A Brief History of the Netherlands Antilles. Netherlands Antilles Netherlands Antilles

Capital: The administrative center of the property is Willemstad on the island of Curacao.

Geography: Ownership of the Netherlands in the West Indies (islands of Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, etc.). The total area is 961 km2.

Time: It lags behind Moscow by 7 hours in winter and by 8 hours in summer (GMT \ UTC -4).

Nature: The topography of the islands of Bonaire and Curacao is fairly common in the southern Caribbean. The low islands (Curacao - 375 m, Bonaire - 241 m) represent the tops of the seamounts of the continental shelf that frames the South American continent. The low-lying Bonaire coast slowly rises to the north, gradually turning into a hilly area surrounded by the lagoons and bays of Washington Slagbai National Park. The same gentle strip of Curacao abounds in narrow winding bays, which are former intermontane valleys, heavily eroded and flooded by the sea. In the center of the island rises the heavily destroyed rock massif Ato (Hato, 178 m), and in the north-west - Mount Christofel (375 m). Almost the entire surface of the islands is overgrown with lush tropical vegetation (mostly secondary forests), interrupted only by settlements, agricultural land and long beaches.

The northern part of the property (Saba, Sint Eustatius and Sint Maarten) is as typical in its origin and natural and climatic conditions for the Windward Islands as the ABC Islands are for the Leeward Islands. Formed by the tops of ancient underwater volcanoes, they mostly have a rounded shape and a fairly elevated relief. Rounded Saba is the top of an ancient volcano, the last eruption of which occurred, according to scientists, five thousand years ago. From north-west to south-east, a series of flattened mountain peaks stretches across the island (Meris Point - 585 m, Mount Scenery - 862 m, Muskerhorn Hill, Bubi Hill, etc.), surrounded by hilly areas. The oblong Sint Eustatius in the north is relatively low (the highest point of this area is Signal Hill, 234 m), gradually rising to the south to a height of 600 m (Mount Masinga or Quill). Shallow bays line the entire coast of the island, and their long beaches are often hidden in thickets of dry bushes and small evergreen forests.

Sint Maarten occupies the southern part of the island of Saint Martin. Its indented coastline stretches in a long strip to the northwest, forming a long and narrow spit that limits the Simpson Bay Lagoon from the sea. The southern part of the island is almost 1/5 occupied by the vast saline area of the Great Salt Pond, and to the north there are low hilly areas adjacent to the border of the French part of the island.

The flora and fauna of the southern group of islands is rather poor. In addition to domestic animals brought by Europeans, you can find here only a huge number of lizards and birds. Small evergreen forests, found here and there along the coasts of the islands, are formed by thickets of milkweed, cacti and other thorny bushes. Around the resort areas, vast green belts have been formed from imported decorative forms of vegetation.

The northern group has a slightly larger set of wildlife representatives. On the western slopes of the mountainous regions, rows of palms rise, forming in some places real forests. The eastern slopes have preserved slightly more natural forms of native vegetation and are mostly occupied by tropical forests, shrubs and relatively small areas of farmland.

The coastline of all the islands is framed by a series of small coral reefs (most extensive along the northern and western shores), and between them and the coast there is a strip of shallow lagoons.

Climate: Tropical marine, trade wind. For most of the year, the weather is warm and comfortable with minimal temperature differences between seasons. The average temperature in summer (June - September) is about +27 C, in winter (December - February) - +25 C, while the daily temperature drops are extremely insignificant - the thermometer at night rarely drops below +20 C even in winter.

Northeast trade winds blowing from the Atlantic Ocean bring frequent and heavy rainfall. Precipitation varies from 280 mm on the western shores of the islands to 1000 mm on the northeastern slopes of the coastal uplands. The average annual rainfall on Bonaire is 550 mm (65% of rain falls between October and January), on Curacao - about 500 mm, on Saba and Sint Eustatius - up to 700 mm (the maximum falls in the period from May to October-November) ... The relative humidity is fairly constant throughout the year, averaging 76%.

Curacao and Bonaire are located south of the "Caribbean hurricane belt" and are almost unaffected by the elements, Saba, Sint Eustatius and Sint Maarten are on the southeastern periphery of this zone and may be affected by hurricanes most likely between July-August and October ...

Political system: Since 1954, the Antilles have enjoyed internal autonomy within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The head of state is Queen Beatrix (since April 30, 1980), represented on the islands by the governor. Foreign policy and defense matters are the competence of the Dutch authorities.

Executive power is exercised by the governor through an Advisory Council and a Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister, who usually appoints the leader of the party or coalition that wins the last election. Moreover, each island has its own government: vice-governors, local councils and governments.

The unicameral Legislature, or States, governs internal governance. The parliament is elected by general election for a term of 4 years and consists of 22 members, including 14 from the island of Curacao, 3 from the island of Bonaire, 3 from the island of Sint Maarten and one each from the islands of Saba and Sint Eustatius. All laws passed by parliament and government must be approved by the governor. Parliament also elects and the governor general approves the leader of the parliamentary majority as prime minister. The parliament also elects the cabinet of ministers.

Administrative divisions: Administrative divisions are not fixed in laws, however, each island has its own executive and legislative powers. The territory of the Netherlands Antilles consists of the following parts:
- the island of Curacao;
- Bonaire island;
- Saba island;
- the island of Sint-Eustatius;
- Sint Maarten (southern part of the island of Saint Martin).

Population: 212,226 people (2000). Ethnically, the inhabitants of the islands are mainly descendants of mixed marriages between different ethnic groups of the Old World. These are mainly blacks and mulattos (up to 85%), representatives of Indian peoples (up to 5%), Dutch, Spaniards, Portuguese and other immigrants from the European mainland (up to 6%), as well as emigrants from East Asia and the Middle East. The population density is 221 / km2. The urban population is 70%, the rural population is 30%.

Language: The official language of the islands is Dutch. In addition, the Papiamento language is used, which is a mixture of Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, English and local Indian dialects. English and Spanish are also common.

Religion: About 85% of the population belongs to the Roman Catholic Church, about 8% are Protestants. Also on many islands Islam, Hinduism, Confucianism, Judaism and other religious movements are practiced.

Economy: The volume of GDP is $ 2.4 billion (1998), per capita - $ 11,800. Agriculture produces 1% of GDP, industry - 15%, services - 84%. The main industries are tourism, offshore financial services, oil refining and transportation (Venezuelan), ship repair. Poor soils and water scarcity are not conducive to agricultural development, although the level is high. Arable land accounts for 10% of the total area (1993). Near Willemstad there is a suburban economy (dairy farming, fruit growing, vegetable growing). The economic policy is aimed at the further development of the existing industries, as well as the manufacturing industry.

The length of paved roads is over 800 km. Willemstad has a seaport and an international airport.

Foreign economic relations are focused on Venezuela and other Latin American countries, the USA and EU countries. Merchandise exports ($ 303 million in 1998) consist almost predominantly of petroleum products, partly of agricultural products and finished goods. External debt is high - $ 1.35 billion.

Offshore activities: one of the oldest and most respectable offshore centers in the world, specializing in offshore banks, as well as holding, financial, insurance, management, shipping and other offshore companies. Income tax for offshore companies ranges from 2.4 to 3%.

Currency: Florin of the Netherlands Antilles (guilder, NAF), equal to 100 cents. Pegged to the US dollar. In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 500, 250, 100, 50, 25 and 10 florins, as well as coins of 5, 10, 25 and 50 ("yotin", a square-shaped coin) cents and 5, 2.5 and 1 florins. Florin NAO is a non-convertible currency and cannot be exchanged outside the country.

Main attractions: Netherlands Antilles from X century BC e. were inhabited by the Kaketios Indians (Arawak group). After the discovery of the islands by Europeans, most of the Indians died of hunger or disease, and some fell into slavery (many were deported to Haiti). Until the middle of the 18th century, individual islands passed from hand to hand more than once - Spain, France and Holland equally claimed the seizure of these territories. After the abolition of slavery and a decrease in demand in international markets for the traditional goods of this region: tobacco, sugar and grain, the islands for a long time were only transshipment bases for cargo flows from the New World to Europe. Today, tourism is the most important branch of the local economy (up to a third of the island's population works in this sector), and the islands themselves have become one of the most popular resort areas in the Caribbean with a developed recreation infrastructure and excellent natural conditions.

The southern group of the present-day Netherlands Antilles was discovered by Europeans in 1499, when Alonso de Ohmeda (Oymeda, one of Columbus's lieutenants) reached the coast of Curacao. Since the beginning of the 16th century, this land has been under the protectorate of Spain and serves as a major naval base, and in 1634 it came under the control of the Dutch West India Company. Thousands of slaves were brought to the island to work on plantations, and for two centuries the island flourished as a major supplier of agricultural products. The abolition of slavery in 1863 marks the beginning of a long economic depression in Curacao, which ended in 1916 with the opening of an oil refinery. Oil refining has become the mainstay of the island's fast-growing economy, making it the group's most prosperous area, but the introduction of "clean" processing methods has preserved the natural charm of the land, which has created the conditions for a rapid development of the tourism sector.

Curacao is located in the Leeward Islands group, 56 km from the northern coast of Venezuela, and covers an area of 444 sq. km, being the largest island in the Netherlands Antilles. Flat, rocky and rather deserted, due to the low amount of precipitation (about 500 mm), the island at first glance looks rather dull - the monotonous desert landscape is interrupted only by rare groves and coastal dry forests. However, in reality, Curacao is teeming with life and has many interesting natural sites, as well as beautiful beaches and long coral reefs.

The Dutch founded the city in 1634 as one of their naval bases in the region, building a citadel to protect the natural deep water channel and harbor. As the island's economy flourished, it attracted many Dutch and Jewish traders here, and a wealthy merchant city with many mansions and business districts quickly grew around the defenses. And although much has fallen into disrepair after the economic downturn of the 19th century, Willemstad is still the closest thing to a traditional Dutch town somewhere on the coast of the Scheldt. The island's capital has a population of only 125,000, but continues to be the center of Curaçao's commercial and social activities, as well as the island's largest commercial harbor. The city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered one of the best shopping centers in the Caribbean.

Divided by the narrow and deep Santa Anna Bay or Shotegat channel, the city center forms two main districts: Punda on the east side and Otrobanda on the west. The magnificent coastline along the entire water area of the bay is built up with typical Dutch buildings of the 18th-19th centuries and opulent mansions of merchant families, which today house numerous shops, restaurants, museums and cafes. The old districts are connected by two bridges: Queen Juliana Bridge (spans - 50 m, one of the largest structures of this kind in the Leeward Islands group) and Queen Emma-Pontun Bridge - a floating pedestrian bridge, specially designed to allow passage of those entering the harbor ships. In the harbor itself there is a floating market made up of colorful barges and pontoons, and on the coastline opposite rises the picturesque building of the New Market, which usually opens at 6 am on Saturdays.

To the north of Pund lies the old Jewish district of Sharlu. It houses the second oldest synagogue in the Western Hemisphere - Mikvah Israel-Emanuel (mid-17th century), as well as the old Beth-Heim cemetery with a small history museum in the courtyard.

Fort Amsterdam (1635), from which the development of the city began, today still guards the entrance to the harbor and at the same time is the seat of the government of the Netherlands Antilles, towering in the very center of the historic quarters of Willemstad. In many buildings of the complex and even in the church of the fort, you can still see special casemates, created as warehouses in case of a siege of the fortress. Noteworthy are the statue of the famous freedom fighter Manuel Piar, as well as two memorials associated with the Second World War (one is a gift from the Dutch royal family to the inhabitants of Curacao in gratitude for their support during the German occupation, and the second is dedicated to the islanders who died on the fronts of that war) ...

Despite its small size, Willemstad has an extensive selection of first-class museums and a variety of cultural exhibits. Curacao Museum (tel: (+5999) 462-3873) is located in the western part of the Otrobanda area, in a beautiful historic building dating back to 1853. This spacious museum (the largest on the island) has an extensive collection of works by contemporary local and international artists, a collection of antique furniture from the 18th-19th centuries, old maps and a collection of traditional Indian and local art. And around the museum there is a small park with many cozy recreation places and children's attractions.

The Maritime Museum (tel: (+5999) 465-2327) is located in a mansion built in 1729 right above the mouth of the secondary Waigat Bay, above the floating market. The entire complex of the museum is made in a nautical style, with ladders, portholes and masts, made of wood and copper. Video presentations, along with traditional exhibitions of historical collections, are used throughout the museum to illustrate Curacao's rich maritime past. The museum even has its own ferry that carries passengers from cruise ships that regularly visit the port across the harbor.

The Amsterdam Fort Church Museum (tel: (+5999) 461-1139) is located at the back of the historic church (1769), located on the territory of this fortress on the coastline of the Punda district. It contains a small but very beautiful collection of artifacts from the Dutch Protestant Church, including antique silver bowls and mahogany ritual objects, as well as an impressive collection of old maps of the island.

The Jewish Cultural Historical Museum (tel: (+5999) 461-1633) is part of the Mikva-Israel-Emanuel synagogue complex. The museum contains an impressive collection of religious artifacts and historical documents such as old Torah scrolls and ancient Hanukkahs, as well as many personal and household items and items from the colonial era. The Picturesque Postal Museum (tel: (+5999) 465-8010) on Kaia Toni Prince showcases a complete collection of stamps and other postage items from the Netherlands Antilles and other countries. The museum complex occupies the oldest building in the Punda area, dating back to 1693 (the historic building was carefully restored in the early 1990s).

The Kura Huland Museum (tel: (+5999) 434-7765) on Klipstraat showcases various aspects of the anthropology and culture of Curacao. There is an extensive exhibition on the origins of man, the slave trade, the history and culture of the West African empires and the pre-Columbian cultures of America. The Dutch Central Bank's Numismatic Museum (tel: (+5999) 461-3600) in Breederstraat contains an impressive collection of coins that were circulated in the West Indies and other countries in the past, as well as a collection of precious and semi-precious stones. And Telemuseum (tel: (+5999) 465-2844), housed in a beautifully restored building in the heart of the shopping districts on Wilhelminaplain, traces the history of telecommunications technology from the first telephone installed on the island in the early 1880s to modern fiber optic and satellite communication lines.

Southeast of the capital is the vast complex of Curacao Aquarium - perhaps the most popular attraction on the island. Here are concentrated a yacht parking, a large beach, a hotel and the Aquarium complex itself - 46 pools of various shapes and sizes, which contain about 400 representatives of the marine flora and fauna of the Caribbean Sea region. All aquariums are illuminated by natural sunlight and supplied with clean seawater taken from a certain depth in the nearby reefs, so the inhabitants of the complex live here almost in natural conditions (an interesting feature - each of these pools is freed from fish every year to restore the natural marine microflora). There is also a center for the study and breeding of dolphins - the Dolphin Academy and many other scientific and entertainment institutions.

Immediately outside the city limits are the buildings of the modern ABC University, and a little further along the western road you can find beautiful complexes of old plantation villas - Landhus Papaya and Keru Grandes, as well as the nice beach of Boca San Pedro. To the north of the capital, there is a complex of the beautiful Landhus-Brevengat plantation villa, which houses a permanent fair and exhibition of local handicrafts, a recreation center (owned by the Dutch Marine Corps), a small church and a gift shop. And just 500 m south of Curacao International Airport there is a small limestone massif, in which a vast labyrinth of Ato caves (Hato, total length of about 5 km) was discovered, decorated with many stalactites, magnificent drift forms and underground streams with cascades of waterfalls. The upper tiers contain petroglyphs dating from the 15th-13th centuries. BC e., as well as numerous caches and shelters of escaped slaves, who sometimes hid here for several years.

The shores of Curacao are its main attraction. Here you will not find long, white beaches, so characteristic of other islands in the region, here are more common small isolated shores in secluded coves, which locals simply call "playas" ("coast" for large beaches) or "bokas" ("holes" for small beaches in bays). The best of 38 local beaches are located on the west coast of Curacao, between Westpuntbai and Fort Sint Mikael. These areas are also home to many great diving and snorkeling spots - coral reefs with many interesting diving spots frame almost the entire island.

The best beaches in the northern part of the coast are Playas Kalki ("Limestone Coast") near Westpunt, Westpunt beach itself (quite rocky), one of the most beautiful on the island - Knip beach, very popular with local residents small neighboring Little Knip, framed by trees Playas Kenapa, the narrow picturesque Playas Jeremy bay, the white sandy beach of Port Marie (a few of the public beaches in the northern part of the island where you can safely relax with children) and the most picturesque Kas Aban beach on Banda Abao (it gets crowded on weekends) ...

In the southern part of Curacao, the shores of the civilized Hooks Hut with the Floris Suite Hotel resort, the same equipped Kontiki beach, the center of Curacao nightlife - Mambo Beach, the snow-white and often crowded Siquarium Beach, lying right next to the walls of the new quarters of the eastern part of Willemstad beach deserve attention Jean Thiel with a small shallow lagoon, modern Caracasbay Beach near Spanish Water, and small Barbara Beach (now officially closed) and a quiet beach near Zanzibar Beach Resort in Thiel Bay. Also extremely popular for relaxing by the sea is the deserted island (rather - a large sandbank, crowned with the building of an old lighthouse) Klein Curaçao with its white shores of fine sand and pebbles. Not far from the capital, at a depth of 39 meters, the "Superior Producer" dry cargo ship sank, serving as a real pilgrimage site for divers.

The island of Bonaire, which literally can be translated as "good air", is the second largest island in the Netherlands Antilles, located 80 km north of the Venezuelan coast. With a length of 40 km from north to south and a width of only 8 km, it covers an area of 290 square meters. km. The first known inhabitants were the Kaketios Indians, who settled in Bonaire around the 10th century BC. Within only 20 years after their first contact with Europeans, who appeared off the coast of Bonaire in 1499, most of the Indians died from disease or were exported to Haiti. For almost a hundred years, only exiled settlers from the countries of South America lived here and numerous herds of cattle roamed from the ranch of the Spanish governor. Over time, settlers from Europe founded small settlements on the site of modern Rincon and in the Antriol region, north of the modern capital of the island. In response to the Spanish seizure of the island of Saint Martin, the Dutch occupied Bonaire in 1633, but it was not until 1791 that it officially became part of the Crown.

Hilly in the north (the highest point is Brandaris Hill, 241 m), the island slowly declines to the south. The rather desolate and dry landscape of Bonaire contrasts beautifully with the turquoise waters of the adjacent sea. Giant waste heaps of salt extracted from the local lagoons emphasize the unreality of its yellow-blue landscape, and the numerous "gingerbread" villages with green gardens only increase this contrast. Bonaire remains the least populated and least developed of the so-called "ABC Islands" (southern group of the Netherlands Antilles). The ubiquitous lizards, bats, about 200 bird species and feral goats - that's the whole fauna of Bonaire. But the sea around the island is literally teeming with life - more than 450 species of fish, four species of sea turtle and about 70 species of algae are registered in the local waters, and in terms of the number of marine mammals it is not inferior to Curacao. Therefore, Bonaire has long been considered a recognized center for diving and water sports.

The tiny capital of the island is home to only 1,800 people. Located on the banks of the picturesque harbor on the west coast of the island, Kralendijk (literally translated "Coral Dam") is the commercial center of Bonaire and its main port. Seen from the sea as just a small group of low-rise buildings painted in soft pastel colors, it nonetheless contains most of the island's government offices, as well as shops, hotels, restaurants and bars. There are practically no special sights here - you can walk the whole city in just a couple of hours. But on the other hand, the peaceful atmosphere of "old Holland" has been preserved here, attracting 12 times more tourists here per year than living in the city itself.

One of the main attractions of the city is Fort Oran (Fort Orange, XIX century), which now houses the port office, as well as the adjacent stone lighthouse. The second main attraction is the Museo Boneriano (Museum of Bonaire), located just outside the city limits, on Caya Sabana. The museum complex is housed in a mid-19th century plantation house, carefully restored to its original state at the end of the 20th century. There are quite interesting exhibitions on the history and culture of the Indian tribes that inhabited the island before the arrival of Europeans, plantation, architecture and history of the island, as well as wildlife, geology and various aspects of local culture. Opposite the museum there is an old building of a small shop, which has now been turned into an administration office and the museum's ticket office.

Almost opposite the capital, just 1.5 km from the coast, lies the uninhabited island of Klein Bonaire. Deserted and surrounded by superb reefs, it is a popular spot for picnics and diving. Unlike the "Big Bonaire" itself, there are many sandy shores, perfect for relaxing by the sea. However, these same shores serve as a natural nesting habitat for seabirds and a nesting site for turtles, therefore, at present, part of the island is under state protection in accordance with the International Agreement on the Conservation of Wetlands.

South of Kralendijk, there are deserted seashores dotted with salt mines, old plantations and the main attraction of the island - excellent diving sites (the most popular areas for diving and snorkeling here are Alice in Wonderland Reef, Angel City double reef with sunken transport "Hilma-Hooker"). Circling the entire southern coast, the road passes pink and turquoise pools owned by the salt company Cargill Salt, one of the largest commercial organizations on Bonaire. Salt harvesting has been a major industry in Bonaire for over 350 years. The seawater pumped into the pits gradually evaporates, leaving salt crystals that are collected and exported. The concrete stelae towering over Bleve-Pan and Rhode-Pan were used until 1863 as flagpoles to inform merchant ships that the salt was collected and ready for removal.

Near Witte Pan (one of the best beaches on the island) and a little further south, near Oran Pan, you can see small groups of small white and red-brown huts nestling over the edge of the coast. Built in 1850, these steep-roofed structures with tiny windows were intended to house slaves from nearby quarries. By the way, if you carefully examine the surrounding area, you can find in the crust of solidified salt traces of people who worked here, left more than a century and a half ago.

Farther south, areas of "pink fog" begin, on closer inspection turning out to be thousands of pink flamingos that inhabit the Pekelmeer Nature Reserve (135 acres) - the largest nesting site of these beautiful birds in the Western Hemisphere (their number is estimated at an average of 10 thousand heads). These tall graceful birds are by their nature very shy and fearful, therefore the territory of the reserve itself (and even the airspace above it) is closed to humans, but nothing prevents you from observing this unique spectacle from the nearby rocky outcrops or from the coast. Every night, large flocks of these birds fly to the coast of Venezuela and return at dawn, literally covering the sky with their pink wings.

Nearby are the ruins of the Willemstoren lighthouse, the first structure of its kind, erected on the island in 1837. From the lighthouse, the road turns north and runs along the rugged coastline, which locals call Piedra Preto (Black Stone). It is worth making a short stop here to see piles of twisted driftwood flitting amid large boulders of sun-bleached coral, demonstrating the awesome power of the waves that have shaped this side of the island. Nearby is the so-called Donkey Sanctuary, which is almost the only place on the planet where this pack animal is protected. The ancestors of these animals were brought to the island in the 18th century to work in salt mines (then almost a quarter of Bonaire's territory was covered with salt pans), and after replacing live draft power with machines, hundreds of donkeys were simply released. Therefore, the locals decided that it was easier to keep these useful, but very annoying animals in one place than to allow them to multiply uncontrollably on the island, which is so poor in vegetation, and created this unusual reserve. Now about a thousand of these animals live here in the wild, and watching them brings a lot of joy to children.

At the northern end of the road, just before the turn back to the capital, the highway passes the shallow Bay of Lak, the island's best windsurfing and kayaking spot. The sheltered waters of the bay and steady trade winds attract athletes of all levels and ages, and in October it hosts the traditional Bonaire Windsurf Regatta. In the small village of Kai, located in the northern part of the bay, there is a traditional gathering place for board and sail lovers, where there is a small restaurant and local musicians constantly play. Further, the road runs through the desert thickets of cacti and dry bushes, inhabited only by feral donkeys and goats, going out to the capital from the southeast.

The oldest settlement on Bonaire, Rincon is nestled in a valley northwest of the capital. The settlement was founded by the Spaniards in the early 16th century, eventually becoming home to many slaves who worked on the nearby plantations and salt mines. It is now a small group of traditional Dutch houses with a single pay phone and a gas station. It is best to visit during the annual Rincon Day Festival (April 30), when visitors from many Caribbean islands come to the city to see the best examples of traditional music and dance, or sample local food. Throughout the rest of the year, the only attractions here are just the relaxed atmosphere of this colorful town and the famous Prisca's Ice Cream ice cream shop on Kaya Comcober, where the most unusual types of this delicacy are prepared.

Bonaire is not a place to find long, white beaches framed by green palm trees. Most of the beaches on the island are public property and easily accessible (with the exception of the Harbor Village Resort, which is only accessible to guests of the resort or those who have paid a certain admission fee). Nudism is illegal here, with the exception of Sorobon Beach, which is a private resort specializing in this particular type of recreation. Swimming and sunbathing topless is not prohibited, but it is not encouraged either, however, on isolated small beaches, no one pays attention to this.

The best seashores of the island are Playas Chiquita within the Washington Slagbai National Park (swimming here is quite dangerous, since the currents are strong and often high waves come from the ocean), Playa Funchi beach lying in the very northwest of the island (recommended for diving by the Office tourism Bonaire), rocky beach Boca Slagbai (surrounded by beautiful houses of the mid-19th century), quiet little Playa France beach near the border of the national park, also located on the northern coast of Boca Kokolishi beach (famous for its round shallow lagoons), the northernmost coast Marine Park - Boca Bartol (excellent for snorkeling), beautiful Southend Steps (quite difficult to access due to the surrounding cliffs), narrow sandy strip of Bachelor Beach south of Plava Mangel, well-developed Pink Beach with excellent conditions for snorkeling and diving, as well as virtually the entire coast of Lac Bay.

The island of Sint Eustatius, better known among the locals as Statia, was called Alo ("cashew tree") before the arrival of Europeans. None of the European powers were able to establish a permanent settlement here until 1636, when the Dutch, after defeating the French, founded the first fortified settlement on the site of the foundation of the French fort (subsequently the island changed hands 22 times). In the XVII-XVIII centuries. the island was a thriving port commonly known as the "Golden Rock". Just 8 km long and 3 km wide, it is located in the Leeward Islands group, 60 km south of Saint Martin, 27 km southeast of Saba. The relief of Sint Eustatius is typical for the islands of the region - at its base lies an ancient extinct volcano, whose cones are easily visible in the form of the main landmarks of the island - the two-headed Mount Masinga (Qwill, 600 m) in the southeast and the Signal Hill massif (about 240 m) in the north. Almost the entire coast of the island is rocky - the cliffs fall right to the coastline, so there are very few good beaches here. The central part of the island is occupied by a small plain, where the only major city on the island is located - Oranjestad. Most of the island's territory is arid, and the vegetation is limited to literally a dozen species, but on the slopes and in the crater of Mount Masing, which collect enough rain, there is a real rainforest (there are 18 species of orchids alone), inhabited by 25 species of birds, snakes, lizards and arboreal frogs (along with the ubiquitous goats, cows and donkeys).

The capital and only city of Sint Eustatius is a rather pleasant settlement with a charming historical flavor. Situated on the coastline, the Lower Town is where European settlers first settled and the first port was located, so the area still contains several dozen old buildings from the colonial era, as well as the best beach on the island. Here you can see the ruins of old walls, warehouses and shops that are slowly sinking into the sea (the damage caused by the fire of the British fleet in 1781 and numerous hurricanes could not be compensated for), the beige and black sand of the city beach and the old breakwater - the most popular place for snorkeling.

Right in the center of the city, on a cliff above the Lower City, stands the well-preserved Fort Orany (17th century, the first fortifications were built by French settlers in 1629), surrounded by a triple ring of fortifications. Its walls, crowned with old cannons, offer a picturesque panorama of the city and the adjacent water area, and the cobblestone courtyard with its memorial plaques is considered one of the most favorite places among tourists - it has remained practically unchanged since the construction of the fort.

The thick stone walls of the old Reform church on Kerkweg Street, built in 1755, remain completely intact today, but the roof collapsed under the blows of a hurricane in 1792 and since then this colorful building is "open to heaven". Five hundred meters to the north rises the building of the Government Pension (XVIII century, the residence of the governor and the courthouse were located here), from whose tower, restored in 1981, you can contemplate the panorama of the city completely free of charge. Just a few minutes' walk to the northeast lies the small Museum of Sint Eustatius (open Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 17.00, Saturdays from 9.00 to 12.00; entrance - $ 2), housed in one of the most beautiful buildings of the eighteenth century - the mansion of Simon Donker (18th century Dutch merchant). His collection includes the entire spectrum of the island's historical relics, from pottery from the Native American period to items from the colonial era.

Among the colonial ruins of the city center, Honen Dalim (1739), the second oldest synagogue in the Caribbean, is especially popular. About half a kilometer east of the ruins of the synagogue, you can find a Jewish cemetery with gravestones dating from 1742 to 1843.

The Upper Town is the capital's main commercial and residential area, where most of the banking offices, commercial establishments and more modern residential areas are concentrated. Not far from its outskirts is the Miriam Schmidt Botanical Garden with an extensive collection of flora samples from the entire region, and south of the city, almost at the southernmost tip of the island, there are white cliffs and a small Fort De Windt (18th century) with its battlements and a dozen old guns ...

Outside Oranjestad, the island does not shine with an abundance of interesting places. Small Key Bay, the vast Zeeland Bay (this is where the first European settlers landed, and nowadays it is an excellent beach area), the beach area in Venus Bay, small beaches on the coast of Jenkins Bay, Compagne Bay and Back Off Bay, as well as the lush rainforest on the slopes of Mount Masing (now most of the slopes and the crater forest are protected by the national park of the same name) - these are all its attractions. But Sint-Eustatius has a significant "reserve" in the form of its underwater world, which is still rather poorly explored. Almost the entire underwater base of the island is cut by a whole network of extended underwater canyons, caves and walls, which, together with warm water, made it possible to form a fairly rich underwater fauna here. More than 200 wrecks off the western coast of ships of all times and peoples are currently hidden under coral reefs, but the coral massifs of Anchor Reef, Dubby Crack, Zealand Bay or Jenkins Bay, grown on ancient lava fields, are already worthy of attention. (like on many other islands of the group, a special permit is required to dive in the waters of Sint Eustatius).

The southern part of the island of Saint-Martin (for the convenience of pronunciation, this territory is often called simply Sint-Maarten in Dutch or Saint-Martin in French) by its natural and climatic conditions is somewhat different from its southern "neighbors". Because of the numerous salt water bodies scattered in abundance throughout the southern part of the island, the Indians who inhabited it before the arrival of the Europeans called the island Sualiga, which can be translated as "Land of salt". Columbus discovered the island in November 1493, on St. Martin's Day, which determined its modern name (however, many historians believe that the island Columbus accidentally stumbled upon that day was not modern Sint Maarten, but lying south of Nevis, and that the great navigator never set foot on the land of the northernmost island of the Netherlands Antilles). In any case, it was only in 1631 that the first European colonialists landed on the coast of the island (almost simultaneously the Dutch did it in Little Bay and the French in the Orleans area) and began to develop it.

Occupying only 34 sq. km The Dutch part of the island is a vast hilly area descending by two low ridges of Sentry Hill (344 m) and Williams Hill (264 m) to the gentle southern coast, indented by extensive lagoons and narrow deep bays. The western part of Sint Maarten is a narrow spit separating the vast Simpson Bay Lagoon from the sea, one of the largest inland waters in the Caribbean. The most noticeable landmark of Sint Maarten is the extinct Mount Flagstaff volcano (386 m), against the background of which the highest point of the entire island, Mount Paradise (400 m), lying to the north, in the French part of the island, is completely lost. Numerous salt lagoons and many small islands: Pelican Key (Guana Key), Little Key, Molly Bedi, Hen and Chicken border the coastline of Sint Maarten. Its landscape is mostly green, but dry - the vast majority of the island's flora is made up of palms, hibiscus and cacti, although there are several small forests in the hilly central regions. The fauna is represented by almost a hundred species of birds and several species of lizards, as well as feral domestic animals. Unlike the other islands of the group, there are many long sandy shores, especially frequent in the southern and western regions of the island, and in the lagoons, the beaches extend the entire width of the sandbanks separating them from the sea.

The capital and only city of the Dutch part of the island, Philipsburg sits on a long spit of sand that separates Salt Pond Lagoon from Great Bay. The city consists, in fact, of only two streets: Voorshtraat (Front Street) and Achterstraat (Glukha Street), which are interconnected by a network of short and narrow lanes. Most of the local buildings are classic examples of early colonial architecture - steep tiled roofs, red and white facades, and small windows with frequent painted frames that are almost exactly the same as old Dutch country houses. Even the multitude of restaurants, casinos, jewelry and duty-free shops, sparkling with windows and modern lighting, do not spoil its patriarchal appearance, which is a real hallmark of the city.

The sights of Philipsburg usually include its nine rather modest churches, the Queen Wilhelmina monument, the Sint Maarten Museum with an extensive historical collection and collection of objects from the frigate Proselita that sank in 1801 near the walls of Fort Amsterdam, the picturesque Watney Square in the southern part of the city, the dock and the old courthouse (1793), stretching west of the central part of the city, Fort Willem (built in 1801 by the British, captured by the Dutch in 1816 and subsequently rebuilt), as well as Fort Amsterdam (1631) lying on a long and narrow peninsula southwest of the city - the first Dutch military base in the Caribbean. In the northern part of Salt Pond Lagoon is the tiny Sint Maarten Zoo and Botanical Garden, which contains 35 species of reptiles, birds and mammals, including the rare Saint Kitts monkeys.

To the northeast of the zoo begins the white-washed Dawn Beach and Oyster Pond, widely recognized as the best snorkeling and windsurfing spot near the capital. The border between the French and Dutch parts of the island runs along them, but this border is extremely "transparent" - any swimmer can completely freely swim across the bay in any direction. From here you can also walk to Mount Concordia, which rises on the border in the center of the island. In 1648, it was here that an agreement was signed, which divided Saint-Martin into two parts, so this picturesque mountain (rather, just a high hill) has been serving for more than 350 years as a symbol of peaceful coexistence between the two cultures, and a Border Monument dedicated to the act of dividing the island.

The charming market town of Marigot is located right on the border (no documents are required to cross the border), in the hilly areas of the central regions you can find many old farms and plantations of the colonial era, some of which still perform their direct function. Not far from the capital, another attraction of Sint Maarten is located - the picturesque Butterfly Farm, where more than 4 thousand of these beautiful insects are kept in their natural environment. A special article of local tourism is the gambling business - on the Dutch side, mostly around the capital, there are 12 ultra-modern casinos, where fans of this type of recreation often come not only from the countries of the region, but also from many parts of Europe and the Americas.

Located on the southwest coast of the island, Maho Bay is the main resort area of Sint Maarten. Densely furnished with multi-storey buildings, jewelry stores, art galleries, restaurants and casinos, the white strip of the beach practically abuts the runway of the local airport, so this area is widely known for its rather exotic spectacle - huge passenger planes flying right over the heads of vacationers. And very unusual local signs warning that "low-flying planes can cause injury" are an extremely popular "souvenir" among visitors to the island. To the north begins the excellent one and a half-kilometer Mallet Beach, literally flowing into the quiet Kapkoy Beach, which is a set of ancient weathered cliffs, at the base of which small cozy coves with white sand are hidden (many coves are rented out to large resort complexes, so access to them is allowed only to guests hotels).

Also popular are resort areas such as Little Bay Beach (one of the best snorkelling spots on the island with very clear waters), East Beach in the northeast with its water sports center, surprisingly quiet private Simpson Bay Beach between a picturesque fishing village and the sea, and a favorite windsurfer destination, Coconut Grove on the northeast coast.

The most popular diving site on the island is Proselite Reef, which lies a few kilometers south of Philipsburg, where the British frigate of the same name sank in 1802 at a depth of 15 meters. Also good are the nearby shallow coral reefs with caves, Windy Reef and East Beach, as well as a range of incredible coral reefs near the Maes.

The island of Saba (the locals pronounce this name as Sai-ba) bears the unofficial title of the "Untouched Queen" of the Caribbean. Saba forms the westernmost corner of the island triangle of Sint Maarten (46 km northeast of Saba) and Sint Eustatius (32 km southeast). Occupying an area of only 13 sq. km (the smallest of the Netherlands Antilles), the island is the summit of the underwater volcano Mount Sceneri, which rises 890 meters above the water (the highest island in the Dutch possessions of the region). There are no rivers or permanent streams, and the leeward (western) side is dry and overgrown only with thickets of cacti and dry bushes. And at the same time, the windward (eastern) side of Saba is in sharp contrast to the dry west - the mountain slopes here are overgrown with lush forests with a large number of tree ferns, palms, mahogany, oleander, hibiscus and orchids, and more than 60 species nest under the forest canopy. birds, several species of lizards and tree frogs.

Saba was inhabited by the Arawak tribes over 1,300 years ago. During his second trip to the New World, on November 13, 1493, Christopher Columbus was the first of the Europeans to pass near the coast of Saba (he did not dare to land on the island, since the rocky shores of Saba were not suitable for such an operation). The Dutch claimed their rights to the island in 1632, and the first colonists arrived here from Sint Eustatius in 1640. After the end of the Napoleonic Wars in Europe, the British, who held the island in their hands for a long time, were forced to return it to Holland in 1816, and since then it is considered one of the most remote areas of this country.

Today Saba is the "most unspoiled" island of the Netherlands Antilles, where locals still believe that "there are so few tourists here that every one of them is almost a celebrity" (although the figure of 25 thousand tourists a year suggests otherwise) ... Indeed, until the 70s of the XX century, Saba was a real isolated oasis, having neither an airport nor a protected harbor, so everyone who got here made a difficult journey by sea with many transfers. Most of the locals trace their ancestry back to only half a dozen families of the first settlers (among whom, oddly enough, very few are Dutch), are very pious and sacredly honor the old traditions. There is only one modern road (it is called the Road, with a capital letter), few hotels, but many beautiful beaches, and in schools English is taught along with Dutch. In general, Saba justifies its title and is still a vacation spot only for supporters of ecological tourism and athletes, but it can offer them everything they need most - a diverse nature, quiet shores and a complete absence of the annoying recreation industry. Even the local airport Juancho-Irausquin, which proudly bears international status, is considered the shortest runway in the world - its runway length is less than 914 meters, and only three types of aircraft are allowed to land here.

The largest settlement on the island, Windwardside is more like a large village with picturesque houses and an abundance of gardens. Located on the windward side of the island, at the foot of Mount Scenery, this town is more suitable for the title of the tourist capital of the island - there is a lot of greenery here, the climate is noticeably cooler than in the west, most of the hotels, restaurants and shops are located here, the tourist office of Saba , nestled in a miniature alley, a post office, a supermarket, several banks and quite modern art galleries. The Saba Museum is housed in an old mansion (19th century) surrounded by a lush garden. Here are collected furnishings, pottery and tools throughout the foreseeable history of the island, from the Indian era to the sextants and compasses of the colonization period. Nearby is the Harry L. Johnson Memorial Museum in the Dutch captain's restored mansion, as well as Jobean's Hot Glass Studio and the colorful Heritage Shoppe, where you can find the best examples of the famous Sabanian weaving.

Between Windwardside and the island's international airport, on the side of a mountain, there is a village with the unusual name of Hell Gate ("The Gates of Hell"). The main landmark of this picturesque settlement is the stone church of Holi Rosari, which seems to be old, but in fact was built only three decades ago. Just behind the church is the Hell Gate Community Center, which sells the finest local weaving and embroidery, as well as Saba Spice rum and other traditional local crafts. And the road passing through this village is famous for its picturesque panoramas of the vicinity of Mount Sceneri and sometimes overlooking the neighboring islands.

Although the waters of the east coast of Saba are often turbulent, and coastal cliffs severely limit seaside recreation, Cove Bay near the airport is quite good for active water sports, as it is sheltered from the sea by rocky headlands and boulders. Here you can fearlessly refresh yourself on a hot day, which many passengers who are waiting for flights do with pleasure (you can walk from the bay to the airport in just 5 minutes). Nearby, there are buildings of an old tannery (now medical school students are engaged here), and right under the coastal cliff stretches a whole series of small lagoons, where you can observe the living community of the tidal zone (you can swim here, but not very comfortable - in the hot local climate, shallow lagoons sometimes warm up to + 40-47 C).

The administrative center of Saba is located in the southwestern part of the island, in a hilly area formed by the eroded slopes of the ancient lateral crater Mount Sceneri. Quiet and charming town, Bottom differs from other settlements on the island except for the presence of administrative offices and a completely modern road that runs from here to Fort Bay. Otherwise, it is the same green and patriarchal town, although the vegetation here is clearly somewhat scarcer than on the east coast. From its colonial past, Bottom has preserved several cobbled streets, the governor's picturesque mansion in the western part of the city (closed to the public) and an Anglican church. The rest of the city's buildings are clearly young, but executed with a special simple grace, so characteristic of the culture of Saba.

The center of Bottom is Main Square, in the middle of which, on a patch of grass, stands a bust of Samuel Charles, a policeman who was killed in a clash with drug dealers in 1989 (this incident literally shook the island, and the peacekeeper himself was honorably buried among the best people in the city). Around the square stretches a number of neat buildings of the fire service, police station and court, among which grazing goats can easily walk or impeccably dressed children play (there is a special conversation about the attitude of the inhabitants of Saba to clothes, but local students even here stand out for their neatness). At the base of the hill, on the outskirts, is the University of Saba School of Medicine (representatives of almost all countries of both Americas and the Caribbean study here), and just below the local Department of Public Works in a white-stone building of an old school, literally sandwiched between tall cacti (typical, that these plants bloom only at night, emitting a fantastic aroma, which sometimes literally permeates the whole city) and the oldest Anglican church on the island (the date of its construction is estimated in the middle of the 18th century). And between them wind quiet and tidy streets with old stone walls and white palisades.

West of Bottom, the road leads to Saba's only beach in Wells Bay, with good snorkelling conditions (all equipment must be brought with you). To the south of the city, the road passes through a dry landscape with numerous cacti, reaching the sea in Fort Bay, where the island's only port and the best diving site is located. The town of the same name houses numerous shops (including specialized outlets for divers and a decompression chamber), the Saba Marine Park office, a power plant, a desalination plant and Saba's only gas station. There is no beach as such, but local kids will be happy to show you a few convenient approaches to the water (first of all, this is the port pier).

Historical overview: The Spaniards appeared on the islands at the end of the 15th century. In the period 1630-1640 the islands were occupied by the Dutch, then were repeatedly occupied by the Spanish, British and French. They finally passed to the Netherlands in 1816. Until the abolition of slavery in 1863, the territory was the center of the slave trade in the Caribbean. Since 1954 it has been a self-governing part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Previously, the possession included the island of Aruba (since January 1, 1986 - a separate territory within the Kingdom of the Netherlands).

National domain: .AN

Entry rules: To enter the Netherlands Antilles, citizens of Russia and the CIS need a visa, which is issued at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Moscow or at the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in St. Petersburg.

Customs regulations: Import and export of local and foreign currency is not limited, amounts over 20 thousand florins (or equivalent) are subject to declaration.

Persons over the age of 15 are allowed duty-free import of up to 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, or 100 cigarillos (weighing up to 3 grams each) and up to 250 grams of tobacco; up to 1 liter of spirits or 2.25 liters of wine, or 3 liters of beer, as well as personal belongings and gifts worth up to 100 florins. If the total value of items of market value for one entrant exceeds 500 florins, you will need to fill out a customs declaration and pay a fee (however, there is a chance to prove that these are goods for personal use). There are no restrictions on the import of perfumes and perfumes.

Leather goods from Haiti, weapons and explosives, drugs and narcotic drugs are prohibited from import into the country, although there are some concessions for the latter, as well as silver coins and products from Holland and Suriname. It is prohibited to export without special permission objects and things of historical and artistic value, especially those found at the bottom of the sea.

Netherlands Antilles (Netherlands Antilles).

The administrative center is the settlement of Villemstad (Curacao island).

The Netherlands Antilles are two groups of leeward islands in the Caribbean. Bonaire Island and Curacao are located off the coast of Venezuela, while Sint Eustatius, Saba and Saint Martin are close to the Virgin Islands.

Population - 225 thousand people: blacks, mulattoes, Indians, Portuguese, Dutch, Spaniards.

Until 1863, the Netherlands Antilles were the center of the slave trade.

The Netherlands Antilles is a fairly popular resort. A large number of tourists from different countries of the world come here every year. Foreigners are attracted here by excellent natural conditions and a developed recreation infrastructure.

Curacao is the largest island in the Netherlands Antilles. At first glance, however, Karasao seems dull. The reason for this is the monotonous desert landscape, but in reality, life is thriving on the island. There are many interesting natural sites, pristine coastlines and coral reefs.

Bonaire is the second largest island in the Netherlands Antilles. Fans of diving especially like to relax in these places. The attractiveness of the island lies in the incredibly rich marine flora and fauna, beautiful coral "gardens", the abundance of sheer underwater walls. Here, tourists are offered daily diving tours. The island also has excellent conditions for windsurfing and yachting.

Hiking is well developed on the island of Saba. Excursions from Windwardside to Mount Scenery Peak are very popular here. Tourists who have climbed to the top have a great opportunity to look at the beautiful tropical vegetation of the surrounding area.

Local time is 8 hours behind Moscow time in summer and 7 hours in winter.

Climate

Tropical. The islands are warm all year round. The air temperature is within + 26-32˚С.

The water warms up to + 25-27˚С.

Shopping

Most often, guests of the islands buy jewelry and jewelry, watches and various household items here.

Kitchen

The islands' cuisine is quite varied and is a mixture of European culinary traditions.

The basis for most local dishes is seafood - lobster and lobster, shrimp and shells, seaweed, deep-sea fish. Meat is rarely used.

Among the most common dishes, one should highlight snapper meat cooked on coals, salted cod, baked shells with cactus fruits, crokesh - fish meatballs, sipi-di-pisca - fish soup with coconut milk, keshi-yena - a dish of beef, poultry meat, fish, squeaky bark - fried snapper.

Dutch cheeses and lightly salted fish are very popular among locals.

Tip

In many hotels and restaurants, a tip in the amount of 10-15% of the cost of services or order is automatically added to the bill. In other cases, in gratitude for the quality service, you can leave a small monetary reward.

Visa

To enter the territory of the islands, citizens of the Russian Federation and the CIS need a visa.

It is issued at the embassy or consulate general of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

To obtain a visa, you will need a passport, a photocopy of its first page, a questionnaire, 1 photo, a hotel reservation, a copy of air tickets, a certificate from the place of work or study, an insurance policy, confirmation of the availability of sufficient funds to stay on the islands.

Communication

Mobile communication of the GSM 900/1800 standard. The coating quality is very good. In the Netherlands Antilles, the roaming service is available to subscribers of many Russian operators.

Landline telephone communication on the islands is well developed. There are payphones in almost all settlements in the Netherlands Antilles. Telephone cards can be purchased at telephone company offices, newspaper and tobacco kiosks, supermarkets, post offices.

You can access the Internet from Internet cafes in all administrative centers and large settlements of the islands. Many hotels offer Internet services.

Currency

Florin of the Antilles. Equal to 100 cents. In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500 florins and coins in denominations of 5, 10, 25, 50 cents, 1, 2.5, 5 florins.

Local retail outlets, hotels and restaurants accept US dollars.

You can buy the currency of the Netherlands Antilles at bank branches.

ATMs are installed everywhere on the islands.

12.186111 , -68.989444

Motto: "Libertate unanimus
(Latin: "Unanimous in freedom")» National Anthem of the Netherlands Antilles Official language Dutch, English, Papiamento Capital Willemstad Largest cities Willemstad Form of government A constitutional monarchy Queen
The governor
Prime Minister Beatrix
Fritz Godgedrag
Emilie de Jong-Elhage Territory
Total
960 km² Population
Total ()
Density
183,000 people
221 people / km² Currency Antilles Guilder Internet domain Timezone UTC -4

Netherlands Antilles consist of two groups of islands in the Caribbean Sea, are autonomous within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Two large islands, Curacao and Bonaire, are located in the southern part of the Lesser Antilles archipelago, off the coast of Venezuela. Three small islands, Saint Martin, Sint Eustatius and Saba, are located in the north of the archipelago, about 1000 km from the main islands.

The total area of the Netherlands Antilles is 960 km², the population is 225 thousand people. (2008). The administrative center is the city of Willemstad on the island of Curacao.

History

The Spaniards appeared on the islands at the end of the 15th century. The island of Saint-Martin was first discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493. In 1499 the Spaniard Alonso de Ojeda discovered the southern islands inhabited by the Arawak and Caribbean Indians. However, the Spaniards did not find precious metals there, and they did not begin to develop these islands.

Previously, the possession included the island of Aruba (since January 1, 1986 - a separate territory within the Kingdom of the Netherlands).

Political structure

Since 1954, the Antilles have enjoyed internal autonomy within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The head of state is Queen Beatrix (since April 30), represented on the islands by the governor. Foreign policy and defense matters are the competence of the Dutch authorities.

There are many political parties in the Netherlands Antilles. Each of the five islands has its own parties - 15 parties in Curacao, 6 at Sint Maarten, 3 at Sint Eustatius, and 2 each at Bonaire and Saba. 11 parties are now represented in the parliament of the territory (22 members).

Administrative division

Administrative divisions are not fixed in laws, however, each island has its own executive and legislative powers. The territory of the Netherlands Antilles consists of the following parts:

the island of Curacao;
the island of Bonaire;
the island of Saba;
the island of Sint-Eustatius;
Sint Maarten (southern part of the island of St. Martin).

Netherlands antilles

Geographic data

The property is located in the Lesser Antilles. The Netherlands Antilles include islands from the Leeward group: Curacao, Bonaire (southern group) and from the Windward group: Saba, Sint Eustatius and the southern part of St. Martin (northern group), the northern part of the island is controlled by France). The total area is 994 km². The island of Aruba in the city left the federation of the Antilles and received the status of the territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands with internal self-government.

The coastline is 364 km long. Land border with Guadeloupe (10.5 km) on the island of Saint Martin. The maritime borders of the islands of the northern group with Antiua and Barbuda in the southeast and Saint Kitts and Nevis in the south, at the islands of the southern group with Venezuela in the south and east and with Aruba in the west.

The low islands of the southern group (Curacao - 375 m, Bonaire - 241 m) represent the peaks of the seamounts of the continental shelf, framing the South American continent. Almost the entire surface of the islands is overgrown with lush tropical vegetation (mainly secondary forests), interrupted only by settlements, agricultural land and long beaches. The islands of the northern group are formed by the tops of ancient underwater volcanoes (Kiel), they are generally rounded and have a rather elevated relief.

The flora and fauna of the southern group of islands is rather poor. In addition to domestic animals introduced by Europeans, only a huge number of lizards and birds can be found here. Small evergreen forests, found here and there along the coasts of the islands, are formed by thickets of milkweed, cacti and other thorny bushes. Around the resort areas, extensive green belts have been formed from imported decorative forms of vegetation.

The northern group has a slightly larger set of wildlife representatives. On the western slopes of the mountainous regions, rows of palms rise, forming in some places real forests. The eastern slopes have preserved slightly more natural forms of native vegetation and are mainly occupied by tropical forests, shrubs and relatively small areas of farmland.

Protected Natural Areas: Sint Cristofel National Park (Curacao Island), Washington Slagbai National Park (Bonaire Island), Bonaire Marine Park (a long coral reef surrounding Bonaire Island), Saba Marine Park.

The coastline of all the islands is framed by a series of small coral reefs (most extensive along the northern and western shores), and between them and the coast there is a strip of shallow lagoons.

The climate is tropical maritime, trade wind. Most of the year the weather is warm and comfortable with minimal temperature differences between seasons. The average temperature in summer (June - September) is about +27 ° C, in winter (December - February) - +25 ° C, while the daily temperature drops are extremely insignificant - the temperature at night rarely drops below +20 ° C, even in winter ...

Curacao and Bonaire are located south of the "Caribbean hurricane belt" and are almost not exposed to natural strikes, Saba, Sint Eustatius and Sint Maarten are located on the southeastern periphery of this zone and may be affected by hurricanes most likely between July-August and October ...

Economy

The volume of GDP is $ 2.4 billion (year), per capita - $ 11,800. Agriculture produces 1% of GDP, industry - 15%, services - 84%. The main industries are tourism, offshore financial services, oil refining and transportation (Venezuelan), ship repair. Poor soils and water scarcity are not conducive to agricultural development, although the level is high. Arable land is 10% of the total area (). Near Willemstad there is a suburban economy (dairy farming, fruit growing, vegetable growing). The economic policy is aimed at the further development of the existing industries, as well as the manufacturing industry.

The length of paved roads is over 800 km. Willemstad has a seaport and an international airport.

Foreign economic relations are focused on Venezuela and other Latin American countries, the USA and the EU countries. Merchandise exports ($ 303 million a year) are almost predominantly petroleum products, partly agricultural products and finished goods. External debt is high - $ 1.35 billion.

Dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles

Currently, the question of liquidating the Netherlands Antilles as a state entity is being actively considered. According to the last referendums, the population of Curacao and Sint Maarten agreed to status aparte(the status of Aruba). The population of the islands of Bonaire and Saba decided to obtain the status of an overseas province (similar to the overseas departments of France. The population of Sint-Eustatius advocated the preservation of the island's membership in the Netherlands Antilles, but it became the only island in favor of this, and the question of granting the status of an overseas province.Originally, the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles was planned for December 15, 2008, but then was postponed indefinitely.

Population

Population - 225 thousand (as of July 2008).

Ethnically, the inhabitants of the islands are mainly descendants of mixed marriages between different ethnic groups of the Old World. These are mainly blacks and mulattos (up to 85%), representatives of Indian peoples (up to 5%), Dutch, Spaniards, Portuguese and other immigrants from the European mainland (up to 6%), as well as emigrants from East Asia and the Middle East.

The official language of the islands is Dutch. In addition, Papiamento Creole is used. English and Spanish are also common. About 85% of the population belongs to the Roman Catholic Church, about 8% are Protestants. Also on many islands Islam, Hinduism, Confucianism, Judaism and other religious movements are practiced.

The urban population is 70%, the rural population is 30%. According to UN forecasts, by 2025 the population will be 258, and by 2050 - 267 thousand people. In 2003, the number of births per 1000 people was 15.76, and the number of deaths was 6.40. The annual population growth was 0.9%, the fertility rate was 2.0. There were 924 men per 1000 women.

History of the Netherlands Antilles

The Netherlands Antilles were not so long ago a single autonomy within the Netherlands. Autonomy consisted of six territories in the Lesser Antilles - Sint Maarten - (the Dutch part of the island of St. Martin), the islands of Saba, Sint Eustatius, Curacao, Bonaire (aka Bonaire), Aruba.

The Lesser Antilles together with the Greater Antilles form the Antilles archipelago, which, together with the Bahamas, became known as the West Indies. The Greater Antilles are called so because they are big - these are the islands of Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti and Puerto Rico, which once broke away from the mainland. Lesser Antilles, respectively, is a scattering of volcanic and coral islands occupied by small Caribbean countries.

The Lesser Antilles, in turn, are divided into Windward and Leeward. Here, too, everything is logical and directly related to the terms of sailing. Windward side - into which the wind blows. The northeastern trade winds, driving ships from Europe to the west, prevailed in the eastern part of the Antilles, called Windward (and there are several dozen Lesser Antilles countries and overseas territories). A small number of islands located in the western part, off the coast of Colombia, on the side opposite to the main direction of the wind, became Leeward. The Leeward Islands belong to only four countries and autonomies.

Netherlands Antilles (with Aruba to the left of Curacao)

When the Caribbean colonies were carved up with Spain, France and England and Denmark in the 17th century, Sint Maarten, Saba, Sint Eustatius, also referred to as the "SSS Islands" - according to the first letters of the names, got in the northern part of the Windward Islands. Holland also previously owned the current British Virgin Islands, Anguilla and Tobago, which could not be held. As a result, only Holland and Spain got the leeward islands. Holland received "Islands ABC" - (according to the initial letters of the names of the islands - Aruba - Aruba, Bonaire - Bonaire, Curacao - Curacao). The rest of the Leeward Islands today belong to Venezuela.

The Netherlands were interested in the "CCC Islands" primarily as a convenient transit point midway between the Dutch colonies in Brazil and North America. The Dutch, of course, were not as successful in colonization as the British, French, Spaniards and Portuguese, but they also tried as best they could.

Colonial possessions of the Netherlands

In North America, the Dutch founded the New Netherlands, with a dozen settlements on the Atlantic coast, in the modern states of New Jersey, New York and Connecticut along the Atlantic coast and the Hudson River, including New Amsterdam in Manhattan, from which New York began.

New Netherlands - Dutch possessions in North America

The past in the Dutch West Indies, as in all the Caribbean islands, was eventful. The islands were captured by the Spaniards, British, pirates. Even Latvians from the Principality of Courland (on Tobago) and the Knights Hospitallers of Malta (on Sint Martin) took part in their colonization. No gold was found in the Dutch West Indies. Rainfall on the Leeward Islands was sparse, making them pleasant to live in and attractive to beach tourism (if there was one), but not particularly suitable for intensive farming. Therefore, they hunted there mainly by salt production and the slave trade. The latter was especially successful and brought in good money. Now it is wild to imagine, but slaves were not only resold. Advanced merchants even engaged in their "breeding", like livestock - raising for sale ... This, plus a good location, contributed to the development of trade, transportation and handling of sea cargo.

With the abolition of slavery in the colonies by the Dutch authorities in 1863, the economy of most of the islands suffered severe damage. Things gradually began to improve only at the beginning of the twentieth century - Curacao began processing Venezuelan oil, the rest developed the production of salt, sugar, rum.

During the Second World War, after the occupation of the Netherlands, the islands came under the military protection of the British and Americans, and the Dutch government in exile exercised control.

At the end of the war, the Kingdom of the Netherlands granted significant autonomy to its overseas territories. In 1954, the Caribbean possessions were merged into the Netherlands Antilles. The most advanced economically and politically, Aruba was the first to agree with the Netherlands to secede from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986, receiving the status of an independent state within the Kingdom of the Netherlands ten years later, in 1996.

After the exit of Aruba, the remaining members of the Netherlands Antilles questioned the advisability of further living together. Although in the early 1990s the majority voted in favor of maintaining the union in a general referendum, opinions were divided in referendums held from 2000 to 2005 by each of the islands. Four options were proposed in the vote:

- for the preservation of the Netherlands Antilles;

- for strengthening ties with the Dutch metropolis;

- for independence within the Kingdom of the Netherlands;

- for complete independence.

Sint Maarten and Curacao decided to follow the path of Aruba - to become independent countries under the Dutch crown. Saba and Bonaire spoke in favor of closer relations with the metropolis. As a result, only one Sint-Eustatius voted to preserve the union. Nobody wanted to completely spit with their former colonialists.

As a result of negotiations between the metropolis and all interested countries with the active participation of Aruba, in 2010 almost everyone got what they wanted - Sint Maarten and Curacao - state autonomy within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius, which was forced to join them (“ BES Islands ") became special municipal regions of the Netherlands. Therefore, today the Kingdom of the Netherlands consists of four countries - the Netherlands proper, Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten.

As a result, the Netherlands Antilles guilder, the single currency of the Netherlands Antilles, remained in circulation only on Sint Maarten and Curacao. At the same time, for several years, the issue of replacing the Netherlands Antillean guilder with a new joint currency of Sint Maarten and Curacao - the Caribbean guilder - has been discussed, but the parties stated that this topic is not a priority. Aruba has its own currency - the Aruban guilder. Bonaire, Saba and Sint-Eustatius decided that it was optimal for them to make the US dollar their only official currency.

Photos of Saint-Martin / Sint-Maarten can be viewed.

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Geographical position

A group of three former Netherlands Antilles is located in the Caribbean Sea and is divided into two unequal groups - Bonaire (together with Curacao it is part of the "ABC Islands", as they are called in English-speaking countries) are located in the southern part of the water area, in the group of the Leeward Islands off the northern coasts of Venezuela. Saba and Sint Eustatius are in the north, in the Windward Islands group.

They are washed on all sides by the waters of the Caribbean Sea. The total area of the islands is about 410 sq. km.

Capital: The administrative center of the property is Willemstad on the island of Curacao.

Time: Lagging behind Moscow by 7 hours. Language: Dutch (official), local Papiamento Creole (based on Spanish and Portuguese), English, Spanish.

Religion: Catholics - 85%, Protestants - 15%.

Currency: Dutch Antillean guilder (florin), equal to one hundred cents.

Climate in the Antilles

The tropical climate of the archipelago contributes to the excellent weather in the Antilles all year round: warm and comfortable. And even the trade winds prevailing here cannot spoil the mood of tourists here. On the contrary, they only bring freshness and pleasant coolness. Temperature +25 - 27 ° С is typical for this area throughout the year.

Each island in the Antilles is interesting and unique in its own way, each island has its own characteristics, attractions, beaches and wonderful places of rest.

The coast of the largest island of Curacao is dotted with small cozy coves, suitable for both beach holidays and diving and snorkeling.

Bonaire Island.

"Good air" - this is how the name of the island of Baneiro sounds in translation from Creole.

Diving on Bonaire is the main attraction for tourists. Transparent and warm water all year round, sheer underwater walls and coral "gardens", a riot of colors and an abundance of underwater flora and fauna - this is what determines the attractiveness of the island in the eyes of thousands of tourists from all over the world.

Saba Island

The island of Saba is also full of scope for divers: the waters around it have been declared a protected area with the status of a national park, so for an experienced diver, this is a paradise. Underwater visibility here ranges from 20 to 30 meters in summer and 40 meters in winter, and the water temperature rarely drops below +30 C in summer and +24 C in winter. Fragile coral reefs clinging to the mountain's underwater slopes are teeming with colorful fish, sharks and barracudas, and giant sea turtles and humpback whales are common guests in this area. Most of the best dive sites are concentrated on the quieter western side of the island, between Tent Bay and Diamond Rock, where reef walls, caves and real underwater ridges are found in abundance, decorated with beautiful "coral gardens".

Saba Island

Saba is quite suitable for various types of hiking.

Festivals and celebrations in the Netherlands Antilles

Like other countries in the Caribbean, the Netherlands Antilles is famous for its many religious and social celebrations, each of which bears the imprint of the cultural mix that characterizes the local community.

The shops

On the territory of the Antilles, many retail outlets have a duty-free rule, so here you can buy a wide range of goods at very competitive prices. This includes electronics, jewelry, jewelry, and much more. Here you can also find the products of the most famous couturiers in Europe, while the prices will also be very tempting.

The cuisine of the Antilles is varied, a mixture of European and Caribbean culinary traditions. Here you can taste a variety of seafood dishes, exotic fruits, numerous fruit desserts and drinks. There is less meat on the menu of local establishments, but lately there are more and more such dishes - the influence of Europe is affecting. The islands prepare delicious liqueurs and various types of rum.