Madeiran Migration to Curaçao in the 1940s: The Call of Oil

Photograph Capturing a Defining Moment

Taken in March 1944, the image above captures the emotional farewells of emigrants as they gathered at wat is today Avenida Sá Carneiro in Funchal. The departing men can be seen preparing for the journey to Curaçao, with some of them never returning to Madeira.

Image: FOTO FIGUEIRAS. Emigrants to Curaçao on the road to Pontinha (now Avenida Sá Carneiro), before boarding, Parish of São Pedro (now Parish of Sé), Municipality of Funchal, March 1944

Migration to Curaçao: A Decade of Change

In the 1940s, the formerly Dutch island of Curaçao in the Carribean experienced a dramatic rise in migration, driven by the growth of the Royal Shell Company’s oil refinery. This migration brought thousands of workers from Madeira to the Caribbean in search of better working and living opportunities. The promise of stable jobs in the booming oil industry led many Madeirans to leave their homeland and start new lives on distant shores.

Madeira and the Azores, have long been places of emigration. From the mid-19th century onwards, emigration became a constant factor for the society of Madeira. This was the result of a continuous demand for labor on the international market, as well as the difficult living conditions caused by the economic crisis and the oppressive social relations between landowners and tenants. Emigration became as such the only way out from hunger and servitude.

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The Attraction of the Oil Sector

The oil industry was the primary reason for Madeirans to seek a fresh start, particularly people from Estreito da Calheta and Ponta do Sol. The Dutch Antilles, especially Curaçao and Aruba, became prominent destinations during this time, as their growing economy provided the work and prospects that were hard to come by on the island of Madeira. Within two decades, more than 4,000 Madeirans made the journey, many of them working at the oil refinery.

Emigration of Portuguese 1930 - 1955

1945: The Peak of Madeiran Emigration

1945 saw the peak of Madeiran emigration to Curaçao, with 2,769 people leaving that year alone. This figure represented nearly half of all emigrants from Madeira in 1945, highlighting the significant role Curaçao played in the island’s migration patterns during this period. The island’s oil industry and its associated employment opportunities acted as a powerful pull factor for families seeking to improve their lives.

After the Carnation revolution in 1974 and the creation of a modern and more European centered republic we see a sharp decline in emigration numbers starting from the 1980.

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