People in the street and in stores will appreciate it when you give speaking Papiamentu (our native language) a try but they will be more than happy, and capable, to answer in English, Dutch, or Spanish – and in some cases, even in Portuguese.
Curaçao's native language is Papiamentu: a Creole blend of African, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, French, English, and Arawak Indian. The official languages in Curaçao are Dutch, Papiamentu, and English, but of those Papiamentu is used the most in local TV shows, in parliament, and on the street.
Yes, most 'Yu di Korsou' (people born and raised in Curaçao) speak English, Dutch, Spanish, and Papiamentu. Recently many people have also picked up Portuguese due to the influx of visitors from Brazil and the fact that our native language Papiamentu is closely related to Portuguese.
The island is generally quite safe, especially for tourists. You can compare it with a big international city: there are a few areas to avoid (alleys, dark streets, etc.) but apart from that, you may explore the island as you wish. General safety rules apply here like anywhere else: never leave your valuable possessions in sight or out in the open; bring them with you or keep them safe in a safe/vault at the hotel; also, keep an eye on your luggage at all times and never accept packages from strangers.
Curaçao Carnival starts just days after the new year begins and runs until the evening before Ash Wednesday, which is on a different date each year. The main parades of Curaçao Carnival happen during the last 10 days of the Carnival period. In April, we have events like the Curaçao International Film Festival Rotterdam and King's Day; the Curaçao North Sea Jazz Festival happens during the final weekend of August; and late December/early January is full of traditions like Christmas, pagaras, New Year's Eve, and Fuik Day.
