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The Netherlands Antilles (Dutch: Nederlandse
Antillen), previously known as the Netherlands West Indies, are part of the Lesser Antilles and consist of two groups of islands in the Caribbean Sea that form an autonomous part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. (None of the other Antilles have this term in their name.) The islands' economy is dependent mostly on tourism and oil, though a large amount of money is made in illegal drug
trafficking.
History
Main article: History of
the Netherlands Antilles
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
Main article: Politics
of the Netherlands Antilles
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
Main article: Islands of the Netherlands Antilles
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, including an islet called Klein Bonaire ("Little 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
Geography
Main article: Geography of the Netherlands Antilles
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
Main article: Economy of
the Netherlands Antilles
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
Main article: Demographics of the Netherlands Antilles
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
Main article: Culture of the Netherlands Antilles
The origins of the population and location of the islands give the Netherlands Antilles a mixed culture. Dutch influence 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
Both the land area and population of the Netherlands Antilles are just more than half that of Zeeland, a mainland province. Unlike the metropolitan Netherlands, same-sex marriages cannot be performed here, but those performed in other jurisdictions are
recognized.
External link
- GOV.an - Main governmental site (currently under construction)
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