Difference between revisions of "Netherlands Antilles" - New World Encyclopedia

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The two island groups of which the Netherlands Antilles consists are:
 
The two island groups of which the Netherlands Antilles consists are:
  
*the southernmost "Leeward Islands". Known by locals as "Windward", these islands lie less than 50 miles off the [[Venezuela]]n coast, along with [[Aruba]]:
+
*the southernmost [[Leeward Islands]] of the [[Lesser Antilles]]. Known by locals as "Windward", these islands lie less than 50 miles off the [[Venezuela]]n coast, along with [[Aruba]]:
 
** Bonaire, including an islet called Klein Bonaire ("Little Bonaire")
 
** Bonaire, including an islet called Klein Bonaire ("Little Bonaire")
 
** Curaçao, including an islet called Klein Curaçao ("Little Curaçao")
 
** Curaçao, including an islet called Klein Curaçao ("Little Curaçao")
Line 91: Line 91:
 
Though discovered and settled by [[Europe]]ans at different times, the islands all share a similar history.
 
Though discovered and settled by [[Europe]]ans at different times, the islands all share a similar history.
  
;Saint Martin
+
;Sint Maarten (Saint Martin)
Discovered by Christopher Columbus on Nov. 11, 1493 (St. Martin's Day), the island was taken by French pirates in 1638, though the Spanish settled there in 1640. In 1648, French and Dutch prisoners of war allegedly met after the Spanish departure and amicably divided the island. The Dutch obtained the smaller but more valuable southern section, which contained large salt deposits.
+
This was the first of the islands of the Netherlands Antilles to be sighted by Europeans, discovered by [[Christopher Columbus]] on Nov. 11, 1493 (St. Martin's Day, hence the name). In 1638 French pirates took control of the island, though by 1640 the Spanish began settling there. Spain left by 1648, at which time the island was amicably divided by Dutch and French [[Prisoner of war|prisoners of war]]. The French claimed a large northern section of the island. A smaller southern section went to the Dutch. The southern section proved to be more valuable due to large [[salt]] deposits.  
  
 
;Curaçao  
 
;Curaçao  
was discovered by Alonso de Ojeda and Amerigo Vespucci in 1499 and settled in 1527 by the Spanish, who used it mainly for livestock raising. In 1634 Johannes van Walbeeck of the Dutch West India Company occupied and fortified the island, which became the base for a rich entrepôt trade flourishing through the 18th century. During the colonial period Curaçao was a major centre of Caribbean slave trade.  
+
Discovered in 1499 by [[Alonso de Ojeda]] and [[Amerigo Vespucci]]. It was not settled until 1527, when Spanish settlers began to raise livestock there. The [[Dutch West India Company]], led by Johannes van Walbeeck, occupied the island in 1634, fortifying it for use as a commercial center and trade base. It thrived throughout the 1700s, and was a major base for the slave trade during the period of colonization. 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
in 1499 and settled in 1527 by the Spanish, who used it mainly for livestock raising. In 1634 Johannes van Walbeeck of the Dutch West India Company occupied and fortified the island, which became the base for a rich entrepôt trade flourishing through the 18th century. During the colonial period Curaçao was a major centre of Caribbean slave trade.  
  
 
;Bonaire  
 
;Bonaire  

Revision as of 14:35, 23 October 2007

Nederlandse Antillen
Antias Hulandes
Netherlands Antilles
Flag of Netherlands Antilles Coat of arms of Netherlands Antilles
MottoLibertate unanimus
(Latin: "Unified by freedom")
Anthem: Anthem without a title
Location of Netherlands Antilles
Capital
(and largest city)
Willemstad
12°7′N 68°56′W
Official languages Dutch, English, Papiamento
Government
 -  Monarch Queen Beatrix
 -  Governor Frits Goedgedrag
 -  Prime Minister Emily de Jongh-Elhage
constitutional monarchy part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands 
Area
 -  Total 800 km² (184th)
309 sq mi 
 -  Water (%) Negligible
Population
 -  July 2005 estimate 183,000 (185th)
GDP (PPP) 2003 estimate
 -  Total $ 2.45 billion (180th)
 -  Per capita $ 11,400 (2003 est.) (79th)
Currency Netherlands Antillean gulden (ANG)
Time zone (UTC-4)
Internet TLD .an
Calling code +599

The Netherlands Antilles, previously known as the Netherlands West Indies or Dutch Antilles/West Indies, were found at two different times by two different people. In 1493 the Windward Islands were discovered by Christopher Columbus and in 1499 the Leeward Islands were discovered by Alonso de Ojeda, where both gave the islands to Spain and under its control until the 17th century. The antilles are part of the Lesser Antilles and consist of two groups of islands in the Caribbean Sea: Curaçao and Bonaire (1499, Alonso de Ojeda), just off the Venezuelan coast, and Sint Eustatius, Saba and Sint Maarten (1493, Christopher Columbus), located southeast of the Virgin Islands. The islands form an autonomous part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Economy to the islands' depend mostly upon tourism and petroleum deployment.


Geography

The Netherlands Antilles are comprised of five main (and several smaller) islands in the Caribbean Sea which are an autonomous part of the Kingdom of The Netherlands. This island group consists of two chains of islands separated by about 500 miles. The highest point of the islands is Mount Scenery, 2,828 ft. (862 meters), located on Saba.

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

  • the southernmost Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles. Known by locals as "Windward", these islands lie less than 50 miles off the Venezuelan coast, along with Aruba:
    • Bonaire, including an islet called Klein Bonaire ("Little Bonaire")
    • Curaçao, including an islet called Klein Curaçao ("Little Curaçao")

The Netherlands Antilles have 596.5 square miles of land and 226 miles of coastlines, with no major lakes or other major water sources. Maritime claims include 12 nautical miles which constitute exclusive fishing zone areas.

Map of the Netherlands Antilles

With a tropical, Caribbean climate, the islands are warm year round. Curaçao and Bonaire are rarely threatened by natural disasters since they lie south and west of the Caribbean hurricane belt. However, Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are subject to hurricanes from July to October.

The northern group of islands are composed of hilly volcanic origins with barren soil and little or no natural irrigation, making agriculture difficult; only 10 percent of the land is considered arable. The southern islands of Curaçao and Bonaire contain bare and eroded soil, the result of overgrazing. Plant life consists mainly of the drought-resistant variety.

Natural resources are extremely limited, with phosphates found on Curaçao and salt found on Bonaire.

Coral reefs are found off all five islands in the Netherlands Antilles. Each island boasts marine parks that encompass a significant fraction of those coral reefs. The need for nationwide government coordination in the protection of these reefs has come to the front due to deterioration of the reefs and a sense of urgency brought on by the discovery of dead reefs off the coast of Belize. Coastal development and dredging, wastewater pollution, increasing incidence of disease and groundings of ocean-going vessels are some of the dangers faced by the Antilles' reefs. [1]

History

The Netherlands Antilles were initially inhabited by Arawak and Carib Indians. As with most of the native Caribbean Island populations, the arrival in the early 16th century of Europeans caused the decimation of the native population.

The windward set of islands were found in 1493 by Christopher Columbus and the leeward set of islands by Alonso de Ojeda in 1499, both of whom sailed for Spain. In the 17th century, the islands were taken by the Dutch West India Company, attracted by salt deposits, and were used as bases for the slave trade as well as plantation products and contraband. Slavery was not abolished until 1863. Except for brief periods of British occupation during the Napoleonic Wars, the islands have remained Dutch possessions.


Though discovered and settled by Europeans at different times, the islands all share a similar history.

Sint Maarten (Saint Martin)

This was the first of the islands of the Netherlands Antilles to be sighted by Europeans, discovered by Christopher Columbus on Nov. 11, 1493 (St. Martin's Day, hence the name). In 1638 French pirates took control of the island, though by 1640 the Spanish began settling there. Spain left by 1648, at which time the island was amicably divided by Dutch and French prisoners of war. The French claimed a large northern section of the island. A smaller southern section went to the Dutch. The southern section proved to be more valuable due to large salt deposits.

Curaçao

Discovered in 1499 by Alonso de Ojeda and Amerigo Vespucci. It was not settled until 1527, when Spanish settlers began to raise livestock there. The Dutch West India Company, led by Johannes van Walbeeck, occupied the island in 1634, fortifying it for use as a commercial center and trade base. It thrived throughout the 1700s, and was a major base for the slave trade during the period of colonization.


in 1499 and settled in 1527 by the Spanish, who used it mainly for livestock raising. In 1634 Johannes van Walbeeck of the Dutch West India Company occupied and fortified the island, which became the base for a rich entrepôt trade flourishing through the 18th century. During the colonial period Curaçao was a major centre of Caribbean slave trade.

Bonaire

also was discovered in 1499 by Ojeda and Vespucci. The island was settled by the Spanish in 1501 and claimed by the Dutch in 1634. It became part of the Dutch West India Company in 1636 and remained a government plantation until 1863. From 1807 to 1814 it was under British control.


Sint Eustatius,

first colonized by the French and English in 1625, was taken by the Dutch in 1632. It became the main centre of slave trade in the eastern Caribbean and by 1780 had a population of 2,500. In 1781 the British sacked Oranjestad (after the U.S. flag had officially been saluted there for the first time), and the island never regained its trade. In the 17th and 18th centuries most of the land was under sugarcane cultivation.


Saba

was settled by the Dutch in 1632 but, because of its inaccessibility and ruggedness, never achieved any economic importance.


In 1954, the status of islands was promoted from that of a colonial territory to part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands as an associated state within a federacy. The island of Aruba was part of the Netherlands Antilles until 1986, when it was granted status aparte, becoming a self-governing state of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Between June 2000 and April 2005, each island of the Antilles had referendums on their future status. The four options offered were:

  • Closer ties with the Netherlands
  • Remaining within the Netherlands Antilles group
  • Autonomous state within the Kingdom of the Netherlands (status aparte)
  • Full independence

Of the islands, Sint Maarten and Curaçao voted for status aparte. Saba and Bonaire voted for closer ties to the Netherlands. Sint Eustatius was the only island to vote to stay in the Netherlands Antilles.

On October 12, 2006, the Netherlands reached an agreement with Saba, Bonaire, and Sint Eustatius; this agreement would make these islands special municipalities.[2] On November 3, 2006, Curaçao and Sint Maarten were granted autonomy in an agreement,[3] but this agreement was rejected by Curaçao on November 28 of the same year.[4] The Curaçao government was not sufficiently convinced that the agreement would provide enough autonomy for Curaçao. [5] Finally on July 9, 2007 Curaçao approved the agreement it had rejected in November 2006.[6] On February 12, 2007, an agreement was signed between the Netherlands and every island except Curaçao. This agreement would end the Netherlands Antilles by December 15, 2008 and make 1 billion guilders (the islands' currency) available for debt relief, social development and poverty reduction.[7]

Politics

The ruling monarch of the Netherlands is the also the head of state in the Netherlands Antilles, who is represented by a governor. The governor is the head of the local government, and forms, together with the council of ministers, the executive branch of the government, much like the United States government. The legislative branch is a two-layered system.

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. The islands have no major administrative divisions.

The Netherlands Antilles are not part of the European Union. Since 2006 the Islands have given rise to diplomatic disputes between Venezuela and the Netherlands. Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez claims that the Netherlands may allow the United States to install military bases that would be necessary for a planned U.S. invasion of Venezuela. On May 23, 2006 an international military stance known as the Joint Caribbean Lion 2006, including forces of the U.S. Navy, began.

Future status

Map of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Netherlands and the Caribbean islands are in the same scale.

The Netherlands Antilles are to be disbanded on December 15, 2008.[7] The idea of the Netherlands Antilles as a state never enjoyed full support of all islands. Political relations between islands were often strained. After a long struggle, Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986, to form its own state within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The desire for secession has also been strong in Sint Maarten.

In 2004 a commission of the governments of the Netherlands Antilles and the Netherlands reported on a future status for the Netherlands Antilles. The commission advised a revision of the Statute of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in order to dissolve the Netherlands Antilles.

Two new associated states within the Kingdom of the Netherlands would be formed, Curaçao and Sint Maarten. Meanwhile, Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius would become a direct part of the Netherlands as special municipalities, a form of "public body" as outlined in article 134 of the Dutch Constitution. These municipalities will resemble ordinary Dutch municipalities in most ways (they will have a mayor, aldermen and a municipal council, for example) and will have to introduce most Dutch law. Residents of these three islands will also be able to vote in Dutch national and European elections. There are, however, some derogations for these islands. Social security, for example, will not be on the same level as it is in the Netherlands, and the islands are not obliged to introduce the euro; they may retain the Antillean guilder pending further negotiations. Also, it is unknown whether prostitution and same-sex marriage will become legal in these islands, which are legal on the mainland of the Netherlands. All five of the island territories may also continue to access the Common Court of Justice of Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles (with the Joint Court probably receiving a new name). The three islands will also have to involve the Dutch Minister of Foreign Relations before they can make agreements with countries in the region.

Originally the term used for Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius to describe their expected association with the Netherlands was "Kingdom Islands". The Dutch province of North Holland has offered the three new municipalities to officially become part of the province.

Additionally, the Kingdom government would consist of the government of the Netherlands and one mandated minister per Caribbean country. The special municipalities would be represented in the Kingdom Government by the Netherlands, as they can vote for the Dutch parliament.

The Netherlands has proposed that the new EU constitution allow the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba to opt for the status of Outermost Region (OMR) also called Ultra Peripheral Region (UPR), if they wish.[8]

Economy

The economy on the island is fostered by tourism, petroleum trans-shipment and oil refinement on Curaçao, as well as offshore finances. 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. Unfortunately 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

A large part of the Netherlands Antilleans descend from European colonists and African slaves that were brought and traded there from the 17th to 19th century. The rest of the population originates from other Caribbean islands, Latin America, East Asia and elsewhere.

Papiamentu is predominant on Curaçao and Bonaire (as well as the neighboring island of Aruba). The creole used here descends from Portuguese and West African languages with a strong admixture of Dutch, plus subsequent lexical contributions from Spanish and English.

In early March 2007, after decades of long debate, English and Papiamentu have been made official languages alongside Dutch. Legislation is produced in Dutch but parliamentary debate is in Papiamentu or English, depending on the island. Due to the islands' closeness to South America, Spanish is becoming increasingly known and used throughout the archipelago.

The majority of the population are followers of the Christian faith, mostly Roman Catholic. Curaçao also hosts a sizable group of followers of the Jewish faith, since descendants of a Portuguese group of Sephardic Jews arrived from Amsterdam and Brazil in 1654.

Most Netherlands Antilleans are Dutch citizens and this status permits and encourages the young and university-educated to emigrate to the Netherlands. This exodus is considered to be to the islands' detriment as it creates a "brain drain". On the other hand, immigrants from the Dominican Republic, Haiti, the Anglophone Caribbean and Colombia have increased their presence in the last years, subduing this "brain drain".

Culture

The origins of the population and location of the islands give the Netherlands Antilles a mixed culture.

Tourism and overwhelming media presence from the United States has increased the regional United States influence. On all the islands, the holiday of Carnival is, like in many Caribbean and Latin American countries, an important one. Festivities include "jump-up" parades with beautifully colored costumes, floats, and live bands as well as beauty contests and other competitions. Carnival on the islands also includes a middle-of-the-night j'ouvert (juvé) parade that ends at sunrise with the burning of a straw King Momo, cleansing the island of sins and bad luck. On Sint Eustatius he is called "Prince Stupid".

Notes

  1. Netherlands Antilles Coral Reef Initiative. July 2007. Netherlands Antilles Coral Reef Initiative Retrieved October 22, 2007.
  2. Radio Netherlands (2006-10-12). Caribbean islands become Dutch municipalities. Retrieved 2007-02-02.
  3. Staff reporter. "Curaçao and St Maarten to have country status", Government.nl, 2006-11-03. Retrieved 2007-02-24. (written in english)
  4. Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (2006-11-29). Curacao rejects final agreement. Retrieved 2007-02-02.
  5. http://www.nu.nl/news/901903/11/Cura%E7ao_verwerpt_slotakkoord.html
  6. The Daily Herald St. Maarten (2007-07-09). Curaçao IC ratifies November 2 accord. Retrieved 2007-07-13.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Staff reporter. "Agreement on division of Netherlands Antilles", Government.nl, 2007-02-13. Retrieved 2007-02-24. (written in english)
  8. Economic Outlook Curaçao 2004 - Chapter 3.2 future relationship bewtwee EU, NL & NL Antilles

External links


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