Netherlands Antilles

Nederlandse Antillen

(In Detail)
National motto: Libertate unanimus (Latin: "Unified by freedom")
Official language	Dutch
Capital	Willemstad
Queen	Beatrix
Governor	Frits Goedgedrag
Prime minister	Mirna Louisa-Godett
Area  - Total  - % water	(All islands) 960 km² Negligible
Population  - Total (2000)  - Density	(All islands) 212,226 221/km²
Dependent area of	Netherlands
Currency	Antillean Guilder
Time zone	UTC -4
National anthem	None
Internet TLD	.AN
Calling Code	599

History

Both the Leeward (Christopher Columbus, 1493) and Windward (Alonso de Ojeda, 1499) island groups were discovered and initially settled by the Spanish. In the 17th century, the islands were conquered by the Dutch West India Company and were used as bases for slave trade. Only in 1863 was slavery abolished.

In 1954, the islands were promoted from colony to a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The island of Aruba was part of the Netherlands Antilles until 1986, when it was granted a "status aparte", and became a separate part of the kingdom. Some of the other islands have indicated that they wish to obtain the same status, but no agreements on this have yet been reached. Other options sometimes considered are independence or together becoming a province of the Netherlands.

Politics

Head of state is the ruling monarch of the Netherlands, who is represented in the Netherlands Antilles by a governor. The governor is also head of the local government, and forms, together with the council of ministers, the executive branch of the government.

The legislative branch is two-layered. Delegates of the islands are represented in the government of the Netherlands Antilles, but each island has its own government that takes care of the daily tasks on the island.

Islands

The Netherland Antilles have no major administrative divisions, although each island has its own local government.

The two island groups of which the Netherlands Antilles consists are:

• the "Leeward Islands" (Benedenwindse Eilanden) off the Venezuelan coast (with also Aruba nearby):
  • Bonaire
  • Curaçao, including an islet called Klein Curaçao ("Little Curaçao")
• the "Windward Islands" (Bovenwindse Eilanden) east of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands; geographically however, these are part of what are internationally called the Leeward Islands
  • Saba
  • Sint Eustatius
  • Sint Maarten, the southern half of the island Saint Martin (the northern half, Saint-Martin, is French and part of the overseas department of Guadeloupe).

Geography

The islands are all of volcanic origin and hilly, leaving little ground suitable for agriculture. The highest point is Mount Scenery, 862 m, on Saba.

The Netherlands Antilles have a tropic climate, with warm weather all year round. The Leeward Islands are subject to hurricanes in the summer months.

Economy

Tourism, petroleum transshipment and oil refinement (on Curaçao), as well as offshore finance are the mainstays of this small economy, which is closely tied to the outside world. The islands enjoy a high per capita income and a well-developed infrastructure as compared with other countries in the region. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with Venezuela, the United States, and Mexico being the major suppliers, as well as the Dutch government which supports the islands with substantial development aid. Poor soils and inadequate water supplies hamper the development of agriculture. The Antillean guilder has a fixed exchange rate with the United States dollar of 1.79:1.

Demographics

The largest part of the Netherlands Antilleans - about 85% - descends from the African slaves that were brought and traded here from the 17th to 19th century. The rest of the population consists of Caribbean Indians, Europeans and Asians.

Although the official language is Dutch, Papiamento is predominant. This creole language is formed from elements of Dutch, English, Spanish and Portuguese. Spanish and English are also spoken.

The majority of the population are followers of the Christian belief, mostly Roman Catholic. Curaçao also hosts a sizeable group of Jews, descendants of a Portuguese group of Sephardic Jews that arrived from Brazil in 1654.

A large group of young and/or highly educated Antilleans have emigrated to the Netherlands over the past decades, which leaves the islands with substantial social and economic problems.

Culture

The origins of the population and location of the islands give the Netherlands Antilles a mixed culture. Dutch influence is can still be seen, even though not much of the population is of Dutch origin. Tourism from the United States has recently also increased the importance of American culture.

The holiday of Carnival is, like in many Caribbean and Latin American countries, an important one.

Miscellaneous topics

The land area and population of the Netherlands Antilles are both just over half that of Zeeland. Unlike the metroplitian Netherlands Same-Sex Marriages cannot be performed here those perormed in other jurisdictions are recgonized.

• Communications in the Netherlands Antilles
• Transportation in the Netherlands Antilles
• Military of the Netherlands Antilles
• Foreign relations of the Netherlands Antilles

External links

• GOV.an - Main governmental site (currently under construction)

Referenced By