Riffort, Otrabanda, Curacao 2nd July 2025: Renaissance Hotel Curacao hosted another flag celebration together with the oldest car club on the island, Wabi Club! As part of the car club’s roots, all festive days are a chance to hit the road, connect with your car family, and, most importantly, enjoy your vehicle. So, Flag Day was no exception. This year, the Wabi club, together with Renaissance Mall and Rif Fort, paid tribute to the island flag by hosting a small car show in front of the hotel. The Caribbean gods, as always, were on our side, blessing us with a warm breeze, sunny weather, and no raindrops, making it a perfect day for celebration.
Text: Benjamin Wefer
Pictures: Omar Martha (Friwil), Wabi Club
The island of Curacao celebrates its Flag Day on July 2. It’s a moment to reflect on the island’s political history (autonomy within the Dutch kingdom) and honor the island’s identity. The official ceremony was held in the morning at Plaza Brion by the island’s Prime Minister, the Governor, and other guests, marking the start of the day and the celebration. There were several activities all over the island, and the petrol head had a lot to choose from—one of those activities was at the Renaissance Hotel Mall, which included the Wabi Club’s exhibition.
 |
 |
As part of the Wabi Club’s tradition, it is customary to take their cars out on the street and exhibit them to the public; this Flag Day was no exception. A 25th club member found their way to the hotel’s shopping mall. Not all members brought their cars, so a total of 17 vehicles were present. The oldest kid on the block was a 1930 Ford Model A Coupe owned by Myron E. Jacobs. This coupe has been on the island and part of the Wabi club since 1992 and was purchased in Hershey, PA, US. Two coupes were shipped to Curacao that year, and they are both still around. The car still features its original flathead engine, a 4-cylinder, 200 cubic-inch engine that produces around 40 horsepower. Myron recently bought the car as a tribute to his grandfather, Emilio de Jongh. Emilio was well-known on the island for his billiard room and ice cream factory. Also, he had a 1930 coupe in this exact color, so it was a calling for Myron to buy this car and make it part of the family again.
 |
 |
And, of course, we took a moment for a group picture and asked the club’s president, Sherwin Clemencia, for his thoughts on the day. It was a great day, Sherwin replied. We are thankful for the invite from the Renaissance Hotel and the mall and enjoyed the day. We displayed two new cars from two new members today, and the spectators got a glimpse of what Wabi Club has to offer.
With a small exhibition, Wabi Club and Antique Cars of Curacao celebrate Flag Day at Renaissance Mall. This year, Wabi Club celebrates its 60th anniversary. The club will be very active on the island, so stay tuned for their next exhibition.
