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Colonization of the islands
1630
1630. Curaçao and its neighboring islands are transferred to Holland in 1630, and they have remained under Dutch possession through different alternatives. The lesser islands (St. Eustatius, Saba and St. Marteen) were colonized since 1632 by the British, though alternatively owned by the Dutch, the British and the French among other. Saba changed hands twelve times, Marteen sixteen times and St. Eustatius twenty-two times. |
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Use of banner
1630
1630. Since 1630, the flags used were those of their colonizers’ (Holland, Britain, France, Sweden) or the trade companies with official possession of the islands, especially the Dutch Company of the West Indies (Geoctroyeerde West-Indische Compagnie). |
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Conquest of St. Eustatius
1625
1625. The French colonized St. Eustatius |
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Alonso de Ojeda claims Aruba for the Spanish Crown.
1499
1499. Alonso de Ojeda reportedly claims the island of Aruba for the Spanish Crown. |
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Discovery of Curaçao
1493
1493. The Spaniards discover the island of Curaçao. The caiquetios were the first-ever settlers, as well as on the neighboring islands of Bonaire and Aruba. Shortly after Spanish traveler Alonso de Ojeda lands in 1499, the natives are slaved and take to La Hispanola (currently Haiti and the Dominican Republic). |
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The Netherlands Antilles are granted self-government status
11/01/1900
28/01/1900
1954. The Netherlands Antilles are granted domestic autonomy in 1950, but it’s not completely achieved until December 29, 1954. |
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Netherlands Antilles’ government
1988People’s National Party’s María Liberia-Peters, heads the Netherlands Antilles’ government. |
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Separation proposal for the Netherlands Antilles
1990Dutch Minister for the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba Affairs, Ernst Hirsh Balin, proposes the division of this territory in two sectors: one made up by Bonaire and Curazao, and the second by San Martín, Saba and San Eustaquio. |
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Plebiscite on the Netherlands Antilles
1993-1994Voters decide to remain as members of the Antilles federation; María Liberia-Peters, who was in favor of self-government for the island, resigns. The next year, in the general elections, the new Antilles’ Restoration Party wins the majority of the votes. The plebiscite conducted on San Martín, San Eustaquio, Saba and Bonaire calls for keeping the island’s in the Antilles’ federation. |
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San Eustaquio becomes a trade center
1776-1781San Eustaquio -turned into a trade center during the Independence War in the U.S. colonies- bestows its recognition on them. The British retaliated by dispatching Admiral George Rodney to the island, whose troops seized and looted San Eustaquio. |
