History
The Curacao history would be incomplete without the significant story of the Avila Beach Hotel. It is the oldest operational hotel in Curacao and truly has an authentic soul. Without History there would be no Future.
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1.2 km
DISTANCE FROM DOWNTOWN12.4 km
DISTANCE FROM AIRPORTAddress
PENSTRAAT 130 WILLEMSTAD, CURAÇAO
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Around 1780
The original building of the hotel, the Belle Alliance (now main entrance and lobby) was built around 1780. The Belle Alliance was named after “Auberge de la Belle Alliance”, the alliance against Napoleon.
1807-1816
The Belle Alliance served as a country residence for English Governors. The English started calling the house “The Pen” after an enclosed part of the garden which belonged to the villa.
1812
After the first stage of the revolt in Venezuela had failed, Simon Bolívar took refuge on the island of Curacao. He and his two sisters arrived penniless and had to rely on the generosity of friends on the island. Lawyer and merchant Mordechai Ricardo lodged them in two houses.
The two sisters stayed in the octagonal building by the sea (Octagon), while Bolívar worked and studied in a small house on a hill overlooking the busy harbor of Willemstad.
1816-1828
The first Dutch Governor-General, Albert Kikkert set foot ashore in 1816 and lived in “The Pen” until his death in 1819. After that the Belle Alliance was a country retreat and residence by both English and Dutch governors.
1828-1845
The Belle Alliance served as a Governor’s house again for Governor Cantz’laar from Surinam.
1846
The Belle Alliance was in such a bad state of repair that an attempt to sell it at a public auction that year failed. The government managed to sell the villa shortly after in a private transaction and has had several different owners and different purposes since.
1880
The house was sold to Pieter Hendrik Maal, father of Dr. Pieter Hendrik (Gungu) Maal. This owner later let the Belle Alliance to Mr. Antoine J. Pijpers, who founded a boarding school for boys at the beginning of the 20th century. This private school was well known abroad due to its solid reputation. Most pupils came from Venezuela, Colombia and Panama. In 1920 after the death of Mr. Antoine J. Pijpers the school was closed down.
1929
When old Pieter Hendrik Maal died in 1929 his daughter Mary Maal inherited the Belle Alliance. From then on several Curacao families lived in one or other parts of the house, which had been split up into different apartments.
1940
Mary Maal sold the villa to her brother Pieter Hendrik (Gungu) Maal. This many-talented physician re-organized the Belle Alliance to become a private hospital and named it after his only daughter Thelma. During the last years of the World War II the doctor lent the house to the General Military Commander, Baron van Asbeck and his staff. Soon after, Dr. Maal converted the villa into what became the original Avila Beach Hotel.
1949
Gungu Maal left an indelible impression of the hotel with the qualities of personal attention, order and respectability that have remained untouched by the many changes later on. “Hotel Avila” (named after the medieval town in Spain where the doctor spent his holidays and held such dear memories of) opened its doors on February, 1 1949 and had only 18 beds. Soon, that number was increased to 60 beds divided over 45 rooms.
There is no one better to talk to when it comes to the early years of the Avila Beach Hotel than Maureen (Poppy) Zalm-Pieters. Together with Melva Pieters and Gladys (Mimi) Pieters they were a tower of strength to Dr. Gungu Maal from the very start. Dr. Maal had actually delivered Maureen (Poppy) Zalm-Pieters in that very building when the mansion house was still in use as a hospital.
Most foreign visitors at the hotel were businessmen or people who stayed at the hotel because of their social position. Also many ministers from Aruba would stay at the Avila Beach Hotel. Most guests came from the United States, Canada and Venezuela. The friendly and clean atmosphere given by its first loyal employees Papi, Mario, Melva, Poppy and Mimi never changed.
1959
Gungu Maal took the initiative of creating a beach and a massive pier to protect the beach from the destructive powers of the sea. In March of 1959 the beach was opened and since then, Hotel Avila has been called the Avila Beach Hotel. The famous “Schooner Bar” (bar on the beach) was another of Maal’s ideas. Also the familiar Avila lantern was introduced by its first owner Dr. Maal.
1962
The Octagon became the Octagon Museum by the Government of Curacao and S.E.L. Maduro & Sons. The Octagon Museum houses the Bolívar exhibit in memory of the Curacao connection to Simón Bolívar (1783-1830).
1965
Four years after Dr. Gungu Maal passed away his heirs sold the hotel to Mrs. Trijntje van der Plas. Under the new owner’s management the number of European guests grew steadily.
1977
Mrs. Van der Plas sold the hotel to the Danish Mr. Finn Nicolaj Møller under whose management the Avila Beach Hotel has been renovated and extended drastically. The atmosphere of order, cleanliness and personal attention remained unchanged.
Mr. Finn Nicolaj (Nic) Møller moved to Curacao after graduating in Copenhagen in 1960. After working at Spritzer & Fuhrmann for seventeen years he bought the Avila Beach Hotel. He did not had any knowledge about the hotel business but he enjoyed working with people and providing customer related service.
He and his partner Mrs. Birte Jensen renovated and extended the Avila Beach Hotel extensively. As the son of a piano teacher he has made music an integral part of his life and thus the Avila Beach Hotel. He built a reputation as a singer and musician and performed regularly at the coffee concerts that have been held in the lobby at the Avila Beach Hotel. This was the base for Art in Avila.
1990
After ten years of studying and gaining experience abroad, daughter Tone Møller returned to Curacao to accept the position of General Manager. Tone was responsible for the day-to-day business at the hotel.
1992
After years of renovations the Avila Beach Hotel opened a new hotel wing; the La Belle Alliance rooms & suites and also the La Belle Alliance conference room and recital hall. In this typical Colonial wing, the hotel offers classical modern Deluxe rooms with private balconies and lovely ocean views and 10 suites. Extra facilities such as a tennis court, sea terrace and a new sandy beach were built as well. The old pier with its lanterns was restored to its original state and Blues Bar & Restaurant was built at the far end of the pier.
1995
The second hotel wing of the Avila Beach Hotel was built. The wooden ocean front Blues wing rooms are part of an all-wood structure, built on a pier off of our private beach. They offer balconies and terraces with spectacular views of the blue Caribbean Sea and coastline of Curacao.
1998
The Octagon Museum was restored by the Avila Beach Hotel. The house on the hill where Simon Bolivar lived no longer exists, but the ‘Octagon’ at the seaside is part of the Curacao Monument Foundation and the Octagon Foundation.
1999
Celebration of 50 years Avila Beach Hotel. Dutch Michelin Chef Cas Spijkers was introduced during a culinary event. This event started a tradition of culinary events with Dutch Michelin Chefs at the Avila Beach Hotel.
2003
Paul Kok came back to Curacao. After serving as Resident Manager from 1995-1999 he was introduced as Director of Operations. Under the new management with Finn Nicolay Møller, Birte Møller-Jensen, Paul Kok (Director of Operations) and Tone Møller (Director of Commerce) the preparations for the construction of the Octagon Wing started. The Avila Beach Hotel changed its name back to the Avila Hotel and with that the hotel introduced a new logo to emphasize that the hotel offers a bygone age delivered in a modern package. That year, the hotel also started to build a new and modern third hotel wing together with new modern facilities. Paul Kok became General Manager in 2006.
2007
With the completion of the newest Octagon wing (after demolishing the old wing behind the mansion wing), the hotel gained 68 rooms decorated in sophisticated neutrals with splashes of Caribbean colors.
Besides this, the hotel opened a new and state of the art Avila Wellness Club, Conference & Banqueting center, infinity pool & pool bar and renewed the Octagon Plaza, offering a shopping area and a brand new square which is ideal to organize concerts, large events and weddings.
2014
Celebration of 65 years Avila Beach Hotel kicked off by the first Papiamento poem sang by owner Mr. Finn Nicolay (Nic) Møller followed by music from local classical pianist Wim Statius Muller (dear friend of Mr. Finn Nicolay (Nic) Møller) and the successful local jazz pianist Randal Corsen.
2015
On March 6, the birthday of Tone Møller, Mr. Finn Nicolaj (Nic) Møller passed away. Right after completing and seeing the documentary “A Viking in the Tropics” that was made about his life by Dutch film maker Marie Lou Schoenmakers and Biba Krklec. Mr. Finn Nicolaj (Nic) Møller was the strongest reason for change and development of the Avila Beach Hotel. He had a passion for the hotel as of 1949, up until his final days. His love for design, music and arts ultimately, created the identity of the hotel. His passion & drive have made Avila, Avila.
His passing did not mean that the hotel stopped developing. In July the hotel started an extensive beach renovation of its two private beaches. Also all apartments were renovated.
In December the hotel management (Paul Kok after 17 years & Tone Møller after 25 years of hard work and dedication) decided to sell the hotel to the Dutch Vogels family, also the shareholders of the nearby located Lions Dive & Beach Resort. The Avila Beach Hotel remains to be one of the few family owned hotels on the island.
2016
Due to the extensive upgrade of the beach and to bring back the tradition, the Avila Hotel decided to change its name back to the widely familiar Avila Beach Hotel. It was still popularly known as Avila Beach among locals and its repeat guests. With the name change also came a new logo in January. Son of owner Will Vogels, Robbin Vogels, took over the General Manager position from Paul Kok, as of June 2016.
