Washington Slagbaai National Park

The Washington Slagbaai National Park is located in the northern end of Bonaire. It comprises of two former land plantations, Washington & Slagbaai, totaling just under 14,000 acres. These two plantations once supplied salt, charcoal, aloe extract, divi-divi pods, and goats for export to Curaçao and Europe. The Washington Plantation was secured in 1969, upon the death of the owner “Boy” Herrera. He negotiated with the government to take over the plantation upon his death with the condition that it was to remain undeveloped for the enjoyment of the people. The WNP was founded (May 9, 1969), the first Nature Sanctuary of the Netherlands Antilles. In 1979, the Slagbaai land plantation was negotiated and added to create the WSNP. The park is managed by STINAPA Bonaire.