Netherlands Antilles

The Netherlands Antilles (Dutch: Nederlandse Antillen), previously known as the Netherlands West Indies, are part of the Lesser Antilles and consist of two groups of islands in the Caribbean Sea that form an autonomous part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (none of the other Antilles use this term in their name). The islands' economy is dependent mostly upon tourism and petroleum, though a large amount of money is also made through illegal drug trafficking.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of the Netherlands Antilles

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The largest part of the Netherlands Antilleans - about 85% - descends from the African slaves that were brought and traded here from the 17th to 19th century. The rest of the population consists of Caribbean Indians, Europeans and Asians.

Related Topics:
Africa - Slave - 17th - 19th century - Caribbean Indian - Europe - Asia

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Although the official language is Dutch, Papiamento is predominant on Curaçao and Bonaire (as well as the neighboring Dutch island of Aruba). This creole language is formed from elements of Dutch, English, Spanish and Portuguese. English is the chief language of the northern islands (St. Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius). Spanish is becoming the second language after English in the northern islands, mostly in St. Maarten.

Related Topics:
Dutch - Papiamento - Creole language - English - Spanish - Portuguese

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The majority of the population are followers of the Christian belief, mostly Roman Catholic. Curaçao also hosts a sizeable group of Jews, descendants of a Portuguese group of Sephardic Jews that arrived from Brazil in 1654.

Related Topics:
Christian - Roman Catholic - Jew - Portuguese - Sephardic - Brazil - 1654

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A large group of young and/or highly educated Antilleans have emigrated to the Netherlands over the past decades, which leaves the islands with substantial social and economic problems. On the other hand, immigrants from other Dominican Republic, Caribbean islands and Columbia have increased their presence in the last years.

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