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image by Mark Sensen, 9 November 2003
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image by Mark Sensen, 9 November 2003
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The politicians on Curaçao, and also some on St. Maarten, now
wanted a Status Aparte as Aruba .
However, during referendums held in November 1993 (Curaçao) and
October 1994 (Bonaire, St. Maarten, St. Eustatius and Saba) large
majorities of the people voted to remain part of the Netherlands
Antilles.
Apart from 1) the 'status quo' option and 2) Status Aparte,
there were 2 other options, both receiving very few votes: 3)
(overseas) province of the Netherlands; 4) full independence.
Mark Sensen, 4 May 1999
I read today in the International Herald Tribune that St. Maarten has just voted for separation
from Netherlands Antilles within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Well, I suppose the island will keep on flying its actual flag,
but there will probably be a new flag for Neth. Antilles, one of
the 5 stars having to be removed, if they follow the same logic
than they did in 1986 when Aruba broke away. The article I read
didn't say when the separation will happen.
Olivier Touzeau, 26 June 2000
First of all it was a consulting, non-binding referendum, the
other options apart from the favoured "status aparte"
(68.9%) being "status quo" (3.7%),
"independence" (14.2%), and "stronger position
within the Neth. Antilles" (11.6%).
Secondly, the Dutch politicians are not in favour of a Status
Aparte for Sint Maarten. And when Sint Maarten will leave the
Neth. Antilles, the question is what Sint Eustatius and Saba will
do. There is e.g. a majority on Saba that wants to become a
province of the Netherlands in that case.
Source: Amigoe.com
Mark Sensen, 26 June 2000
Looking at a map, one has the distinct impression that the
whole thing is completely wrong: Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao are
just north of Venezuela, and 1000 km to NE are Sint Maarten, Sint
Eustatius and Saba. That's the geographical setting.
But the political divisions are Aruba as a separate territory and
the Dutch Antilles covering everything else. Now, if Sint Maarten
breakes away to a status of separate autonomy, things will become
even more strange.
António Martins, 28 June 2000
Today, the report "The time is now, let’s do
it!" (so-called Jesurun Report) with plans for reformation
of the Netherlands Antilles was presented to Kingdom Relations
Minister Thom de Graaf. It includes the next idea for a
new political division:
1. The country Netherlands Antilles will cease to exist
2. Curaçao and St. Maarten will both receive the status of
autonomous country within the Kingdom (like Aruba already has
since 1986)
3. Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba will each receive the status
of "Koninkrijkseiland" ("Kingdoms Island")
More info (in Dutch) at the website of the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom
Relations at www.minbzk.nl.
Final decisions about the adoption of the plans will probably be
taken at a Round Table Conference in 2005. If the
reformations will take place it will have effect on some flags:
- the flag of the Netherlands Antilles, as well as the flag of
the governor of the Netherlands Antilles, will be abolished
- flags for the governors of Curaçao and St. Maarten will
(probably) be introduced.
Mark Sensen, 8 October 2004
The proposed new four-starred flag for the
Netherlands Antilles will not be adopted as not only is
Sint-Maarten seceding, so is Curaçao. The Dutch government has
announced plans for both islands to leave the Netherlands
Antilles and although no firm timetable is announced it is likely
that the change will take in 2005 or 2006. Both Curaçao and
Sint-Maarten will have the same wide-ranging autonomy that is
presently enjoyed by Aruba, which withdrew from the Netherlands
Antilles in 1986. The three remaining small poorly populated
islands of the (reduced) Netherlands Antilles will have a new
status, without the responsible government - legislature, Prime
Minister and Council of Ministers - that will exist in Aruba,
Sint-Maarten, and Curaçao. Both Curaçao and Sint-Maarten, of
course, already have flags.
Clive Carpenter, 22 November 2004
Today's edition of The Times newspaper carries an obituary for
Bernard Komproe, who only recently became the Prime Minister of
the Netherlands Antilles, or the Antilles Federation, as it has
been more recently known as.
In conclusion, the obituary states: Coincidentally, an official
proposal to end the Antilles Federation, backed by both the Dutch
and Antilles Governments, has just been made public. It is
considered very likely to be agreed, and a round- table
conference next Spring will discuss details. For international
purposes, the official designation of all the former Dutch
colonies in the Caribbean, together with The Netherlands itself,
remains The Kingdom of The Netherlands. Curaçao, and St. Maarten,
with Aruba (which seceded from the federation in 1986), will
enjoy separate status. The smaller states of Saba, St. Eustatius,
and Bonaire have opted for a status close to that of a province
of The Netherlands.
Ron Lahav, 22 November 2004
Note that The Times writes about the "Netherlands
Antilles federation", so federation with a small
"f". In other words, the Netherlands Antilles are still
the Netherlands Antilles, not the Antilles Federation. See also
my message of 8 October 2004.
Mark Sensen, 22 November 2004
Coincidentally, an official proposal to end the Antilles
Federation, backed by both the Dutch and Antilles Governments,
has just been made public. It is considered very likely to be
agreed, and a round- table conference next Spring will discuss
details.
From Intelligence Research Ltd, October 12, 2004:
"Recolonisation initiatives are a rare occurrence, and even
rarer are those with a chance of prospering. The Netherlands
Antilles may become such a rarity. The special commission set up
by the governments of the Netherlands and the Netherlands
Antilles, under the direction of former Antillean governor Edsel
Jesurun, has recommended breaking up this entity and returning
three of its smallest components - Saba, Bonaire and Sint
Eustatius - to direct rule from The Hague. Curaçao and
Sint Maarten would be given the same status as the earlier
breakaway, Aruba: autonomous countries within the Dutch Kingdom,
alongside the Netherlands. This would spell the disappearance of
the central government of the Netherlands Antilles (much of it
would be subsumed into the new government of Curaçao), but the
commission recommends retaining, under a 'cooperative'
arrangement, such institutions as the central bank, the social
security bank and the pension funds. Though the
recommendations are not binding, both of the commissioning
governments have said they would 'weigh heavily' on their
decisions. The Jesurun commission has counseled speed: a formal
political agreement between both countries by the end of this
year, a conference in mid 2005 to sort out the constitutional
aspects (which entail changes to the Kingdom Charter and the
Islands Regulation, and presumably the scrapping of the Antillean
Constitution, plus the groundwork for the new constitutions of
Curaçao and Sint Maarten). Along the line, there will have
to be discussions on the financial aspects of such matters as
providing security for the new autonomous countries; the
commission specifically cites security needs as one of the
reasons for the overhaul."
David C. Fowler, 23 November 2004
El Caribe, the principal daily newspaper in the
Dominican Republic, reports that the Netherlands Antilles will be
dissolved in 2007.
Ron Lahav, 28 November 2005
See my message of 8 October 2004. Saturday the start of Round
Table Conference mentioned at that post took place.
Nothing new, apart from the fact that the new status for Bonaire,
St. Eustatius and Saba isn't called "Koninkrijkseiland" ("Kingdoms Island")
but a new status of special nature ("sui generis"). The aim is for 1 July 2007
for the political changes to take effect. For more info (in Dutch)
see the official website of the Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom
Relations at www.minbzk.nl.
Mark Sensen, 28 November 2005
have browsed that site a bit, and there was little information
about the new status. Even the recent referenda on all islands
are not mentioned. The Antillians were presented several options
and the islands of Curaçao, Bonaire and St. Maarten opted for a
"status aparte", like Aruba has now. Saba for something
else, so in future the Netherlands Antilles will consist of St.
Eustatius only. In fact The Netherlands want to get rid of the
Netherlands Antilles, and the Netherlands Antilles want to become
either the 13th province of The Netherlands, or even a
municipality like Urk or Schiermonnikoog. At present it seems
impossible to see what will happen next.
Jarig Bakker, 29 November 2005
Minister Nicolai of Kingdomrelations reached a historic
agreement with Curaçao and Sint Maarten. The islands will become
separate countries, like Aruba. That means that the co-operation
between the Netherlands and the Netherlands Antilles, as agreed
by the "Koninkrijksstatuut" of 1954, will end. It is
agreed that there will be a common court of justice of the
Netherlands, Curaçao and Sint Maarten. There are also agreements
on policing and prosecution. The Netherlands will take care of
the debts of the Netherlands Antilles, totaling 2,5 billion
Euros. The Netherlands Antilles will cease to exist on 1 July
2007. Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius will become Dutch
municipalities. Aruba is a separate entity since 1986.
No info about change of flags. The currency is also unclear,
although it seems that Aruba might be forced to enter the
Euro-zone(!)
Source: www.nos.nl
reported by Stefan Lambrechts.
Jarig Bakker, 3 November 2006
Netherlands Antilles will cease to exist on July 1. At that
time two of the islands (Curaçao and Sint Maarten) will become
autonomous islands within the Netherlands, much like Aruba is
now. The other three islands (Bonaire, Saba, Sint
Eustatius) will become integral parts of the Netherlands, I believe
on the same status as towns. Of course all the individual
islands' flags will continue to exist, but Curaçao and Sint
Maarten's will probably get greater exposure as autonomous
islands.
Sources: BBC
, official government page.
David Kendall, 15 January 2007
The dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles is planned for 15
December 2008. (15 December is Kingdoms day, the day the Statute
of the Kingdom of the Netherlands was signed by Queen Juliana in
1954). This was agreed on Sint Maarten yesterday. Sint Maarten
will become a land within the kingdom, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius
and Saba will become special municipalities of the Netherlands.
The Island Council of Curaçao rejected the final agreement in
the end of last year. However, the Dutch government doesn't want
to re-open the negotiations. Nevertheless it is most likely
Curaçao will also become a separate land.
According to the official website of the Ministry of the Interior
and Kingdom Relations, 12 Dec. 2008 is the target date. The first
target date was 1 July 2007.
I'm not sure what caused the delay, I think there are various
reasons. Apart from Curaçao's situation maybe also the elections
end of last year followed by the formation of a new government
(right today) over here in the Netherlands. And 1 July was very
ambitious from the very start in my opinion.
So, as from 15 December 2008 the Kingdom of the Netherlands will
consist of four countries:
- The Netherlands (incl. the three special municipalities
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba)
- Aruba
- Curaçao
- Sint Maarten.
Sources: www.nu.nl, www.minbzk.nl.
Mark Sensen, 13 February 2007
Wikipedia, in separate articles on each entity, notes this has
been delayed until December 2008, with different dates for each
entity: Sint Maarten is listed at December 15, 2008 and Curaçao
for December 28, 2008.
The Dutch government's announcement on Sint Maarten is at www.government.nl.
Phil Nelson, 5 July 2007
According to the official
web site of the Netherland Antilles Olympic Committee (NAOC),
it has been agreed that in view of an imminent separation of the
constituent islands, the ANOC will keep a “status quo”,
after such break up takes effect.
That’s to mean that, even Sint Maarten and Curaçao become
separate entities, they will continue to take part in sports
events as now.
This is because international bodies such as FIFA and IOC does
not admit dependent territories anymore. The question remains, if
Netherlands Antilles cease to exist in 2008, which flag shall be
flown by its sportsmen and sportswomen.
Source: www.sports.an.
Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, 29 July 2007
That's for sure that the Netherlands Antilles are to
disappear, it is just a matter to know or to determine when.
From www.minbzk.nl:
"The Netherlands and The Netherlands Antilles and Aruba have
reached agreement on the new status for the islands. At the Round
Table Conference in Curaçao on the 15th of December Dutch Prime
Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, State secretary Bijleveld and
Antillean Prime Minister De Jongh-Elhage signed an accord on the
new status.
The islands of Curaçao and Sint Maarten will become autonomous
territories, while Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius will become
Dutch municipalities. The last conditions of dissolution will be
discussed and finalized in 2009."
See also: www.government.nl.
According to www.nrc.nl:
"St Maarten, which started the process of the break up of
the Dutch Antilles by voting for an independent status in a
referendum in 2000, wants the Dutch government to commit to
January 1 2010 as an official date. But Bijleveld has already
stated that the final date will only be established at the last
conference. It is public knowledge that the cabinet does not
expect the new status of the Dutch Antilles to become reality
before 2011."
Surely each island will keep its current flag and coat of arms,
however, It has been told that regarding international sports,
all five islands
should be represented as "Netherlands Antilles" (an
eventually nonexistent country).
Will Athletes fly the same flag as they do now?
Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, 2 February 2009
The Netherlands Antilles will cease to exist on October 10
next year (2010). The Netherlands Antilles have decided this last
Wednesday, September 30.
The Netherlands Antilles arose in 1954 as an autonomous entity
within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Until the achievement of
the Status Aparte (separate status) for Aruba on January 1, 1986
the Dutch Antilles consisted of the Caribbean islands of Aruba,
Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St Eustatius and St Maarten (St. Martin).
They were represented by the six stars in the 1959 flag of the
Netherlands Antilles.
With the separation of Aruba in 1986 one star was dropped, to
represent the five islands left in the Netherlands Antilles.
The remaining five islands in the Netherlands Antilles will on 10
October 2010 go their own political way. Bonaire, Saba and St.
Eustatius will become special oversees municipalities of the
Netherlands.
Curaçao and St. Maarten will get the same status as Aruba already
has achieved.
The current flag of the Netherlands Antilles will cease to exist.
The flags of Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius will become Dutch
municipality flags.
The flags of St. Maarten and Curaçao will get the same status as
the flag of Aruba now.
From October 10, 2010 the Kingdom of the Netherlands will consist
of: The Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten.
Jos Poels, 1 October 2009
Via Benevex Stefan Lambrechts reported (translation of Jarig Bakker):
According to a new law (WOLBES) the BES-islands (Bonaire,
Sint-Eustatius and Saba) will have the same relationship after 10 October 2010
as Dutch municipalities; Curaçao and
Sint Maarten will then become new countries within the Kingdom. In the early
morning of 10 October the flag with the 5 stars will be hauled down in
Kralendijk (Bonaire), Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) and The Bottom (Saba; instead
two new ones will be hoisted: the island-flag and at the Regional Service Center
(RSC, a kind of Secretariat of Home Affairs) a flag with the national logo, like
in the Netherlands.
After 10-10-2010 the Vaalserberg (Limburg province) won't be the highest of the
Netherlands any longer: Mount Scenery, an extinct volcano, on Saba Island will
be it, with 870 meters. Saba will also be the only Dutch municipality with
tropical rainforest. Source: Binnenlands Bestuur 39 2010, 1-10-2010
"De wet voor het nieuwe openbaar lichaam (WOLBES) houdt in dat de BES-eilanden
(Bonaire, Sint Eustatius en Saba) na 10 oktober een zelfde relatie met het
ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken krijgen als Nederlandse gemeenten; Curaçao en
Sint Maarten worden per die datum nieuwe landen binnen het Koninkrijk. Als in de
vroege morgen van 10 oktober in Kralendijk (Bonaire), Oranjestad (Sint
Eustatius) en The Bottom (Saba) de Antilliaanse vlag met vijf sterren wordt
gestreken, worden er daarvoor in de plaats twee gehesen: de eigen eilandvlag en
op het Regionaal Service Centrum (RSC, een soort ministerie van Algemene Zaken)
die met het Rijkslogo, zoals in Nederland. In eerste instantie wilde
staatssecretaris Bijleveld (CDA) van BZK de Regionale Service Centra
'Uitvoeringskantoren' noemen, maar dat wezen de eilanden af: het klonk te
koloniaal.
De Vaalserberg is na 10-10-2010 niet langer het hoogste punt van Nederland. Dat
wordt de dode vulkaan Mount Scenery op Saba met zijn 870 meter. Saba is ook de
enige Nederlandse gemeente met een
stukje tropisch regenwoud.
Bron: Binnenlands Bestuur 39 2010, 1-10-2010
Stefan Lambregts and Jarig Bakker, 3 October 2010
The Kingdom of the Netherlands consists of four
separate countries: Aruba, Curaçao,
Netherlands and Sint Maarten. All
are autonomous in their internal affairs. The Kingdom takes care of foreign
affairs and defence. For Kingdom affairs there is a special Kingdom government,
consisting of the Netherlands ministers plus one minister for each of the other
countries.
This system has been in place since 1954 (with Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles
and Surinam), so there is nothing new happening. (see Wikipedia under Kingdom of
the Netherlands).
The three
BES-islands are now 'public bodies' of the Netherlands (ex art. 134 of
the Constitution) and will become normal municipalities in due course.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a UN member. The
islands Aruba and NA were (one) member of UPU and
observers of several other organizations (UNWTO
etc.).
The expectations is that this will be changed to Aruba,
Curaçao and Sint Maarten as one member/observer.
The Olympic Committee has changed the rules for
membership of non-independent entities. Existing members will stay a normal
member, but new non-independent members will not be admitted. This means that
Aruba stays a IOC member, but
Curaçao and Sint Maarten athletes will have to be
part of the Netherlands team.
Maxim van Ooijen, 11 October 2010
Since July 2007 there is a new article 31.1 in the Olympic Charter (see
below). This means that non-independent countries can no longer become an IOC
member. NOCs that were members of the IOC before 2007 can remain a member
(American Samoa, Aruba, Bermuda etc.). Others can not become a member anymore
(Northern Marianas, Faroe Islands, New Caledonia).
The NAOC has tried, but apparently lost. Since there is also a rule that
athletes participating for a NOC should be a citizen of that country. This would
mean that no athletes from Curaçao or Sint Maarten can go to the Olympic Games
any more, since they are not citizens of the Netherlands or Aruba, but of other
countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
See also (opens as a Word document):
http://box576.bluehost.com/pipermail/bestuur_sports.an/attachments/20100420b1a4ecf4/attachment-0009.doc
http://box576.bluehost.com/pipermail/bestuur_sports.an/attachments/20100420b1a4ecf4/attachment-0009.doc
31 Country and Name of an NOC
1. In the Olympic Charter, the expression "country" means an independent State
recognised by the international community.
Maxim van Ooijen, 11 October 2010
ISO has issued new country codes for islands in the Dutch West Indies to
reflect their new administrative status following constitutional reform by the
government of the Netherlands.
The islands of Curaçao and Sint Maarten become autonomous countries of the
Kingdom of the Netherlands, with the following two-letter and three-letter
country codes issued under the ISO standard, ISO 3166-1:
Sint Maarten (Dutch part) - SX SXM
Curaçao - CW CUW
The islands of Bonaire, Saint Eustatius and Saba become Dutch
municipalities which are assigned the following ISO 3166-1 code:
Bonaire, Saint Eustatius and Saba - BQ BES
The codes for the Netherlands Antilles are deleted from ISO 3166-1 and
transitionally reserved for a period of 50 years:
Netherlands Antilles - AN ANT
Source:
http://www.iso.org/iso/pressrelease.htm?refid=Ref1383 2010-12-20
Jarig Bakker, 29 December 2010
image by Juan Manuel Gabino Villascan, 26 February 2002
According the results of the referendum held in June 23, 2000,
in Sint Maarten (the Netherlands part of the Caribbean island of
Saint Marten), this territory is becoming a "new country
within the Kingdom of the Netherlands", in other words, Sint
Maarten is seceding from Netherlands Antilles. This is taking
place on nest 1 June 2002.
The question is if will keep the Neth. Antilles the same flag or
will it change?
According information requested by myself to the government of
the Neth. Antilles, via e-mail, the flag will be changed: to the
current flag will be drop off a star, remaining four, one for
each component island: Curaçao, Bonaire, Saba and Saint
Eustatius. The stars are displaying like a rhombus.
Juan Manuel Gabino Villascan, 26 February 2002
image by Juan Manuel Gabino Villascan, 27 February 2002
This a variant of the future Netherlands Antilles flag to be
adopted on June 1, 2002, when Sint Maartin secedes from it. The
lateral (near-hoist and near-fly) stars are more separated,
remarking the rhombus shape.
Juan Manuel Gabino Villascan, 27 February 2002
Although there was a majority for a "status aparte"
in the (consulting) referendum, and there have been some talks I
think with the rest of the Netherlands Antilles, I never heard
the new status was granted However, to be sure I mailed the
Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations and a
newspaper on the Neth. Antilles. When I receive an answer I will
forward it.
Mark Sensen, 27 February 2002
I don't have an answer from the ministry yet. But I received
one from the newspaper Amigoe at Curaçao, and they don't know
anything about it. I also got an answer from Jos Poels who is in
contact with a journalist working for a Dutch newspaper in
Curaçao. He wrote it's very unlikely a Status Aparte ever will be
given.
Mark Sensen, 1 March 2002
