World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Netherlands Antilles and Aruba
| Publisher | Minority Rights Group International |
| Publication Date | 2007 |
| Cite as | Minority Rights Group International, World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Netherlands Antilles and Aruba, 2007, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4954ce0fc.html [accessed 31 October 2019] |
| Comments | In October 2015, MRG revised its World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples. For the most part, overview texts were not themselves updated, but the previous 'Current state of minorities and indigenous peoples' rubric was replaced throughout with links to the relevant minority-specific reports, and a 'Resources' section was added. Refworld entries have been updated accordingly. |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Environment
The Netherlands Antilles are comprised of two distinct island groups in the Caribbean Sea. Each group has three islands. The six islands of the Netherlands Dependencies are Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao (Leeward Antilles) and St Maarten, St Eustatius and Saba (Windward Islands). The Leeward Antilles group lies off South America to the Northwest of Venezuela and the Windward Islands group is located at the northern end of the Caribbean, southeast of Puerto Rico.
History
Both groups of islands of the Netherlands Antilles were initially settled by the Spanish. In 1634 they were conquered by the Dutch West India Company, which had been granted a monopoly for trade in Africa and the Americas. This included the right to colonize and maintain armed forces.
The Dutch who were among the first Europeans to establish forts for assembling Africans captured on the West African coast and transporting them across the Atlantic, made the Netherlands Antilles the centre of the Caribbean slave trade from the 17th to 19th century.
The abolition of slavery in 1863 dealt a serious blow to the economy. The island of Curaçao was particularly affected. It was not until the 20th century that Curaçao's economy along with that of Aruba, was revived with the establishment of refineries to process petroleum from the oil fields of nearby Venezuela.
In 1954, the islands became an integral part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In 1986 Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles federation and became self-governing.
Peoples
Main languages: Dutch, Papiamento, English
Main religions: Christianity
A substantial section of the population of the Netherlands Antilleans are descendants of European colonists and Africans who were shipped in by the Dutch to be traded in the Caribbean.
The ethno-cultural composition of the islands varies; the so-called 'ABC' islands are extremely cosmopolitan, with the oil industry attracting workers from throughout the Caribbean region as well as from Latin America, East Asia and elsewhere in the world.
Until the development of the tourist industry in St Maarten the 'three S's' were more isolated, with a predominantly European- descended population.
Governance
The head of state is the ruling monarch of the Netherlands, who is represented in the Netherlands Antilles by a governor. Executive power is exercised by the governor, who is an appointee of the Dutch government, Legislative authority is vested in the Staten, which is composed of 22 popularly elected members.
The six islands range in population and economic importance from Curaçao, with its 150,000 inhabitants and important petroleum refinery, to Saba (1,100 population). The islands' economies are mostly dependent on tourism, financial services and aid and remittances sent from the Netherlands.
Minorities
None listed.
Resources
None listed.
