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The Netherlands Antilles is one-half of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which also includes Aruba, which separated from the Antilles January 1, 1986. The Netherlands Antilles enjoys self-determination on all internal matters and defers to the Netherlands in matters of defense, foreign policy, and some judicial functions. The Antilles is governed by...
Tourism and the offshore financial sector have been the mainstays of the Netherlands Antillean's economy since the 1970s. The late 1980s and early 1990s brought growth, but hurricanes, pressure on the offshore sector, tighter monetary policy, and debt accumulation have caused contraction since 1996. High debt led the Government of the Netherlands Antilles...
The Lonely Planet offers some insight into the Culture of the Netherland Antilles
Unification In 1845 the Dutch Leeward islands united with Cura ccedil;ao, Bonaire, and Aruba in a political unit. The abolition of slavery hurt the island's economy until the 20th century when oil was discovered off the shores of Venezuela and a refinery was established on Cura ccedil;ao. Also during that period an offshore financial sector was created...
Location: Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean Sea - one includes Curacao and Bonaire north of Venezuela; the other is east of the Virgin Islands Geographic coordinates: 12 15 N, 68 45 W Map references: North America Area: total: 960 sq km land: 960 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten...
Cura ccedil;ao The Arowaks are recognized as the first human civilization to inhabit the Netherlands Antilles. A Spanish expedition led by Alonso de Ojeda discovered the island of Cura ccedil;ao for Spain in 1499, and it remained under the Spanish until the Dutch took control in 1600. Cura ccedil;ao was a strategically important point for military advances...
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