Caribbean Netherlands#Administration

The three islands gained their current status following the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles on 10 October 2010.{{cite web |url=https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/stb-2010-387.html |title=Besluit van 23 september 2010 tot vaststelling van het tijdstip van inwerkingtreding van de artikelen I en II van de Rijkswet wijziging Statuut in verband met de opheffing van de Nederlandse Antillen |date=1 October 2010 |publisher=Overheid.nl |language=nl |access-date=27 June 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715213434/https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/stb-2010-387.html |archive-date=15 July 2011 }} At the same time, the islands of Curaçao and Sint Maarten became constituent countries ({{langx|nl|landen}}) within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.{{cite web |url=https://www.government.nl/topics/caribbean-parts-of-the-kingdom |title=Caribbean Parts of the Kingdom |date=14 December 2011 |publisher=Government.nl |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030142815/https://www.government.nl/topics/caribbean-parts-of-the-kingdom |archive-date=30 October 2016 }} The island of Aruba is also a constituent country of the Kingdom; Aruba gaining its status in 1986 after seceding from The Netherlands Antilles.

The constituent countries of the Dutch kingdom are autonomous (self-governing) while the special municipalities (Caribbean Netherlands) are legally part of the constituent country of The Netherlands. The Kingdom of the Netherlands consists of the constituent countries of Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and The Netherlands (which includes Bonaire, Saba, St. Eustatius).

The term "Dutch Caribbean" may refer to the three special municipalities (e.g. for stamps), but may also refer to all of the Caribbean islands within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Caribbean Netherlands, not to be confused with the comprehensive Dutch Caribbean, has a population of 31,980 as of 2025.{{Cite web |last=Netherlands |first=Statistics |date=2025-05-19 |title=Population of the Caribbean Netherlands up by nearly 1.6 thousand in 2024 |url=https://www.cbs.nl/en-gb/news/2025/21/population-of-the-caribbean-netherlands-up-by-nearly-1-6-thousand-in-2024#:~:text=Population%20of%20the%20Caribbean%20Netherlands%20up%20by%20nearly%201.6%20thousand%20in%202024,-19/05/2025&text=On%201%20January%202025,%20the%20population%20of%20Bonaire%20stood%20at,percent)%20than%20one%20year%20previously. |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=Statistics Netherlands |language=en-GB}} Their total area is {{convert|328|km2|sqmi}}.

In 2012, the islands of the Caribbean Netherlands voted for the first time, due to being special municipalities of the Netherlands, in the 2012 Dutch general election.{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/27808290/__Verkiezingen_graadmeter_BES__.html|title=Verkiezingen Caribische graadmeter – Binnenland – Telegraaf.nl|website=telegraaf.nl|access-date=2 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170416163004/http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/27808290/__Verkiezingen_graadmeter_BES__.html|archive-date=16 April 2017}}

{{anchor|Administration}}

The special municipalities ({{langx|nl|bijzondere gemeenten}}) carry many of the functions normally performed by Dutch municipalities. The executive power rests with the Governing Council headed by an Island governor. The main democratic body is the island council. Dutch citizens of these three islands are entitled to vote in Dutch national elections and (as all Dutch nationals) in European elections.

Officially the islands are classed in Dutch law as being {{lang|nl|openbare lichamen}} (literally translated as "public bodies") and not {{lang|nl|gemeenten}} (municipalities). Unlike normal municipalities, they do not form part of a Dutch province{{cite web|url=http://www.eerstekamer.nl/wetsvoorstel/31954_wet_openbare_lichamen|title=31.954, Wet openbare lichamen Bonaire, Sint Eustatius en Saba|language=nl|publisher=Eerste kamer der Staten-Generaal|quote=De openbare lichamen vallen rechtstreeks onder het Rijk omdat zij geen deel uitmaken van een provincie. (The public bodies (...), because they are not part of a Province).|access-date=2010-10-15|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125025004/http://www.eerstekamer.nl/wetsvoorstel/31954_wet_openbare_lichamen|archive-date=25 November 2010}} and the powers normally exercised by provincial councils within municipalities are divided between the island governments themselves and the central government by means of the National Office for the Caribbean Netherlands. For this reason, they are called "special" municipalities.

Many Dutch laws have a special Caribbean Netherlands version.{{cite web|url=http://wetten.overheid.nl/zoeken_op/regeling_type_wetten+alleen_bes |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514174621/http://wetten.overheid.nl/zoeken_op/regeling_type_wetten%2Balleen_bes |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 May 2011 |title=Wet- en regelgeving |language=nl }}{{cite web |title=The Dutch Caribbean - Dutch Caribbean Legal Portal |url=http://www.dutchcaribbeanlegalportal.com/about-us/the-dutch-caribbean |website=www.dutchcaribbeanlegalportal.com}} For example, social security is not on the same level as it is in the European Netherlands.{{Cite web|url=https://kennisopenbaarbestuur.nl/media/211637/5-years-Caribbean-Netherlands-Impact-on-the-population-Summary-and-Conclusions.pdf|title=Summary and conclusions – The Caribbean Netherlands five years after the transition|last=Rob Bijl and Evert Pommer|website=kennisopenbaarbestuur.nl|access-date=13 November 2018|archive-date=24 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924172421/http://kennisopenbaarbestuur.nl/media/211637/5-years-Caribbean-Netherlands-Impact-on-the-population-Summary-and-Conclusions.pdf|url-status=dead}}

File:AgeSexPyramid 2023 Caribisch Nederland.svg

The National Office for the Caribbean Netherlands ({{langx|nl|Rijksdienst Caribisch Nederland}}) is responsible for taxation, policing, immigration, transport infrastructure, health, education, and social security in the islands and provides these services on behalf of the Government of the Netherlands.{{cite web |url=http://www.rijksdienstcn.com/vacatures?1curvers=default&0Lang=N |title=Vacatures |publisher=Rijksdienst Caribisch Nederland |access-date=29 May 2013}} This agency was established as the Regional Service Center in 2008 and became the National Office for the Caribbean Netherlands on 1 September 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.rijksdienstcn.com/rijksdienst-caribisch-nederland?1curvers=default&0Lang=N |title=Rijksdienst Caribisch Nederland |publisher=Rijksdienst Caribisch Nederland |access-date=29 May 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402122354/http://www.rijksdienstcn.com/rijksdienst-caribisch-nederland?1curvers=default&0Lang=N |archive-date=2 April 2015 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.rijksdienstcn.com/en/faq?1curvers=engels&0Lang=E |title=FAQ |publisher=Rijksdienst Caribisch Nederland |access-date=29 May 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402150108/http://www.rijksdienstcn.com/en/faq?1curvers=engels&0Lang=E |archive-date=2 April 2015 }} The current director is Jan Helmond.{{cite web |url=http://www.rijksdienstcn.com/en/news/agreement-on-labor-conditions-civil-servants-rijksdienst-caribisch-nederland/akkoord-arbeidsvoorwaarden-ambtenaren-rijksdienst-caribisch-nederland?1curvers=engels&0Lang=E |title=Agreement on labor conditions Civil servants Rijksdienst Caribisch Nederland |publisher=Rijksdienst Caribisch Nederland |access-date=30 September 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003085711/http://www.rijksdienstcn.com/en/news/agreement-on-labor-conditions-civil-servants-rijksdienst-caribisch-nederland/akkoord-arbeidsvoorwaarden-ambtenaren-rijksdienst-caribisch-nederland?1curvers=engels&0Lang=E |archive-date=3 October 2016 }} The Representative for the public bodies of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba represents the Government of the Netherlands on the islands and also performs tasks similar to a King's Commissioner.{{Citation needed|date=December 2010}} The current representative is Gilbert Isabella.{{cite web |url=http://www.rijksdienstcn.com/en/archief/juli-2014/mr-isabella-will-be-kingdom-representative-for-the-public-entities-bonaire-st-eustatius-and-saba/de-heer-isabella-wordt-rijksvertegenwoordiger-voor-de-openbare-lichamen-bonaire-sint-eustatius-en-saba?1curvers=engels&0Lang=E |title=Mr. Isabella will be Kingdom Representative for the public entities Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba |publisher=Rijksdienst Caribisch Nederland |access-date=30 September 2016}}

File:EU OCT and OMR map en.png]]

The islands do not form part of the European Union and instead constitute "overseas countries and territories" (OCT status) of the Union, to which special provisions apply.Per the Annex II of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The Lisbon Treaty introduced a procedure where the European Council may change the status of an overseas territory of Denmark, France, or the Netherlands regarding the application of the EU treaties to that territory.Now contained in Article 355(6) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. In June 2008, the Dutch government published a survey of the legal and economic impacts by a switched status from OCT to outermost region (OMR).{{cite web|url=https://www.eerstekamer.nl/overig/20080619/schurende_rechtsordes_over/f=y.pdf|title=Schurende rechtsordes: Over juridische implicaties van de UPG-status voor de eilandgebieden van de Nederlandse Antillen en Aruba (Rijksuniversiteit Groningen)|language=nl|publisher=Eerstekamer.nl|date=19 June 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402122304/https://www.eerstekamer.nl/overig/20080619/schurende_rechtsordes_over/f=y.pdf|archive-date=2 April 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.eerstekamer.nl/overig/20080619/economische_gevolgen_van_de_status/f=y.pdf|title=Economische gevolgen van de status van ultraperifeer gebied voor de Nederlandse Antillen en Aruba / SEOR|language=nl|publisher=Eerstekamer.nl|date=19 June 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714202906/https://www.eerstekamer.nl/overig/20080619/economische_gevolgen_van_de_status/f=y.pdf|archive-date=14 July 2014}} The position of the islands was reviewed after a five-year transitional period, which began with the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles in October 2010.{{cite web|url=https://www.eerstekamer.nl/behandeling/20080930/brief_van_de_staatssecretaris_van/f=y.pdf|title=Tweede Kamer, vergaderjaar 2008–2009, 31700 IV, nr.3: Brief van de staatssecretaris van Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties met het kabinetsstandpunt over de rapporten over de UPG status voor de eilandgebieden van de Nederlandse Antillen en Aruba|language=nl|publisher=Eerstekamer.nl|date=21 October 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714225506/https://www.eerstekamer.nl/behandeling/20080930/brief_van_de_staatssecretaris_van/f=y.pdf|archive-date=14 July 2014}} The review was conducted as part of the planned review of the Dutch "Act for the public bodies Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba" ({{langx|nl|"Wet openbare lichamen Bonaire, Sint Eustatius en Saba (WolBES)"}}), where the islands have been granted the option to become an OMR – and thus a direct part of the European Union.{{cite web|url=https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/dossier/31954/kst-31954-7?|title=Kamerstuk 31954 nr.7: Regels met betrekking tot de openbare lichamen Bonaire, Sint Eustatius en Saba (Wet openbare lichamen Bonaire, Sint Eustatius en Saba)|language=nl|publisher=Overheid.nl|date=14 October 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714210511/https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/dossier/31954/kst-31954-7|archive-date=14 July 2014}} In October 2015, the review concluded the present legal structures for governance and integration with European Netherlands was not working well within the framework of WolBES, but no recommendations were made in regards of whether a switch from OCT to OMR status would help improve this situation.{{cite web|url=https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/blg-599770.pdf|title=Vijf jaar Caribisch Nederland: De werking van wetgeving|author=Pro Facto – Rijksuniversiteit Groningen|language=nl|date=August 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326052352/https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/blg-599770.pdf|archive-date=26 March 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/blg-599774.pdf|title=Vijf jaar Caribisch Nederland: Werking van de nieuwe bestuurlijke structuur|author=DSP-Groep|language=nl|date=23 September 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326052304/https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/blg-599774.pdf|archive-date=26 March 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/blg-599777.pdf|title=Vijf jaar Caribisch Nederland: Gevolgen voor de bevolking|author=Sociaal en Cultureel Planbureau|language=nl|date=October 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326052322/https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/blg-599777.pdf|archive-date=26 March 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://deugdelijkbestuuraruba.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Evaluatiecommissie-Vijf-jaar-verbonden-Bonaire-Sint-Eustatius-Saba-en-Europees-Nederland.pdf |title=VIJFJAAR VERBONDE BONAIRE, SINT EUSTATIUS, SABA EN EUROPEES NEDERLAND (Rapport van de commissie evaluatie uitwerking van de nieuwe staatkundige structuur Caribisch Nederland)|author=Evaluatiecommissie Caribisch Nederland|language=nl|date=12 October 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322204122/http://deugdelijkbestuuraruba.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Evaluatiecommissie-Vijf-jaar-verbonden-Bonaire-Sint-Eustatius-Saba-en-Europees-Nederland.pdf|archive-date=22 March 2017}}

The Kingdom of the Netherlands has overarching responsibility for foreign relations, defence and Dutch nationality law in the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom.{{cite web | url=https://www.government.nl/topics/caribbean-parts-of-the-kingdom/responsibilities-of-the-netherlands-aruba-curacao-and-st-maarten | title=Responsibilities of the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao and St Maarten – Caribbean Parts of the Kingdom – Government.nl | date=16 October 2019 }} Units of the Netherlands Armed Forces deployed in the Caribbean include:

• 32 Infantry Company of the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps on Aruba;{{cite web | url=https://english.defensie.nl/organisation/navy/navy-units/dutch-naval-command-caribbean | title=Commander Netherlands Forces in the Caribbean – Royal Netherlands Navy – Defensie.nl | date=6 April 2018 }}
• a Marine Corps detachment on Sint Maarten;
• a Fast Raiding Interception and Special Forces Craft (FRISC) troop (fast boats) on Curaçao and Aruba;
• a company of the Royal Netherlands Army on Curaçao on a rotational basis;
• a guardship, normally a {{sclass|Holland|offshore patrol vessel|1}}, from the Royal Netherlands Navy on station on a rotational basis;
• the Royal Netherlands Navy support vessel {{HNLMS|Pelikaan|A804|6}};
• Arumil (Aruban) and Curmil (Curaçaoan) militia elements;
• a Netherlands Armed Forces Royal Marechaussee brigade.{{cite web | url=https://english.defensie.nl/topics/caribbean/units-and-locations | title=Units and locations – Caribbean territories – Defensie.nl | date=3 June 2022 }}

Additionally, the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard is funded by the four countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Coast Guard is managed by the Ministry of Defence and is directed by the commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy in the Caribbean.{{cite web | url=https://www.defensie.nl/onderwerpen/taken-in-nederland/kustwacht | title=Kustwacht – Taken in Nederland – Defensie.nl | date=7 November 2022 }}

The Caribbean Netherlands form part of the Lesser Antilles. Within this island group:

• Bonaire is part of the ABC islands within the Leeward Antilles island chain off the Venezuelan coast. The Leeward Antilles have a mixed volcanic and coral origin.
• Saba and Sint Eustatius are part of the SSS islands within the Leeward Islands. They are located east of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The locals (French, Spanish, Dutch and the locally spoken English) consider them part of the Windward Islands, although, in the international English language, the Windward Islands refer to other islands further south. These two islands are of volcanic origin and hilly, leaving little ground suitable for agriculture. The highest point is Mount Scenery, {{convert|887|m|ft|abbr=on}}, on Saba. This is the highest point in the country and in the entire Kingdom of the Netherlands.

File:Caribbean Netherlands map.png|Map showing Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba

File:The Netherlands (incl. BES) in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.svg|Relative distance between mainland Netherlands in Europe and the Caribbean Netherlands

File:Kingdom of the Netherlands location tree.svg|The Caribbean BES islands are subdivisions of the country of the Netherlands and are therefore referred to as the "Caribbean Netherlands."

File:Bonaire - Caribe (358903421).jpg|Klein Bonaire (Bonaire in the background)

File:Corner Point (6550002273).jpg|The hilly terrain of Saba

The islands of the Caribbean Netherlands enjoy a tropical climate with warm weather all year round. The Leeward Antilles are warmer and drier than the Windward islands. In summer, the Windward Islands can be subject to hurricanes.

Forest cover is around 6% of the total land area of the Caribbean Netherlands, equivalent to 1,910 hectares (ha) of forest in 2020, which was unchanged from 1990. In 2020, naturally regenerating forest covered 1,910 hectares (ha) and planted forest covered 0 hectares (ha). Of the naturally regenerating forest 0% was reported to be primary forest (consisting of native tree species with no clearly visible indications of human activity) and around 17% of the forest area was found within protected areas.{{Cite book |url=https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/a6e225da-4a31-4e06-818d-ca3aeadfd635/content |title=Terms and Definitions FRA 2025 Forest Resources Assessment, Working Paper 194 |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |year=2023}}{{Cite web |title=Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba |url=https://fra-data.fao.org/assessments/fra/2020/BES/home/overview |website=Food Agriculture Organization of the United Nations}}

Until 1 January 2011, the three islands used the Netherlands Antillean guilder; after that all three switched to the U.S. dollar, rather than the euro (which is used in the European Netherlands) or the Caribbean guilder (which is being adopted by the other two former Antillean islands of Curaçao and Sint Maarten).{{cite web |url=http://www.dutchcaribbeanlegalportal.com/about-us/the-dutch-caribbean |title=The Dutch Caribbean |publisher=Dutch Caribbean Legal Portal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140620052254/http://www.dutchcaribbeanlegalportal.com/about-us/the-dutch-caribbean |archive-date=20 June 2014 }}

The telephone country code remains 599, that of the former Netherlands Antilles, and is shared with Curaçao. The International Organization for Standardization has assigned the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code ISO 3166-2:BQ for these islands.{{cite web|url=http://www.iso.org/iso/support/country_codes/iso_3166_code_lists/iso-3166-1_decoding_table.htm#BQ|title=ISO 3166-1 decoding table|publisher=International Organization for Standardization|access-date=2010-12-16|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604085747/http://www.iso.org/iso/support/country_codes/iso_3166_code_lists/iso-3166-1_decoding_table.htm#BQ|archive-date=4 June 2012}} The IANA has not established a root zone for the .bq Internet ccTLD and whether it will be used is unknown.

{{Portal|Geography|North America|Caribbean|Netherlands|}}

• 2010 Bonaire constitutional referendum
• Identity cards of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba
• ISO 3166-2:BQ, the ISO codes for the subdivisions of the Caribbean Netherlands
• Postage stamps and postal history of the Caribbean Netherlands

{{notelist}}

{{reflist|group=nb}}

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Caribbean Netherlands}}

{{Wikivoyage}}

• [https://www.rijksdienstcn.com/ Official website of the National Office for the Caribbean Netherlands]
• [https://www.bonairegov.com/ Official website of the government of Bonaire]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120517235504/http://www.sabagovernment.com/ Official website of the government of Saba]
• [http://www.statiagovernment.com/ Official website of the government of St. Eustatius]

{{Caribbean topic}}

{{Caribbean topics}}

{{Countries of North America}}

{{Outlying territories of European countries}}

{{Special municipalities of the Netherlands}}

{{Authority control}}

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Category:Integral overseas territories

Category:Archipelagoes of the Netherlands

Category:Leeward Islands (Caribbean)

Category:Subdivisions of the Netherlands

Category:Municipalities of the Netherlands established in 2010

Category:2010s establishments in the Caribbean

Category:2010 establishments in North America

Category:Dutch diaspora in the Caribbean