ago, many women chose to dedicate their lives to a strictly religious existence. Today this is much less common, but it still happens. These women are known as female monastics, nuns, or sisters. However, a distinction is made between enclosed sisters and external sisters. Enclosed sisters live in seclusion within the convent walls, having little contact with the outside world. External sisters on the other hand, are so-called active religious women who step outside the convent walls to carry out social tasks such as teaching, nursing, and missionary work. A great example of external sisters is the Sisters of Roosendaal.
On September 1, 1832, the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Mariadal was founded in Roosendaal by Maria Raaymakers from Sint-Oedenrode. The Mariadal congregation became highly successful, and by 1932—one hundred years after its founding—it had grown to more than 1,200 sisters and over 180 educational and childcare institutions. The main mission of the Sisters of Roosendaal has always been the education and upbringing of young people. To this end, the Mariadal congregation established countless schools and boarding institutions. Following the spirit of Francis of Assisi, their focus was particularly on underprivileged children. The Mariadal congregation’s influence was not limited to the Netherlands but extended far beyond. In 1842, their missionary work began in Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. In 1865, they expanded to Suriname and in 1961, the Sisters of Roosendaal became active in Chile.
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