Queen Emma Bridge
The Queen Emma Bridge is a pontoon footbridge that floats across St. Anna Bay on a line of boats and swings open whenever a ship needs to pass — locals call it the "Swinging Old Lady." 2 min from the hotel
Connecting Punda and Otrobanda since the 19th century, the bridge is free to cross and opens dozens of times a day, gliding aside on its own engines. When it is open, free ferries shuttle pedestrians. Crossing it at night, lit up over the water, is a Willemstad rite of passage. It is two minutes from the hotel.
Good to know
- Watch it swing open for a passing ship — a daily spectacle.
- Cross at night when it is strung with lights.
- Free ferries run whenever the bridge is open.
Questions & answers
Does the Queen Emma Bridge really float?
Yes — it rests on a row of pontoon boats and swings to the side under its own power to let ships into the harbour.
Stay in the heart of it all
Majestic City Palace — a restored 1892 monument in Punda, steps from everything in this guide.