History

 

In the beginning of the 19th century Curacao's coastal fortification was poor. Apart from the fort "Beekenburg", located in the Eastern part, there was hardly any fortification of significance along the coastal areas. In 1824 King Willem I decided to concentrate efforts on the fortification of the St. Anna bay and its precious harbor. He entrusted Lieutenant- general Krayenhoff with the construction of two fortresses, one at each side of the bay: the Waterfort, at the "Punda"side and the "Rif Fort", at the Otrobanda side.

The Rif Fort, in which Bistro le Clochard is established, dates from 1829. The fortress consisted of military barracks for the military force, a few accommodations for officers, 56 large and a few lighter cannons, a gunpowder depot and two rainwater cisterns. With its 1,5 meter thick walls, its construction was absolutely bombproof.

The Rif Fort's military barrack function lasted only till 1859, when the soldiers exchanged it for the more comfortable accomodations that had just been completed in the Waterfort, at the opposite side of the harbor. After that the Rif Fort has only accommodated a small number of officers, who had their houses inside the complex. The barracks were subsequently used as storage places until 1928, when they were demolished.
With the disappearance of the former barracks in 1928, the Rif Fort definitively lost its military function.

Although the two fortresses at both sides of the harbor entrance still convey the image of an extremely well fortified site, neither of the two fortresses has ever really served its original purpose. After 1928 maintenance of the Rif Fort was neglected and in the course of time large parts of the fortress walls disappeared into the sea. The gun holes were shut and the bunkers inside were used for different purposes, ending up as a shelter for homeless vagrants (clochards).

 

Bistro Le Clochard

It is inside two of these bunkers, between the vaults of the Riffort and in one of the former water cisterns, that Freddy Berends opened Bistro le Clochard in 1978. At that moment the Rif Fort was a desolate place, partly eaten away by the sea and salt spray. But Freddy Berends had a vision of what the fortress' future would be like, once it would have come to live again.

Anno 2008 Freddy Berends' vision has become a reality: the Rif Fort has developed into a stylish tourist center and bistro le Clochard has become a well-known, award winning gastronomic establishment. To continue the legacy for the next generation, Freddy's son Ghislain is following in his father's footsteps, to guarantee the continuation of the high standards, achieved throughout all these years.

Bistro le Clochard is the typical example of a dream, come true. You are cordially invited to come and enjoy your share of it!