Specification for the Upcoming Field Trip
Willemstad, February 6, 2025.
We are pleased to organize the upcoming Field Trip for the International School of Curaçao, dedicated to recreating the historic Victory Day of February 26, when the people of Curaçao, under the leadership of Manuel Piar and Luis Brion, successfully defeated the British invasion army.
Key Stops & Historical Significance:
1.Groot Kwartier – Strategic site related to the defense of the island.
2.Kanga Dein – A key location in the resistance efforts.
3.Roodeweg – A historical route involved in the movement of local forces.
4.Breedestraat – Rifwaterstraat – Central areas where the victory was consolidated.
All Preparation , Desin & Execution
This experience will be brought to life by three top professional storytellers:
•Tico Vos
•Marlon Regales
•Ashley Mauricia
They will deliver an engaging and immersive narrative, ensuring that students gain a deeper understanding of Curaçao’s resistance and independence efforts. And documentation of this historic event.
Cost & Contribution
•This initiative is provided at no charge.
•Voluntary contributions are welcome to support the construction of the website www.manuelcarlospíar.com, which aims to preserve and promote the legacy of
Regards
Tico Vos
DAY OF VICTORY AGAINST THE BRITISH
11.00 – 14.00
Honoring Curaçao’s fearless men, women, and children who fought for their land
This tour takes you through the key locations where Curaçao’s people—armed with machetes, stones, wooden sticks, and fists—stood against the British war machine. Through immersive storytelling and expert analysis, we relive the battle that secured Curaçao’s freedom and reflect on the deeper historical context of race, identity, and discrimination.
STARTING POINT: Curaçao International School
Introduction: Curaçao’s Strategic Role
•Why the British targeted Curaçao.
•The importance of Schottegat and Willemstad.
•How the local people—ordinary men, women, and children—mobilized to defend their land.
STOP 1: Groot Kwartier – The People’s Stand
•British troops, well-armed and highly trained, advanced aggressively.
•Curaçaoans—armed with whatever they had—stood their ground and fought back.
•The first major victory: the British, shocked by the resistance, were forced to retreat.
STOP 2: Kanga and Dein – Breaking the British Spirit
•The British attempted to regroup but were met with relentless attacks.
•Curaçaoans used guerrilla tactics, ambushing and demoralizing the invaders.
•The British realized they could not hold their position and retreated further.
STOP 3: Otrobanda – The First Major Confrontation
•Brion, Piar, the local militia, and the Curaçaoan people engaged the British in Otrobanda.
•This battle forced the British into a chaotic retreat to Groot Kwartier, then Kanga and Dein.
•The final British escape from Piscadera Bay—where they entered, now in defeat.
STOP 4: Plasa Piar – Remembering the Heroes
At Plasa Piar, we divide into small groups to explore key moments of the battle and Curaçaoan resistance:
1.Plasa Piar 1963 – Why this place matters.
2.The Statue of Manuel Piar – A tribute to one of Curaçao’s most important military figures.
3.Ashley Mauricia (Professional Local Artist) – Salon di Piar: Visual storytelling and historical imagery.
4.Marlon Regales – A 15-minute talk on the bravery of Curaçao’s people.
5.Tico Vos: The Hidden History of Piar’s Family – Uncovering local connections and heritage.
⏳ Time for reflection, photos, and note-taking.
STOP 5: Fort Amsterdam – The People’s Triumph
•Dutch colonial architecture & military defenses – How Curaçaoans used the landscape to resist.
•Understanding Brion, Piar, and other fighters in Curaçao’s history.
•Linking Tula, Brion, and other national heroes to the broader story of resistance and freedom.
•Tribute to Dr. Moises Frumencio da Costa Gomez, Curaçao’s first Prime Minister, and his impact on the island’s autonomy.
STOP 6: Race, Identity & Manuel Piar’s Struggle (Led by Tico Vos)
•What did being “not white” mean in the 18th and 19th centuries?
•Visual Representation: A picture session depicting how society viewed and treated mixed-race, Indigenous, and Black people.
•Manuel Carlos Piar’s reality:
•Despite his military success, he faced racial discrimination.
•His struggles for recognition among elites.
•How racism influenced his ultimate downfall and tragic execution.
•Final reflection: What lessons can we learn from Piar’s journey?
PLASA PIAR
Q&A SESSION – FINAL DISCUSSIONS
•How did Curaçao’s ordinary people achieve an extraordinary victory?
•What made the British underestimate Curaçao’s defenders?
•How does this battle fit into the island’s larger history of resilience?
End of Dia di Viktoria Tour
This tour is a tribute to the people of Curaçao—the fearless men, women, and children who, against all odds, fought back and won. Their legacy is one of unity, strength, and national pride.
Tico Vos is a professional photographer, producer, and tourism specialist. He has been documenting the History, Culture, and News of Curaçao. This site is a documentation of the history of Manuel Carlos Piar.
