Born in Oterleek in the Netherlands in 1948, Jacob Gelt Dekker's youth was chronologically the same as other children, but philosophically quite brief. Plagued by illness throughout his childhood, Jacob was driven to survive and not only beat the odds, but also achieve a superb level of education that would, in turn, enable him to create revenue-producing businesses with the final goals being philanthropic endeavors where resources are needed to achieve the proverbial "teach the man to fish and he eats for life" philosophy.

       

Jacob's father, very close with the Dutch Jewish community, lost his first wife and children during the Nazi Holocaust of World War II. Thereafter, he was sheltered at a Dutch farm by pretending to be a Dutch Reformed Minister (his scholarly knowledge assisted him in this life-saving ruse), and later married the farmer's youngest daughter. Then, in 1948, Jacob GeIt Dekker was born. An unhappy marriage between his parents was counteracted by taking charge of his own life at the tender age of 12. Jacob has always treasured his relationship with his father who passed on his love of religious studies and the archaeology of the Middle East to him through books and oral knowledge.


Following his dentistry studies at the University of Amsterdam, Jacob Gelt Dekker obtained his license in 1973 and practiced in Amsterdam from 1976 until 1989, during which time he also participated in several successful business ventures which whet his appetite for more. From 1971 through 1976, Jacob did his post doctorate studies at several prestigious universities including the Polyclinic Medical School and Health Center Department of Dentistry in New York, the University of Southern California and UCLA, also in California. In 1989, he left dentistry and obtained his MBA from the University of Rotterdam (Gelt Dekker also holds an MBA from the University of Rochester in
upstate New York) and then became a full-time entrepreneur.


Jacob Gelt Dekker's entrepreneurial flare led him to open 120 one-hour photo shops in Europe, which he later sold to Kodak for an undisclosed sum. His other entrepreneurial successes include Budget Rent A Car, Splash Fitness Clubs, Impact Dental Video, Splash Kattegat BV (Sonesta Hotel Amsterdam), Splash Pullman Hotel Den Haag, Barbizon Palace Hotel, Irene Cosmetics BV, Van Gogh International and Symphony Music BV.


Jacob officially retired in the late 1990s and wanderlust took hold. He traveled the world extensively for a combination of business and research. Jacob has circumnavigated the world more than 50 times and spends a minimum of six months in each area in order to absorb the culture and "get to know the people."



Jacob's destinations included the Middle and Far East, the United States and Africa. The rich culture and history of Africa and its peoples intrigued him and Jacobs many visits yielded the large collection of artifacts that grace the museum and his first book, "Bajanala," tales of the children he met during his African sojourns.


In 1998, Jacob Gelt Dekker traveled to Curacao in the Netherlands Antilles to visit friends for the weekend. He fell in love with the island and purchased a mansion in the then rundown section of Otrobanda in the capital city of Willemstad. While restoring the home to its original splendor, Jacob researched its history only to learn it was once the site of slave trading on the island.



As part of his commitment to the future generations of the island, Jacob Gelt Dekker has now poured his energy and fortune into creating the JADE Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing education and providing assistance to the children of Curacao. "I have always cared about people, not material things," says Jacob. Orphaned or at-risk children "tear out his soul." His love for children is evident from those that gather at the hotel daily asking if he is in town and hoping to spend a few minutes with him before they go off to do their homework.