Once it was the most important building of the island, the Commander’s Office. It was built around 1830 and as of 1848 (until 1929), it served as residence and office of the island’s Commander, later called the Lieutenant Governor.

The building was demolished in 1949, when preservation of historic heritage did not exist on the island. The building had to make way for a parking lot as part of urban renewal in those days.

So there is no building to admire, but fortunately we still have photographs from the first half of the last century.

The Commander’s Office was the biggest ‘urban cunucu house’ of the capital city of Oranjestad. The central part was a whopping 33 meters long. Biggest difference with the ‘normal’ urban cunucu houses was its two-story structure. It had a large balcony and above the door a coat of arms with a giant W, referring to the Dutch King Willem I who reigned from 1813 to 1840. The W in the coat of arms could remain since his successors were also called Willem (II and III) and Wilhelmina, up to 1948.

 On the King’s and Queen’s birthdays, festivities and a parade were held in front of the governor’s office, which at the time was located almost at the water’s edge, just like it was the case for the Fort Zoutman and the old protestant church.

In 1929 the lieutenant governor’s office and residence moved elsewhere and in the 1930’s the building became barracks for the marines. After the war, they moved to their new quarters in Savaneta. The street between Havenstraat and the beginning of the main street is called Kazernestraat, recalling the function of barracks of this historic building.

The Commander’s Office was torn down to make place for a parking lot. That space is now Plaza Daniel Leo.

Construction of the parking lot after demolishing of the Commander’s Office.