TheJellyBeans.net
Considered one of Curacao’s most prominent landmarks, the Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge connects
the districts of Otrobanda and Punda in the capital city of Willemstad.
The floating bridge is named for Her Majesty Queen Emma of the Netherlands, who was Queen
Regent from 1890 until 1898, when her daughter Wilhelmina became queen at the age of 18.
Affectionately known as the Swinging Old Lady, the bridge was originally constructed as a toll bridge
by American Business Entrepreneur -- and Consul of the United States -- Leonard Burlington Smith.
Prior to the bridge’s opening in 1888, ferry boats were used to cross the St. Anna Bay.
The Queen Emma Bridge is supported by 16 pontoons and is 551 feet long, 450 of which swings
open to allow marine traffic in and out of of the bay.
Hinged at the Otrobanda side, the bridge opens and closes on the Punda side by means of two
diesel engines that turn underwater propellers.
A worker operates the bridge from a small building located on the structure near the Punda side.
Today, there is no toll for crossing the Queen Emma bridge, but pedestrians once had to pay
2 cents to cross and carriages and carts were charged 25 cents.
According to the Curacao Maritime Museum, the less fortunate -- who typically walked
barefoot -- did not have to pay the toll.
As a result, many pedestrians simply took off their shoes when they arrived at the bridge
to save money.
Several renovations to the Swinging Old Lady have been completed since it opened, including
the walking surface being switched from asphalt back to wood in 2006.