THE NETHERLANDS ANTILLES WILL CEASE TO EXIST
Historic agreement
The Netherlands Antilles consist of five islands: Bonaire and Curaçao (together with Aruba constituting the so-called ABC Islands, or Leeward Antilles, located in the South western Caribbean, near Venezuela). Curaçao is the largest island of the Netherlands Antilles; and Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Maarten (together constituting the three S’s, or Windward Islands, located in the North eastern Caribbean, near Puerto Rico). St. Maarten consists of a Dutch and a French part, the latter of which does not form part of the Netherlands Antilles.
On 2 November 2006, the Dutch government and the Netherlands Antilles have signed an agreement to restructure the Netherlands Antilles. The parties agreed that the country The Netherlands Antilles (‘het Land de Nederlandse Antillen’) will cease to exist, presumably in 2007. Like Aruba, although slightly different, Curacao and St. Maarten will receive the status of autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands in accordance with referendums held on both islands. Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba will each receive the status of Dutch municipality (a.k.a. Kingdom Island). To be continued…
Karel Frielink
Attorney (lawyer) / Partner
[…] On 28 November 2006, a majority of the Curacao politicians voted against the agreement with The Netherlands which was entered into on 2 November 2006. A historical mistake! […]