Belnem is a

private community A private community is a residential community that can be an association or a proprietary organization. Associations can include condominiums, homeowner associations or cooperatives. Whereas governmental communities are financed with taxation, ...

on the island of

Bonaire Bonaire (; , ; pap, Boneiru, , almost pronounced ) is a Dutch island in the Leeward Antilles in the Caribbean Sea. Its capital is the port of Kralendijk, on the west ( leeward) coast of the island. Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao form the ABC i ...

. It is luxurious neighbourhood named after

Harry Belafonte Harry Belafonte (born Harold George Bellanfanti Jr.; March 1, 1927) is an American singer, activist, and actor. As arguably the most successful Jamaican-American pop star, he popularized the Trinbagonian Caribbean musical style with an interna ...

and Maurice Neme. Construction of Belnem started on 3 June 1966.

History

often visited and liked the Caribbean island of Bonaire. Belafonte together with Maurice Neme of

Oranjestad, Aruba Oranjestad ( , , ; literally "Orange City") is the capital and largest city of Aruba, a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is located on the southern coast near the western end of the island country. In the local language ...

embarked on a joint venture to create a luxurious

on Bonaire. On 3 June 1966, the construction of the neighbourhood started which was named Belnem after Belafonte and Neme. At least 30 houses with a minimum size of 100 m² and a road connecting the neighbourhood to the road network of Bonaire had to be constructed within a two-year time period. The neighbourhood is managed by the Bel-Nem Caribbean Development Corporation. Belafonte and Neme served as its first directors. Later, other residential neighbourhoods were built in Belnem. In 1981, Belnem came under scrutiny by the Island Council, because the land which had been sold to Belnem at a reduced price was being sold on at high prices.

Bachelor's Beach

Bachelor's Beach is a small beach near Belnem. It can be accessed via stairs down the cliff. It is one of the most popular beaches and is located near

Flamingo International Airport Flamingo International Airport , also called Bonaire International Airport, is an international airport located near Kralendijk on the island of Bonaire in the Caribbean Netherlands. It was once the hub for BonaireExel and CuraçaoExel before th ...

with planes passing over the beach.

References

Beaches of Bonaire Populated places in Bonaire {{Bonaire-geo-stub