Bread, Circuses, and the Horizon

Bread, Circuses, and the Horizon

Saturday, late morning

15 November 2025

It’s Saturday, late in the morning. For various reasons, I returned home much later than usual after breakfast. On our way to get coffee, we drove through the city. We passed the decorated dome where thousands watched Curaçao’s World Cup qualifier against Bermuda — and where crowds will gather again this Thursday for the match against Jamaica.

Further into town, streets were already being blocked off for tonight’s official inauguration of the Christmas lights, and it seemed as if Sinterklaas might be arriving this morning as well. So we escaped to the mall outside the city.

Yet even there, my eyes kept drifting toward the horizon, toward the sea. Two thoughts stayed with me.

First, the 2024 film Invasion (Invasion) — the Dutch action movie about Curaçao and Aruba being attacked by a neighboring country. When I first watched it, I thought it was creative, well-produced, and far-fetched. But somewhere inside, I knew it wasn’t entirely unrealistic.

Today, while we immerse ourselves in football, festivities, and holiday distractions, Dutch media increasingly report that we may be close to an escalation of a real conflict. And just like when a hurricane approaches, we do not prepare. We do not inform the public. It’s not “brace for impact”; it’s “hope for the best.”

The second thought is of a different nature but similarly effective—the real estate market. Homes are being snapped up — mostly by Dutch buyers — for prices now approaching Cg. 800,000. And suddenly, Dutch news broadcasts feature glowing stories of retirees choosing a house on Curaçao over a cramped apartment in the Dutch winter. It’s free advertising for property on the island.

Meanwhile, 80% of locals — those earning under about 5,000 guilders a month — are steadily being priced out, not only from buying but eventually from selling as well. A Curaçaoan comedian who recently moved back to the island and continues working from here is, unintentionally, yet another signal to the Netherlands: come on over.

One might say, then, why don’t locals move to the Netherlands? But it isn’t that simple. And it isn’t necessarily cheaper or better.

So we continue life as usual. Fortunately — or unfortunately — there is still plenty of bread and circuses.

Miguel Goede