Standing quietly along Bonaire’s southern coast, these small coral-stone structures at Witte Pan are among the island’s historic slave huts.
Built around 1850, the tiny huts served as sleeping quarters for enslaved people who were forced to work in Bonaire’s salt industry. Measuring only about 5 feet by 6.5 feet, their cramped dimensions offer a sobering reminder of the harsh and inhumane conditions endured by the people who lived and worked here. There are 170 of these huts in Bonaire and four to six people would live in each one.
The Witte Pan huts are distinguished by their whitewashed walls and dark roofs. Farther south, another group of historic huts can be found near the Red/Orange salt pan.
This photograph was taken at Witte Pan, with the Caribbean Sea stretching out behind the hut. Located along EEG Boulevard, roughly eight miles south of Kralendijk, the site lies among Bonaire’s historic salt pans and stands as a tangible reminder of a difficult and important chapter in the island’s history.
The image on the right is the mountains of salt that is taken from the sea.
Images taken with a Nikon D850, 24-70mm Nikkor Lens, Focal Length 34 mm, ISO-100, 1/400, F10.
3 comments posted
Mike Patterson
It's hard to imagine such a beautiful setting for such a horrible story. The white clouds in the deep blue sky seem to sit atop the lovely sea. You captured a nice image of the hut and everything looks perfectly exposed and sharp. To me, however, the image looks like something I'd take to remember a trip, rather than anything particularly eye-catching. I'm wondering if there had been different angles, focal points, etc. to take it beyond a nice vacation shot to something more dramatic. Maybe not since it doesn't look like you had many options. Just saying this for future reference. Posted: 10/01/2026 13:51:28
Tom Buckard
Mike, I have to agree with you. To me it looks like a postcard shot. I did get a few others. A young lady in a white dress was there and I talked her into posing behind one of the huts. Still not a winner... Posted: 10/01/2026 14:03:24
Mike Patterson
Nice idea but the juxtaposition of a pretty woman through the window of a former slave quarters is a bit troubling! Nevertheless, you nailed the concept of capturing an interesting image. Posted: 10/01/2026 14:09:43
