Islands of the Netherlands Antilles
Encyclopedia
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The Netherlands Antilles
were divided into six administrative divisions, the island territories (Eilandgebieden):, including an islet called Klein Bonaire
("Little Bonaire"), including an islet called Klein Curaçao
("Little Curaçao"), the southern half of Saint Martin
island (the northern half, Saint-Martin
, is an overseas collectivity of France
).
Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986 to become a constituent country
of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
, to leave only five island territories.
The Netherlands Antilles were dissolved as a unified political entity on 10 October 2010, so that remaining five constituent islands each attained a new constitutional status within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius all became special municipalities
of the Netherlands
. Curaçao and Sint Maarten both became constituent countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands
.
The autonomy of the island areas was specified in the Islands Regulation of the Netherlands Antilles
.
Bonaire - 12,877
Curaçao - 141,766
Saba - 1,601
Sint Eustatius - 2,768
Sint Maarten - 40,917
For comparison : Aruba
103,000
The Netherlands Antilles
Netherlands Antilles
The Netherlands Antilles , also referred to informally as the Dutch Antilles, was an autonomous Caribbean country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, consisting of two groups of islands in the Lesser Antilles: Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao , in Leeward Antilles just off the Venezuelan coast; and Sint...
were divided into six administrative divisions, the island territories (Eilandgebieden):, including an islet called Klein Bonaire
Klein Bonaire
Klein Bonaire is a small uninhabited islet off the west coast of the Caribbean island of Bonaire, and is part of the Dutch special municipality of Bonaire. The islet, which sits within the rough crescent formed by the main island, is 6 square kilometres and extremely flat, rising no more than two...
("Little Bonaire"), including an islet called Klein Curaçao
Klein Curaçao
Klein Curaçao is an 1.7 km2 uninhabited island south-east of Curaçao in the Caribbean Sea, and is part of the country Curaçao. In 1888, a short-lived German naval base was established on the island as part of Imperial expansion into the German Caribbean, although inclement weather eventually...
("Little Curaçao"), the southern half of Saint Martin
Saint Martin
Saint Martin is an island in the northeast Caribbean, approximately east of Puerto Rico. The 87 km2 island is divided roughly 60/40 between France and the Kingdom of the Netherlands ; however, the Dutch side has the larger population. It is one of the smallest sea islands divided between...
island (the northern half, Saint-Martin
Saint Martin (France)
Saint Martin , officially the Collectivity of Saint Martin is an overseas collectivity of France located in the Caribbean. It came into being on 15 July 2007, encompassing the northern parts of Saint Martin island and neighbouring islets, the largest of which is Île Tintamarre...
, is an overseas collectivity of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
).
Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986 to become a constituent country
Constituent country
Constituent country is a phrase sometimes used in contexts in which a country makes up a part of a larger entity. The term constituent country does not have any defined legal meaning, and is used simply to refer to a country which is a part Constituent country is a phrase sometimes used in contexts...
of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Kingdom of the Netherlands
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a sovereign state and constitutional monarchy with territory in Western Europe and in the Caribbean. The four parts of the Kingdom—Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands, and Sint Maarten—are referred to as "countries", and participate on a basis of equality...
, to leave only five island territories.
The Netherlands Antilles were dissolved as a unified political entity on 10 October 2010, so that remaining five constituent islands each attained a new constitutional status within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius all became special municipalities
BES islands
The Caribbean Netherlands collectively refers to the three special municipalities of the Netherlands that are located overseas, in the Caribbean: Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba...
of the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. Curaçao and Sint Maarten both became constituent countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Kingdom of the Netherlands
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a sovereign state and constitutional monarchy with territory in Western Europe and in the Caribbean. The four parts of the Kingdom—Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands, and Sint Maarten—are referred to as "countries", and participate on a basis of equality...
.
The autonomy of the island areas was specified in the Islands Regulation of the Netherlands Antilles
Islands Regulation of the Netherlands Antilles
The Island Regulation of the Netherlands Antilles described the autonomy of the different island territories of the Netherlands Antilles. It was enacted on 3 March 1951 by royal decree and remained in force, in a consolidated form, until the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles on 10 October 2010...
.
Population of the Islands
According to the official estimates of the Central Bureau of Statistics of the Netherlands Antilles, the five islands had a combined population of 199,929 as at 1 January 2009. The population of the individual islands was as follows:Bonaire - 12,877
Curaçao - 141,766
Saba - 1,601
Sint Eustatius - 2,768
Sint Maarten - 40,917
For comparison : Aruba
Aruba
Aruba is a 33 km-long island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, located 27 km north of the coast of Venezuela and 130 km east of Guajira Peninsula...
103,000
See also
- List of islands in the Caribbean
- List of Netherlands Antilles-related topics
- Netherlands AntillesNetherlands AntillesThe Netherlands Antilles , also referred to informally as the Dutch Antilles, was an autonomous Caribbean country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, consisting of two groups of islands in the Lesser Antilles: Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao , in Leeward Antilles just off the Venezuelan coast; and Sint...