Economic situation of the Netherlands Antilles. A Brief History of the Netherlands Antilles

Netherlands Antilles consist of two groups of islands in the Caribbean Sea, are autonomous within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Two large islands, Curacao and Bonaire, are located in the southern part of the Lesser Antilles archipelago, off the coast of Venezuela. Three small islands, St. Maarten, St. Eustatius and Saba, are located in the north of the archipelago, about 1000 km from the main islands.

The total area of ​​the Netherlands Antilles is 960 km², population is 225 thousand people. (2008). The administrative center is the city of Willemstad on the island of Curacao.

Story

The Spaniards arrived on the islands at the end of the 15th century. The island of Saint Martin was first discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493. In 1499, the Spaniard Alonso de Ojeda discovered the southern islands inhabited by the Arawaks and Caribs. However, the Spaniards did not find precious metals there, and they did not begin to develop these islands.

Previously, the ownership included the island of Aruba (since January 1, 1986 - a separate territory within the Kingdom of the Netherlands).

Political structure

Since 1954, the Antilles have enjoyed internal autonomy within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The head of state is Queen Beatrix (since April 30), represented on the islands by the governor. Foreign policy and defense matters are the responsibility of the Dutch authorities.

Executive power is exercised by the Governor through an Advisory Council and a Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister, who usually appoints the leader of the party or coalition that won the last election. Moreover, each island has its own authorities: vice-governors, local councils and governments.

The unicameral Legislative Assembly, or States, regulates matters of internal government. The parliament is elected by general election for a term of 4 years and consists of 22 members, including 14 from the island of Curacao, 3 from the island of Bonaire, 3 from the island of Sint Maarten and one each from the islands of Saba and Sint Eustatius. All laws passed by parliament and government must be approved by the governor. Parliament also selects, and the Governor General appoints, the leader of the parliamentary majority as prime minister. Parliament also elects the cabinet of ministers.

There are many political parties active in the Netherlands Antilles. Each of the five islands has its own parties - 15 parties on Curacao, 6 on Sint Maarten, 3 on St. Eustatius and 2 each on Bonaire and Saba. There are currently 11 parties represented in the territory's parliament (22 deputies).

Administrative division

Administrative divisions are not fixed in laws, however, each island has its own executive and legislative powers. The territory of the Netherlands Antilles consists of the following parts:

• island of Curacao;
• Bonaire Island;
• Saba Island;
• island of St. Eustatius;
• Sint Maarten (southern part of the island of St. Martin).

Netherlands Antilles

Geographical data

The property is located in the Lesser Antilles. The Netherlands Antilles includes islands from the Leeward group: Curaçao, Bonaire (southern group) and from the Windward group: Saba, St. Eustatius and the southern part of St. Martin (northern group), the northern part of the island is controlled by France). The total area is 994 km². The island of Aruba in the city left the federation of the Antilles and received the status of a territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands with internal self-government.

The length of the coastline is 364 km. Land border with Guadeloupe (10.5 km) on the island of Saint Martin. The maritime borders of the islands of the northern group are with Antiua and Barbuda in the southeast and Saint Kitts and Nevis in the south; the islands of the southern group are with Venezuela in the south and east and with Aruba in the west.

The low islands of the southern group (Curacao - 375 m, Bonaire - 241 m) represent the peaks of the underwater heights of the continental shelf framing the South American continent. Almost the entire surface of the islands is covered with lush tropical vegetation (mostly secondary forests), interrupted only by settlements, agricultural land and long beaches. The islands of the northern group are formed by the peaks of ancient underwater volcanoes (Kiel); they are mostly round in shape and have a fairly elevated topography.

The flora and fauna of the southern group of islands is quite poor. In addition to domestic animals brought by Europeans, you can only find a huge number of lizards and birds here. Small evergreen forests, found here and there along the coasts of the islands, are formed by thickets of milkweed, cacti and other thorny bushes. Vast green belts of imported decorative forms of vegetation have been formed around the resort areas.

The northern group has a slightly larger selection of wildlife representatives. On the western slopes of the mountainous regions there are rows of palm trees, forming real forests in some places. The eastern slopes retain slightly more natural forms of native vegetation and are mainly occupied by tropical forests, bushland and relatively small areas of farmland.

Protected natural areas: Sint-Christophel National Park (Curacao Island), Washington-Slagbai National Park (Bonaire Island), Bonaire Marine Park (an extended coral reef surrounding Bonaire Island), Saba Marine Park.

The coastline of all the islands is framed by a series of small coral reefs (the most extensive along the northern and western coasts), and between them and the coast there is a strip of shallow lagoons.

The climate is tropical, maritime, trade wind. Most of the year the weather is warm and comfortable with minimal temperature differences between seasons. The average temperature in summer (June - September) is about +27 °C, in winter (December - February) - +25 °C, while daily temperature changes are extremely insignificant - the temperature at night rarely drops below +20 °C, even in winter .

Northeast trade winds blowing from the Atlantic Ocean bring frequent and heavy rainfall. Precipitation varies from 280 mm on the western shores of the islands to 1000 mm on the north-eastern slopes of the coastal hills. The average annual rainfall on Bonaire is 550 mm (65% of the rain falls between October and January), on Curaçao - about 500 mm, on Saba and St. Eustatius - up to 700 mm (the maximum occurs from May to October-November) . Relative humidity is fairly constant throughout the year, averaging 76%.

Curaçao and Bonaire are located south of the “Caribbean hurricane belt” and are almost not exposed to the elements, Saba, St. Eustatius and Sint Maarten are located on the southeastern periphery of this zone and can be exposed to hurricanes, most likely between July-August and October .

Economy

GDP volume - 2.4 billion dollars (g), per capita - $11,800. Agriculture produces 1% of GDP, industry - 15%, services - 84%. The main industries are tourism, offshore financial services, oil refining and transportation (Venezuelan), and ship repair. Poor soils and lack of water do not contribute to the development of agriculture, although its level is high. Arable land makes up 10% of the total area (). Near Willemstad there is suburban farming (dairy farming, fruit growing, vegetable growing). Economic policy is aimed at further development of existing industries, as well as the manufacturing industry.

The length of paved roads is over 800 km. Willemstad has a seaport and an international airport.

Foreign economic relations are focused on Venezuela and other Latin American countries, the USA and EU countries. Exports of goods ($303 million per year) consist almost predominantly of petroleum products, partly of agricultural goods and finished goods. External debt is high - $1.35 billion.

Offshore activities: one of the oldest and respectable offshore centers in the world, specializes in offshore banks, as well as holding, financial, insurance, management, shipping and other offshore companies. The income tax of offshore companies ranges from 2.4 to 3%.

Dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles

The issue of eliminating the Netherlands Antilles as a state entity is currently being actively considered. According to the referendums held, the population of Curacao and Sint Maarten agreed to status apart(Aruba status). The population of the islands of Bonaire and Saba decided to receive the status of an overseas province (similar to the overseas departments of France. The population of St. Eustatius advocated maintaining the island's membership in the Netherlands Antilles, however, it became the only island that spoke in favor of this, and the issue of granting to him the status of an overseas province. Initially, the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles was planned for December 15, 2008, but was then postponed indefinitely.

Population

Population - 225 thousand (estimated as of July 2008).

In terms of ethnic composition, the inhabitants of the islands are mainly descendants of mixed marriages between various ethnic groups of the Old World. These are mainly blacks and mulattoes (up to 85%), representatives of Indian peoples (up to 5%), Dutch, Spaniards, Portuguese and other immigrants from the European mainland (up to 6%), as well as emigrants from East Asia and the Middle East.

The official language of the islands is Dutch. In addition to it, the creole language Papiamento is used. English and Spanish are also common languages. About 85% of the population belongs to the Roman Catholic Church, about 8% are Protestants. Islam, Hinduism, Confucianism, Judaism and other religious movements are also practiced on many islands.

The urban population is 70%, rural - 30%. According to UN forecasts, by 2025 the population will be 258, and by 2050 - 267 thousand people. In 2003, per 1000 people the number of births was 15.76, deaths - 6.40. The annual population growth was 0.9%, the fertility rate was 2.0. There were 924 men per 1000 women.

The Netherlands Antilles consist of two small separate groups of islands in the Lesser Antilles archipelago. Two large islands, Curacao and Bonaire, belonging to the group of Leeward Islands, are located off the coast of Venezuela, three small islands of Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Maarten are located approximately 1000 kilometers to the northeast in the group of Windward Islands.

The first of the islands discovered by Europeans was St. Martin (or St. Martin's Island). This happened in 1493 during the first expedition of Christopher Columbus. Then, 6 years later, in 1499, another Spanish explorer, Alonso de Ojeda, discovered two southern islands. These islands were uninhabited for a long time because there was no gold, silver or other valuable metals there, until the first settlers from the Netherlands arrived here in 1630. Then, as a result of numerous colonial wars, the islands changed hands several times (besides the Dutch, there were the British, French, and Spaniards), until finally, in 1816, they finally passed to the Netherlands.

In the 17th - 18th centuries, the island of Curacao was a major center of the slave trade. Slavery was abolished on the islands in 1863. In 1954, the islands became a self-governing territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Until 1984, the territory administratively included the island of Aruba. Following the discovery of large oil reserves in Venezuela, Royal Dutch Shell built its oil refinery in Curacao in 1916.

The world famous liqueur of the same name was invented on the island of Curacao. The fact is that a lot of fruits were grown on the island, especially oranges, which were exported to Europe. The journey at that time was long and some of the cargo spoiled. In order to somehow use spoiled oranges, they began to fill them with alcohol and add cinnamon, cloves and other spices to the drink. This is how the drink turned out, which gradually acquired a composition close to the modern one.

Despite the fact that the Netherlands Antilles are often not considered to be the main tourist centers of the Caribbean, there is every opportunity to have a good rest and at the same time get acquainted with local attractions, of which there are not so few. First of all, two large islands, Curacao and Bonaire, are of interest. The administrative center of the islands, the city of Willemstad on Curacao was founded in the mid-17th century. Near the entrance to the port harbor there is Fort Amsterdam, a fortress of that time that guarded the capital for many years. The city has many museums - the Curacao Museum, the Maritime Museum, the Amsterdam Fort Church Museum, the Jewish Cultural History Museum, and the Cura-Hulanda Museum. Also in the city you can see one of the oldest synagogues in the Western Hemisphere - Mikvah Israel Emanuel.

Outside the city in the northwest of the island is the Sint-Christophel National Park. It is home to a large population of white-tailed deer. The park's inhabitants also include iguanas and sea turtles.

A little to the east is the Shet-Boka Nature Reserve. It displays examples of local flora, including the divi-divi tree, which is found only in this part of the American continent. Giant cacti of several species are present in large numbers.

To all these natural wonders, let’s add the fact that the island of Curacao is a duty-free trade zone.

Located near Curacao, another large island, Bonaire, also boasts its Washington-Slagbai National Park, located in its northern part. Here, on the local Pekelmeer lake, there is a large colony of flamingos. There are also many other birds, parrots in particular. Not far from the island there is a large coral reef, which is part of the National Marine Park. This place is famous for its diversity of underwater fauna. Therefore, there are diving centers on the island that will give tourists the opportunity to see all this underwater splendor in person. Another type of marine leisure activity is sport fishing.

There are several settlements on the island, the largest of which is Kralendijk. There is also an architectural landmark here - Fort Orange, built in the mid-17th century. The island also has an international airport, through which most tourists arrive.

Another group of islands is less known, but nevertheless there are recreational opportunities there. Most tourists come there for diving and fishing. And although there are no national parks there, the flora and fauna are also quite diverse (take, for example, the real tropical forest on the island of Sint Eustatius).

In general, these picturesque places deserve the attention of tourists. There are all possibilities for varied leisure activities in the Netherlands Antilles.

Geography: Possession of the Netherlands in the West Indies (islands of Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, etc.). The total area is 961 km2.

Time: It lags behind Moscow by 7 hours in winter and 8 hours in summer (GMT\UTC -4).

Nature: The topography of the islands of Bonaire and Curacao is quite common in the southern Caribbean region. The low islands (Curacao - 375 m, Bonaire - 241 m) represent the peaks of the underwater heights of the continental shelf framing the South American continent. The low-lying coast of Bonaire slowly rises to the north, gradually turning into a hilly area surrounded by lagoons and bays of the Washington Slagbai National Park. The same gently sloping strip of Curaçao is replete with narrow, winding bays, which are former intermountain valleys, heavily eroded and flooded by the sea. In the center of the island rises the heavily destroyed rock massif Ato (Hato, 178 m), and in the northwest is Mount Christophel (375 m). Almost the entire surface of the islands is covered with lush tropical vegetation (mostly secondary forests), interrupted only by settlements, agricultural land and long beaches.

The northern part of the property (Saba, Sint Eustatius and Sint Maarten) is as typical in its origin and climatic conditions for the Windward Islands as the ABC Islands are for the Leeward Islands. Formed by the peaks of ancient underwater volcanoes, they mostly have a rounded shape and a fairly elevated topography. Round Saba represents the tip of an ancient volcano, the last eruption of which, according to scientists, occurred five thousand years ago. From north-west to south-east, a series of smooth mountain peaks stretches across the entire island (Marys Point - 585 m, Mount Scenery - 862 m, Muskerhorn Hill, Boobie Hill, etc.), surrounded by hilly areas. The oblong Sint Eustatius in the north is relatively low (the highest point of this area is Signal Hill, 234 m), gradually rising to a height of 600 m to the south (Mount Masinga or Quill). Shallow bays line the entire coast of the island, and their long beaches are often hidden in thickets of dry bushes and small evergreen forests.

Sint Maarten occupies the southern part of the island of Saint Martin. Its rugged coastline stretches in a long strip to the northwest, forming a long and narrow spit that borders the Simpson Bay lagoon from the sea. The southern part of the island is almost 1/5 occupied by the vast saline region of the Great Salt Pond, and to the north there are low hilly areas adjacent to the border of the French part of the island.

The flora and fauna of the southern group of islands is quite poor. In addition to domestic animals brought by Europeans, only a huge number of lizards and birds can be found here. Small evergreen forests, found here and there along the coasts of the islands, are formed by thickets of milkweed, cacti and other thorny bushes. Around the resort areas, extensive green belts are formed from imported decorative forms of vegetation.

The northern group has a slightly larger selection of wildlife representatives. On the western slopes of the mountainous regions there are rows of palm trees, forming real forests in some places. The eastern slopes retain slightly more natural forms of native vegetation and are mostly occupied by tropical forests, bushland and relatively small areas of farmland.

The coastline of all the islands is framed by a series of small coral reefs (the most extensive along the northern and western coasts), and between them and the coast there is a strip of shallow lagoons.

Climate: Tropical sea, trade wind. Most of the year the weather is warm and comfortable with minimal temperature differences between seasons. The average temperature in summer (June - September) is about +27 C, in winter (December - February) - +25 C, while daily temperature changes are extremely insignificant - the thermometer at night rarely drops below +20 C even in winter.

Northeast trade winds blowing from the Atlantic Ocean bring frequent and heavy rain. Precipitation varies from 280 mm on the western shores of the islands to 1000 mm on the north-eastern slopes of the coastal hills. The average annual rainfall on Bonaire is 550 mm (65% of rain falls between October and January), on Curaçao - about 500 mm, on Saba and St. Eustatius - up to 700 mm (the maximum occurs from May to October-November) . Relative humidity is fairly constant throughout the year, averaging 76%.

Curacao and Bonaire are located south of the “Caribbean hurricane belt” and are almost not exposed to the elements, Saba, St. Eustatius and Sint Maarten are located on the southeastern periphery of this zone and can be exposed to hurricanes, most likely between July-August and October .

Political system: Since 1954, the Antilles have enjoyed internal autonomy within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The head of state is Queen Beatrix (since April 30, 1980), represented on the islands by the governor. Foreign policy and defense matters are the responsibility of the Dutch authorities.

Executive power is exercised by the Governor through an Advisory Council and a Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister, who usually appoints the leader of the party or coalition that won the last election. Moreover, each island has its own authorities: vice-governors, local councils and governments.

The unicameral Legislative Assembly, or States, regulates matters of internal government. The parliament is elected by general elections for a period of 4 years and consists of 22 members, including 14 from the island of Curacao, 3 from the island of Bonaire, 3 from the island of Sint Maarten and one each from the islands of Saba and Sint Eustatius. All laws passed by parliament and government must be approved by the governor. Parliament also selects, and the Governor General appoints, the leader of the parliamentary majority as prime minister. Parliament also elects the cabinet of ministers.

Administrative division: Administrative divisions are not fixed in laws, however, each island has its own executive and legislative powers. The territory of the Netherlands Antilles consists of the following parts:
- Curacao island;
- Bonaire island;
- Saba Island;
- island of Sint Eustatius;
- Sint Maarten (southern part of the island of Saint Martin).

Population: 212,226 people (2000). In terms of ethnic composition, the inhabitants of the islands are mainly descendants of mixed marriages between various ethnic groups of the Old World. These are mainly blacks and mulattoes (up to 85%), representatives of Indian peoples (up to 5%), Dutch, Spaniards, Portuguese and other immigrants from the European mainland (up to 6%), as well as emigrants from East Asia and the Middle East. Population density 221/km2. The urban population is 70%, rural - 30%.

Language: The official language of the islands is Dutch. In addition to it, the Papiamento language is used, which is a mixture of Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, English and local Indian dialects. English and Spanish are also common languages.

Religion: About 85% of the population belongs to the Roman Catholic Church, about 8% are Protestants. Also on many islands Islam, Hinduism, Confucianism, Judaism and other religious movements are practiced.

Economy: GDP volume - $2.4 billion (1998), per capita - $11,800. Agriculture produces 1% of GDP, industry - 15%, services - 84%. The main industries are tourism, offshore financial services, oil refining and transportation (Venezuelan), and ship repair. Poor soils and lack of water do not contribute to the development of agriculture, although its level is high. Arable land makes up 10% of the total area (1993). Near Willemstad there is suburban farming (dairy farming, fruit growing, vegetable growing). Economic policy is aimed at further development of existing industries, as well as the manufacturing industry.

The length of paved roads is over 800 km. Willemstad has a seaport and an international airport.

Foreign economic relations are focused on Venezuela and other Latin American countries, the USA and EU countries. Merchandise exports ($303 million in 1998) consist almost predominantly of petroleum products, with some agricultural goods and manufactured goods. External debt is high - $1.35 billion.

Offshore activities: one of the oldest and respectable offshore centers in the world, specializes in offshore banks, as well as holding, financial, insurance, management, shipping and other offshore companies. The income tax of offshore companies ranges from 2.4 to 3%.

Currency: Netherlands Antilles florin (guilder, NAF), equal to 100 cents. Pegged to the US dollar. In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 500, 250, 100, 50, 25 and 10 florins, as well as coins of 5, 10, 25 and 50 cents and 5, 2.5 and 1 florin. The NAO Florin is a non-convertible currency and cannot be exchanged outside the country.

Main attractions: Netherlands Antilles from the 10th century BC. e. were inhabited by the Caquetios Indians (an Arawakan group). After the discovery of the islands by Europeans, most of the Indians died of hunger or disease, and some fell into slavery (many were deported to Haiti). Until the middle of the 18th century, individual islands changed hands more than once - Spain, France and Holland equally claimed to seize these territories. After the abolition of slavery and a decrease in demand in international markets for the traditional goods of this region: tobacco, sugar and grains, the islands for a long time were only transshipment bases for cargo flows from the New World to Europe. Nowadays, the most important sector of the local economy is tourism (up to a third of the islands' population works in this sector), and the islands themselves have become one of the most popular resort areas in the Caribbean, with a developed recreation infrastructure and excellent natural conditions.

The southern group of the modern Netherlands Antilles was discovered by Europeans in 1499, when Alonso de Oymeda (Oymeda, one of Columbus's lieutenants) reached the coast of Curaçao. Since the beginning of the 16th century, this land has been under the protectorate of Spain and served as a large naval base, and in 1634 it came under the control of the Dutch West India Company. Thousands of slaves were brought to the island to work on the plantations, and for two centuries the island flourished as a major supplier of agricultural products. The abolition of slavery in 1863 marks the beginning of Curaçao's long economic depression, ending in 1916 with the opening of an oil refinery. Oil refining has become the mainstay of the island's booming economy, making it the group's most prosperous area, but the introduction of clean processing methods has preserved the land's natural charm, creating the conditions for a booming tourism sector.

Curacao is located in the Leeward Islands group, 56 km from the northern coast of Venezuela, and covers an area of ​​444 square meters. km, being the largest island of the Netherlands Antilles. Flat, rocky and rather deserted, due to the low amount of precipitation (about 500 mm), the island at first glance looks rather dull - the monotonous desert landscape is interrupted only by sparse groves and coastal dry forests. However, in reality, Curaçao is teeming with life and has many interesting natural features, as well as beautiful coastlines and extensive coral reefs.

The Dutch founded the city in 1634 as one of their naval bases in the region, building a citadel to protect the natural deep-water channel and harbour. As the island's economy flourished, it attracted many Dutch and Jewish traders, and a wealthy merchant city with many mansions and business districts quickly grew up around the fortifications. And although much has fallen into disrepair since the economic downturn of the 19th century, Willemstad is still the closest thing to a traditional Dutch town somewhere along the Scheldt coast. The island's capital has a population of only 125 thousand people, but continues to be the center of Curacao's commercial and social activities, as well as the island's largest commercial harbor. The city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered one of the best shopping centers in the Caribbean.

Divided by the narrow and deep Santa Anna Bay channel, or Schottegat, the city center forms two main districts: Punda on the east side and Otrobanda on the west. The magnificent coastline along the entire water area of ​​the bay is built up with typical Dutch buildings of the 18th-19th centuries and magnificent mansions of merchant families, which today house numerous shops, restaurants, museums and cafes. The old areas are connected by two bridges: the Queen Julian Bridge (span height - 50 m, one of the largest structures of its kind in the Leeward Islands group) and the Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge - a floating pedestrian bridge, specially designed to allow passage of those entering the harbor ships. In the harbor itself there is a floating market, assembled from colorful barges and pontoons, and on the coastline opposite rises the picturesque building of the New Market, which usually opens at 6 am on Saturdays.

North of Pounds stretches the old Jewish district of Charloux. It is home to the second oldest synagogue in the Western Hemisphere, Mikvah Israel Emanuel (mid-17th century), as well as the old Beth Heim cemetery with a small historical museum in the courtyard.

Fort Amsterdam (1635), from which the development of the city began, today still guards the entrance to the harbor and at the same time is the seat of government of the Netherlands Antilles, rising in the very center of the historical quarters of Willemstad. In many buildings of the complex and even in the church of the fort you can still see special casemates, created as warehouses in case of a siege of the fortress. Noteworthy are the statue of the famous freedom fighter Manuel Piar, as well as two memorials related to World War II (one a gift from the Dutch royal family to the people of Curacao in gratitude for their support during the German occupation, and the second dedicated to the islanders who died in that war). .

Despite its small size, Willemstad has an extensive selection of first-class museums and various cultural exhibitions. The Curaçao Museum (tel: (+5999) 462-3873) is located in the western part of the Otrobanda district, in a beautiful historical building dating back to 1853. This spacious museum (the largest on the island) has an extensive collection of works by contemporary local and international artists, a collection of antique furniture from the 18th and 19th centuries, antique maps and a collection of traditional Indian and indigenous art. And around the museum there is a small park with many cozy recreation areas and children's attractions.

The Maritime Museum (tel: (+5999) 465-2327) is located in a mansion built in 1729 directly above the mouth of the secondary Vaigat Bay, above the floating market. The entire museum complex is made in a marine style, with gangways, portholes and masts, made of wood and copper. Video presentations, along with traditional exhibitions of historical collections, are used throughout the museum to illustrate Curaçao's rich maritime past. The museum even has its own ferry, carrying cruise ship passengers across the harbor that regularly visit the port.

The Amsterdam Fort Church Museum (tel: (+5999) 461-1139) is located at the rear of the historic church (1769) located on the fort's shoreline in the Punda district. It contains a small but very beautiful collection of Dutch Protestant church artifacts, including antique silver bowls and mahogany ritual objects, as well as an impressive collection of old maps of the island.

The Jewish Cultural History Museum (tel: (+5999) 461-1633) is part of the Mikvah Israel Emanuel synagogue complex. The museum contains an impressive collection of religious artifacts and historical documents, such as old Torah scrolls and ancient Hanukkahs, as well as many personal, household and colonial-era items. The picturesque Postal Museum (tel: (+5999) 465-8010) on Caia Toni Prince displays a complete collection of stamps and other postal paraphernalia issued in the Netherlands Antilles and other countries. The museum complex occupies the oldest building in the Punda district, dating back to 1693 (the historic building was carefully restored in the early 1990s).

The Kura-Hulanda Museum (tel: (+5999) 434-7765) on Klipstraat showcases various aspects of the anthropology and culture of Curaçao. It features extensive exhibits on human origins, the slave trade, the history and culture of the West African empires, and the pre-Columbian cultures of the Americas. Owned by the Dutch Central Bank, the Numismatic Museum (tel: (+5999) 461-3600) on Breederstraat contains an impressive collection of coins that were in circulation in the past in the West Indies and other countries, as well as a collection of precious and semi-precious stones. And the Telemuseum (tel: (+5999) 465-2844), housed in a beautifully restored building in the heart of the shopping districts of Wilhelminaplein, traces the history of telecommunications technology from the first telephone installed on the island in the early 1880s to modern fiber optic and satellite communication lines.

Southeast of the capital lies the sprawling Aquarium of Curacao complex, perhaps the island's most popular attraction. A yacht marina, a large beach, a hotel and the Aquarium complex itself are concentrated here - 46 pools of different shapes and sizes, which contain about 400 representatives of the marine flora and fauna of the Caribbean Sea region. All aquariums are illuminated by natural sunlight and supplied with clean sea water, taken from a certain depth in the nearby reefs, so the inhabitants of the complex live here almost in natural conditions (an interesting feature is that each of these pools is cleared of fish every year so that the natural marine microflora is restored). There is also a center for the study and breeding of dolphins - the Dolphin Academy - and many other scientific and entertainment institutions.

Just outside the city limits are the buildings of the modern ABC University, and a little further along the western road you can find beautiful complexes of old plantation villas - Landhus-Papaya and Queru Grandis, as well as the good beach of Boca San Pedro. To the north of the capital is the complex of the beautiful plantation villa Landhus-Brevengat, where there is a permanent fair and exhibition of local handicrafts, a recreation center (owned by the Dutch Marine Corps), a small church and a souvenir shop. And just 500 m south of Curaçao International Airport there is a small limestone massif in which an extensive labyrinth of Ato caves (Hato, total length about 5 km) was discovered, decorated with many stalactites, magnificent sinter forms and underground streams with cascading waterfalls. Petroglyphs dating from the 15th-13th centuries were discovered in the upper tiers. BC e., as well as numerous hiding places and shelters of fugitive slaves who hid here sometimes for several years.

The shores of Curacao are its main attraction. Here you won’t find the long, white beaches that are so typical of other islands in the region; here, small isolated shores in secluded coves are more common, which locals simply call “playas” (“coast”, for large beaches) or “bocas” (“holes”, for small beaches in bays). The best of the 38 local beaches are located on the west coast of Curacao, between Westpuntbai and Fort Sint Michael. These same areas are home to many excellent diving and snorkeling spots - coral reefs with many interesting dive sites frame almost the entire island.

The best beaches in the northern part of the coast are Playas Kalki ("Limestone Coast") near Westpunt, Westpunt beach itself (quite rocky), one of the most beautiful on the island - Knip beach, very popular among locals is the small neighboring Little Knip, framed by trees. Playas Quenapa, the narrow picturesque bay of Playas Jeremy, the white sandy beach of Port Marie (few of the public beaches in the northern part of the island where you can relax with children without any fear) and the picturesque Cas Aban beach on Banda Abao (can be crowded on weekends) .

In the southern part of Curacao, the shores of the civilized Hooks Hut with the Floris Suite Hotel resort, the equally equipped Kontiki Beach, the center of Curacao's nightlife - Mambo Beach, the snow-white and often crowded Siquarium Beach, lying right next to the walls of the new quarters of the eastern part of Willemstad, deserve attention. Jean Thiel with a small shallow lagoon, the modern Caracasbai beach near Spanish Water, as well as the small Barbara Beach (now officially closed) and a quiet beach near Zanzibar Beach Resort in Thiel Bay. Also extremely popular for relaxing by the sea is the deserted island (rather, a large sandbank topped with an old lighthouse building) of Klein Curaçao with its white shores of fine sand and pebbles. Not far from the capital, at a depth of 39 meters, the cargo ship Superior-Producer sank, serving as a real place of pilgrimage for divers.

The island of Bonaire, which can literally be translated as “good air”, is the second largest among the Netherlands Antilles, located 80 km north of the Venezuelan coast. With a length of 40 km from north to south and a width of only 8 km, it covers an area of ​​290 square meters. km. Its first known inhabitants were the Caquetios Indians, who settled Bonaire around the 10th century BC. Within just 20 years of their first contact with Europeans, who arrived off the coast of Bonaire in 1499, most of the Indians died of disease or were taken to Haiti. For almost a hundred years, only exiled settlers from South America lived here and numerous herds of cattle roamed from the ranch of the Spanish governor. Over time, settlers from Europe founded small settlements on the site of modern Rincon and in the Antriol region, north of the modern capital of the island. In response to the Spanish takeover of St. Maarten, the Dutch occupied Bonaire in 1633, but it was not until 1791 that it officially became part of the Crown Dominion.

Hilly in the north (the highest point is Brandaris Hill, 241 m), the island slowly descends to the south. The rather deserted and dry landscape of Bonaire contrasts beautifully with the turquoise waters of the adjacent sea. Giant waste heaps of salt extracted from local lagoons emphasize the unreality of its yellow-blue landscape, and numerous “gingerbread” villages with green gardens only increase this contrast. Bonaire remains the least populated and least developed of the so-called "ABC Islands" (southern group of the Netherlands Antilles). Ubiquitous lizards, bats, about 200 species of birds and feral goats - that's the entire fauna of Bonaire. But the sea around the island is literally teeming with life - more than 450 species of fish, four species of sea turtle and about 70 species of algae have been recorded in local waters, and in terms of the number of marine mammals it is not inferior to Curacao. Therefore, Bonaire has long been considered a recognized center for scuba diving and water sports.

The tiny capital of the island is home to only 1,800 people. Situated on the shores of a picturesque harbor on the west coast of the island, Kralendijk (literally "Coral Dam") is the commercial center of Bonaire and its main port. Visible from the sea as just a small group of low-rise buildings painted in soft pastel colors, it nevertheless contains most of the island's government offices, as well as shops, hotels, restaurants and bars. There are practically no special attractions here - you can walk around the entire city in just a couple of hours. But the peaceful atmosphere of “old Holland” has been preserved here, attracting 12 times more tourists per year than live in the city itself.

One of the main attractions of the city is Fort Oranj (Fort Orange, 19th century), which now houses the port office, as well as the adjacent stone lighthouse. The second main attraction is the Museo Boneriano (Museum of Bonaire), located just outside the city limits, on Caia Sabana. The museum complex is housed in a plantation house from the mid-19th century, carefully restored to its original condition at the end of the 20th century. There are quite interesting exhibitions on the history and culture of the Indian tribes that inhabited the island before the arrival of Europeans, plantation business, architecture and history of the island, as well as wildlife, geology and various aspects of local culture. Opposite the museum there is an old building of a small store, which today has been converted into an administration office and the museum's ticket office.

Almost opposite the capital, just 1.5 km from the coast, lies the uninhabited island of Klein Bonaire. Deserted and surrounded by excellent reefs, it is a popular spot for picnics and diving. Unlike “Greater Bonaire” itself, there are many sandy beaches here, excellent for relaxing by the sea. However, these same shores serve as a natural nesting habitat for seabirds and a laying ground for turtles, so part of the island is currently under state protection in accordance with the International Agreement for the Protection of Wetlands.

To the south of Kralendijk, deserted seashores begin, dotted with salt mines, old plantations and the main attractions of the island - excellent diving sites (the most popular areas for diving and snorkeling here are the Alice in Wonderland reef, the double reef at Angel City with a sunken transport "Hilma-Hooker"). The road, which skirts the entire southern coast, passes pink and turquoise ponds owned by the salt mining company Cargill Salt, one of the largest commercial organizations in Bonaire. Salt harvesting has been a major industry on Bonaire for over 350 years. Seawater pumped into the pits gradually evaporates, leaving salt crystals, which are collected and sent for export. The concrete steles overlooking Bléve Pan and Rod Pan were used until 1863 as flagpoles, signaling to merchant ships that the salt had been collected and was ready for export.

Near Witte Pan (one of the best beaches on the island) and a little further south, near Oranj Pan, you can see small groups of small white and red-brown huts huddled over the edge of the shore. Built in 1850, these steep-roofed structures with tiny windows were intended to house slaves from nearby quarries. By the way, if you carefully examine the surrounding area, you can find in the crust of frozen salt traces of people who worked here, left more than a century and a half ago.

A little further south, areas of “pink fog” begin, upon closer inspection revealing thousands of pink flamingos that inhabit the Pekelmeer Nature Reserve (135 acres) - the largest breeding ground for these beautiful birds in the Western Hemisphere (their population is estimated at an average of 10 thousand). These tall, graceful birds are very shy and timid by nature, so the territory of the reserve itself (and even the airspace above it) is closed to humans, but nothing prevents you from observing this unique spectacle from nearby rocky ledges or from the coast. Every night, large flocks of these birds fly to the shores of Venezuela and return at dawn, literally covering the sky with their pink wings.

Nearby are the ruins of the Willemstoren lighthouse, the first structure of its kind, erected on the island in 1837. From the lighthouse the road turns north and runs along the rugged coastline, which locals call Piedra Preto ("Black Rock"). It’s worth a short stop here to see piles of twisted driftwood flickering among large blocks of sun-bleached coral, demonstrating the terrifying power of the waves that essentially formed this side of the island. Nearby is the so-called Donkey Sanctuary, which is almost the only place on the planet where this pack animal is protected. The ancestors of these animals were brought to the island in the 18th century to work in the salt mines (at that time almost a quarter of Bonaire’s territory was covered with salt mines), and after the replacement of live draft power with machines, hundreds of donkeys were simply released. Therefore, local residents decided that it was easier to keep these useful, but very annoying animals in one place, rather than allowing them to breed uncontrollably on an island that was already sparse in vegetation, and they created this unusual reserve. Now about a thousand of these animals live in the wild here, and watching them brings a lot of joy to children.

At the northern end of the road, just before the turn back to the capital, the highway passes the shallow Lac Bay - the best place on the island for windsurfing and kayaking. The bay's sheltered waters and steady trade winds attract athletes of all levels and ages, and in October it hosts the traditional Bonaire Windsurf Regatta. The small village of Kai, located in the northern part of the bay, is a traditional gathering place for board and sail enthusiasts, where there is a small restaurant and local musicians constantly play. Further, the road runs through deserted thickets of cacti and dry bushes, inhabited only by feral donkeys and goats, approaching the capital from the southeast.

The oldest settlement on Bonaire, the town of Rincon is conveniently located in the valley northwest of the capital. The settlement was founded by the Spanish in the early 16th century, eventually becoming home to many slaves who worked the nearby plantations and salt mines. It is now a small cluster of houses in traditional Dutch style, with a single pay phone and a petrol station. The best time to visit is during the annual Rincon Day festival (April 30), when visitors from many Caribbean islands flock to the city to see the best of traditional music and dance, or sample local cuisine. Throughout the rest of the year, the only attractions here are the relaxed atmosphere of this colorful town and the famous Prisca's Ice Cream shop in Kaya Comcober, famous throughout the Antilles, where the most unusual types of this delicacy are prepared.

Bonaire is not the place where you can find long, white beaches framed by green palm trees. Most of the shores on the island are public property and are easily accessible (the only exception is the Harbor Village Resort, where access is limited to resort guests or those who have paid a certain entrance fee). Nudism is illegal here, with the exception of Sorobon Beach, which is a private resort specializing in this type of recreation. Swimming and sunbathing topless is not prohibited, but it is not encouraged, however, on isolated small beaches no one pays attention to it.

The best seashores of the island are Playas Chiquitu within the Washington-Slagbai National Park (swimming here is quite dangerous, as the currents are strong and high waves from the ocean often come), Playas Funchi beach, located in the very north-west of the island (recommended for diving by the Office for tourism Bonaire), the rocky beach of Boca Slagbai (surrounded by beautiful houses of the mid-19th century), the quiet little Playa France beach near the border of the national park, also located on the northern coast of Boca Cocolisi beach (famous for its round shallow lagoons), the northernmost coast Marine Park - Boca Bartol (excellent for snorkeling), beautiful Southend Steps Beach (rather difficult to access due to the surrounding cliffs), narrow sandy strip of Bachelor Beach south of Plava Mangel, well-equipped Pink Beach with excellent snorkeling conditions and diving, as well as almost the entire coast of Lac Bay.

The island of Sint Eustatius, better known to locals as Statia, was called Alo ("cashew tree") before the arrival of Europeans. None of the European powers was able to establish a permanent settlement here until 1636, when the Dutch, after defeating the French, founded the first fortified village on the site of the foundations of the French fort (the island subsequently changed hands 22 times). In the XVII-XVIII centuries. the island was a thriving port, widely known as the "Golden Rock". Just 8 km long and 3 km wide, it is located in the Leeward Islands group, 60 km south of Saint Martin, 27 km southeast of Saba. The relief of St. Eustatius is typical for the islands of the region - at its base lies an ancient extinct volcano, whose cones are easily visible in the form of the main landmarks of the island - the double-headed mountain Mount Masinga (Quill, 600 m) in the very southeast and the Signal Hill massif (about 240 m) in the north. Almost the entire coast of the island is rocky - the cliffs fall straight to the coastline, so there are very few good beaches here. The central part of the island is occupied by a small plain, at the point where it opens to the sea and the only large city of the island is located - Oranjestad. Most of the island is arid, and the vegetation is limited to literally a dozen species, but on the slopes and in the crater of Mount Masinga, which collect enough rain, a real tropical forest grows (there are 18 species of orchids alone), inhabited by 25 species of birds, snakes, lizards and arboreal frogs (along with the ubiquitous goats, cows and donkeys).

The capital and only city of St. Eustatius is a rather pleasant village with a charming historical flavor. Situated on the coastline, Lower Town is where European settlers first settled and the first port was located, so the area still contains several dozen old structures from the colonial era, as well as the best beach on the island. Here you can see the ruins of old walls, warehouses and shops that are slowly sinking into the sea (the damage caused by the fire of the British fleet in 1781 and numerous hurricanes could not be compensated), the beige-black sand of the city beach and the old breakwater - a popular place for snorkeling.

Right in the center of the city, on a cliff above the Lower Town, stands the well-preserved Fort of Oranj (17th century, the first fortifications were built by French settlers in 1629), surrounded by a triple ring of fortifications. Its walls topped with old guns offer a picturesque panorama of the city and the adjacent water area, and the cobblestone courtyard with its memorial plaques is considered one of the most favorite places among tourists - it has been preserved almost unchanged since the construction of the fort.

The thick stone walls of the old reform church on Kirkweg Street, built in 1755, remain completely intact to this day, but the roof collapsed under the blows of a hurricane in 1792 and since then this picturesque building has been “open to heaven.” Five hundred meters to the north rises the building of the Government Guest House (18th century, the governor’s residence and the courthouse were located here), from whose tower, restored in 1981, you can see the panorama of the city completely free of charge. Just a short walk to the northeast lies the small Museum of St. Eustatius (open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, Saturdays 9am to 12pm; admission $2), housed in one of the most beautiful eighteenth-century buildings, Simon's Mansion Donker (Dutch merchant of the 18th century). Its collection includes the full range of historical relics of the island, from pottery from the Indian period to objects from the colonial era.

Among the colonial ruins of the city center, Honen Dalim (1739) is the second oldest synagogue in the Caribbean. About half a kilometer east of the synagogue ruins, you can find a Jewish cemetery with gravestones dating from 1742 to 1843.

The Upper Town is the main commercial and residential area of ​​the capital, where most of the banking offices, commercial establishments and more modern residential areas are concentrated. Not far from its outskirts lies the Miriam Schmidt Botanical Garden with an extensive collection of flora specimens from throughout the region, and to the south of the city, almost at the southernmost tip of the island, rise white cliffs and the small fort of De Windt (18th century) with its battlements and a dozen old guns .

Outside of Oranjestad, the island does not boast an abundance of interesting places. Little Key Bay, the vast Zealand Bay (this is where the first European settlers landed, and today it is an excellent beach area), the beach area in Venus Bay, small beaches on the coast of Jenkins Bay, Company Bay and Back Bay. Off Bay, as well as the lush tropical forest on the slopes of Mount Masinga (now most of the slopes and the crater forest are protected by the national park of the same name) - that’s all its attractions. But Sint Eustatius has a significant “reserve” in the form of its underwater world, which is still quite poorly explored. Almost the entire underwater base of the island is cut by a whole network of extended underwater canyons, caves and walls, which, coupled with warm water, allowed the formation of a fairly rich underwater fauna here. More than 200 shipwrecks of all times and peoples that sank off the western coast are currently hidden under coral reefs, but the coral massifs of Anchor Reef, Dubby Crack, Zealand Bay or Jenkins Bay, which grew on ancient lava fields, are themselves worthy of attention (as on many other islands of the group, to dive in the waters of St. Eustatius you must obtain a special permit).

The southern part of the island of Saint Martin (for ease of pronunciation, this territory is often called simply Sint Maarten in Dutch or Saint Martin in French) is somewhat different in its natural and climatic conditions from its southern “neighbors”. Due to the numerous salty reservoirs scattered in abundance throughout the southern part of the island, the Indians who inhabited it before the arrival of Europeans called the island Sualiga, which can be translated as “Land of Salt”. Columbus discovered the island in November 1493, on St. Martin's Day, which determined its modern name (however, many historians believe that the island that Columbus accidentally stumbled upon on that day was not modern Sint Maarten, but lying south of Nevis, and that the great navigator never set foot on the northernmost island of the Netherlands Antilles). In any case, it was only in 1631 that the first European colonialists landed on the island (almost simultaneously the Dutch in Little Bay and the French in the Orleans region) and began to develop it.

Occupying only 34 sq. km, the Dutch part of the island is a vast hilly area, descending through two low ridges of Sentry Hill (344 m) and Williams Hill (264 m) to the gently sloping southern coast, indented by extensive lagoons and narrow deep bays. The western part of Sint Maarten is a narrow spit that separates the vast Simpson Bay Lagoon, one of the largest inland bodies of water in the Caribbean, from the sea. The most noticeable landmark of Sint Maarten is the extinct volcano Mount Flagstaff (386 m), against which the highest point of the entire island, Mount Paradise (400 m), located to the north, in the French part of the island, is completely lost. Numerous salt lagoons and many small islands: Pelican Key (Guana Key), Little Key, Molly Bedi, Hen and Chicken flank the coastline of Sint Maarten. Its landscape is mostly green but dry - the vast majority of the island's flora consists of palms, hibiscus and cacti, although there are some small forests in the hilly central areas. The fauna is represented by almost a hundred species of birds and several species of lizards, as well as wild domestic animals. Unlike the other islands of the group, there are many long sandy beaches, especially common in the southern and western regions of the island, and in the lagoons the beaches extend the entire width of alluvial sand spits, separating them from the sea.

The capital and only city of the Dutch part of the island, Philipsburg is located on a long sandy spit that separates Salt Pond Lagoon from Great Bay. The city consists, in fact, of only two streets: Voorstraat (Front Street) and Achterstraat (Back Street), connected to each other by a network of short and narrow alleys. Most of the local buildings are classic examples of early colonial architecture - steep tiled roofs, red and white facades and small windows with often painted frames that are almost exactly copies of old Dutch village houses. Even the many restaurants, casinos, jewelry stores and duty-free shops, sparkling with shop windows and modern lighting, do not at all spoil its patriarchal appearance, which is the real calling card of the city.

The attractions of Philipsburg usually include its nine rather modest churches, the monument to Queen Wilhelmina, the Sint Maarten Museum with an extensive historical collection and a collection of objects from the frigate Proselyte that sank in 1801 near the walls of Fort Amsterdam, the picturesque Watney Square in the southern part of the city, the dock and the old courthouse (1793), Fort Willem, located west of the central part of the city (built in 1801 by the British, captured by the Dutch in 1816 and subsequently rebuilt), as well as Fort Amsterdam lying on a long and narrow peninsula southwest of the city (1631) - the first Dutch military base in the Caribbean. At the northern end of Salt Pond Lagoon lies the tiny Sint Maarten Zoo and Botanical Garden, which houses 35 species of reptiles, birds and mammals, including the rare St. Kitts monkey.

To the northeast of the zoo is the white sandy beach of Dawn Beach and Oyster Pond, widely known as the best place for snorkeling and windsurfing near the capital. The border between the French and Dutch parts of the island runs along them, but this line is extremely “transparent” - any swimmer can swim across the bay in any direction completely unhindered. From here you can walk to Mount Concordia, which rises on the border in the center of the island. In 1648, it was here that an agreement was signed that divided Saint-Martin into two parts, so this picturesque mountain (rather just a high hill) has served as a symbol of peaceful coexistence between two cultures for more than 350 years; a Border Monument dedicated to the act of division of the island.

Just on the border is the charming market town of Marigot (no paperwork is required to cross the border), and the hilly areas of the central regions are home to many old colonial-era farms and plantations, some still in use. Not far from the capital there is another attraction of Sint Maarten - the picturesque Butterfly Farm, where more than 4 thousand of these beautiful insects are kept in their natural environment. A special feature of local tourism is the gambling business - on the Dutch side, mostly around the capital, there are 12 ultra-modern casinos, which often attract fans of this type of recreation not only from the countries of the region, but also from many parts of Europe and the Americas.

Located on the southwestern coast of the island, Maho Bay is the main resort area of ​​Sint Maarten. Densely lined with multi-storey buildings, jewelry stores, art galleries, restaurants and casinos, the white strip of beach practically abuts the runway of the local airport, so this area is widely known for its rather exotic spectacle - huge passenger planes flying right over the heads of vacationers. And very unusual local signs warning that “low-flying aircraft can cause injury” are an extremely popular “souvenir” among visitors to the island. To the north begins the excellent one and a half kilometer Mallet Beach, which literally flows into the quiet Kapkoy Beach, which is a set of ancient weathered cliffs, at the base of which small cozy bays with white sand lurk (many bays are leased to large resort complexes, so access to them is limited to guests hotels).

Also popular are resort areas such as Little Bay Beach (one of the best snorkeling spots on the island with very clear water), East Beach in the northeast with its water sports center, and the surprisingly quiet private Simpson Bay Beach between a picturesque fishing village and the sea, and a favorite spot for windsurfers, Coconut Grove on the northeast coast.

The most popular dive site on the island is Proselyte Reef, located a few kilometers south of Philipsburg, where the British frigate of the same name sank at a depth of 15 meters in 1802. Also good are the nearby shallow coral reefs with caves, Windy Reef and East Beach, as well as a number of incredible coral reefs near Maze.

The island of Saba (pronounced Say-ba by locals) holds the unofficial title of the "Pristine Queen" of the Caribbean. Saba forms the westernmost corner of a triangle of islands that includes Sint Maarten (46 km northeast of Saba) and Sint Eustatius (32 km southeast). Occupying an area of ​​only 13 square meters. km (the smallest of the Netherlands Antilles), the island is the top of the underwater volcano Mount Scenery, rising above the water at 890 meters (the highest island of the Dutch possessions of the region). There are no rivers or permanent watercourses here, and the leeward (western) side is dry and overgrown only with thickets of cacti and dry bushes. And at the same time, the windward (eastern) side of Saba provides a sharp contrast with the dry west - the mountain slopes here are covered with lush forests with a large number of tree ferns, palms, mahogany, oleander, hibiscus and orchids, and more than 60 species nest under the forest canopy birds, several species of lizards and tree frogs.

Saba was inhabited by Arawakan tribes over 1,300 years ago. During his second trip to the New World, on November 13, 1493, Christopher Columbus was the first European to pass near the shore of Saba (he did not dare to land on the island, since the rocky shores of Saba are not suitable for such an operation). The Dutch claimed the island in 1632, and the first colonists arrived here from St. Eustatius in 1640. After the end of the Napoleonic Wars in Europe, the British, who had long held the island in their hands, were forced to return it to Holland in 1816, and since then it has been considered one of the most remote areas of this country.

These days, Saba is the “most unspoiled” island in the Netherlands Antilles, where locals still believe that “there are so few tourists here that each of them is almost a celebrity” (although the figure of 25 thousand tourists per year suggests otherwise) . And indeed, until the 70s of the 20th century, Saba was a real isolated oasis, having neither an airport nor a protected harbor, so everyone who got here had to make a difficult journey by sea with many transfers. Most local residents trace their ancestry back to just half a dozen families of the first settlers (among which, oddly enough, very few are Dutch), are very pious and sacredly honor old traditions. There is only one modern road (it’s called the Road, with a capital R), few hotels, but many beautiful beaches, and in schools English is taught along with Dutch. In general, Saba lives up to its title and is still a holiday destination only for supporters of eco-tourism and athletes, but for them it can offer everything they need - varied nature, quiet shores and the complete absence of the annoying recreation industry. Even the local airport, Juancho Irausquin, proudly has international status, is considered the shortest runway in the world - its runway is less than 914 meters long, and only three types of aircraft are allowed to land here.

The largest settlement on the island, Windwardside is more like a large village with picturesque houses and an abundance of gardens. Located on the windward side of the island, at the foot of Mount Scenery, this town is more suitable than others for the title of the tourist capital of the island - there is a lot of greenery, the climate is noticeably cooler than in the west, most of the hotels, restaurants and shops are located here, as well as the Saba tourist office , nestled on a miniature alley, there is a post office, a supermarket, several banks and quite modern art galleries. The Saba Museum is housed in an old mansion (19th century), surrounded by a luxurious garden. It contains furnishings, pottery and tools from the entire observable history of the island, from the Indian era to sextants and compasses from the colonial period. Nearby is the Harry L. Johnson Memorial Museum in the restored mansion of this Dutch captain, as well as Jobean's Hot Glass Studio and the colorful Heritage Shoppe, where you can buy the best examples of the famous Saban weave.

Between Windwardside and the island's international airport, nestled on the mountainside is a village with the unusual name Hell Gate ("Gate of Hell"). The main landmark of this colorful settlement is the stone Holy Rosary Church, which seems ancient, but was actually built only three decades ago. Just behind the church is the Hell Gate Community Centre, which sells the best of local weaving and embroidery, as well as Saba Spice rum and other traditional local crafts. And the road passing through this village is famous for its picturesque panoramas of the surrounding Mount Scenery and occasional views of neighboring islands.

Although the waters of Saba's east coast are often rough and the coastal cliffs severely limit seaside recreation, Cove Bay near the airport is quite good for active water sports, as it is protected from the sea by rocky headlands and boulders. Here you can safely cool off on a hot day, which many passengers waiting for flights do with pleasure (you can walk from the bay to the airport in literally 5 minutes). Nearby rise the buildings of an old tannery (now medical school students work here), and right under the coastal cliff stretches a whole series of small lagoons, where you can observe the living community of the tidal zone (you can swim here, but not very comfortable - in the hot local climate, shallow lagoons sometimes warm up to +40-47 C).

The administrative center of Saba is located in the southwestern part of the island, in a hilly area formed by the eroded slopes of the ancient side crater Mount Scenery. A quiet and charming town, Bottom differs from other settlements on the island only in the presence of administrative offices and a completely modern road leading from here to Fort Bay. Otherwise, it is the same green and patriarchal town, although the vegetation here is clearly somewhat sparse than on the east coast. What remains of Bottom's colonial past are a few cobblestone streets, a picturesque governor's mansion in the western part of the city (not open to the public) and an Anglican church. The rest of the city's buildings are clearly young, but executed with a special simple grace, so characteristic of the culture of Saba.

The center of Bottom is Main Square, in the middle of which, on a patch of grass, stands a bust of Samuel Charles, a policeman killed in a clash with drug dealers in 1989 (this incident literally shook the island, and the peace officer himself was buried with honors among the best people in the city). Around the square there are a number of neat buildings of the fire service, police station and court, among which grazing goats can easily walk or impeccably dressed children play (the attitude of Saba residents to clothing is a special topic, but local students even here stand out for their neatness). At the base of the hill, on the outskirts, is the medical school of the University of Saba (representatives of almost all countries of the Americas and the Caribbean study here), and a little lower - the local Department of Public Works in a white stone old school building, literally sandwiched between tall cacti (typically that these plants bloom only at night, emitting a fantastic aroma that sometimes literally permeates the entire city) and the oldest Anglican church on the island (the date of its construction is estimated to be the mid-18th century). And between them wind quiet and neat streets with old stone walls and white picket fences.

West of Bottom, the road leads to Saba's only beach in Wells Bay, with good snorkeling conditions (you'll need to bring your own equipment). And south of the city, the road passes through a dry landscape with numerous cacti, reaching the sea at Fort Bay, where the island's only port and the best diving site is located. The town of the same name is home to numerous shops (including specialized outlets for divers and a decompression chamber), the office of the Saba Marine Park, a power plant, a desalination plant and Saba's only gas station. There is no beach as such, but local kids will be happy to show you the few convenient approaches to the water (primarily the port pier).

Historical sketch: The Spaniards arrived on the islands at the end of the 15th century. In the period 1630-1640, the islands were occupied by the Dutch, then repeatedly occupied by the Spaniards, British and French. Finally passed to the Netherlands in 1816. Before the abolition of slavery in 1863, the territory was the center of the Caribbean slave trade. Since 1954 it has been a self-governing part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Previously, the ownership included the island of Aruba (since January 1, 1986 - a separate territory within the Kingdom of the Netherlands).

National domain: .AN

Entry rules: To enter the Netherlands Antilles, citizens of Russia and the CIS require a visa, which is issued at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Moscow or at the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in St. Petersburg.

Customs regulations: The import and export of local and foreign currency is not limited; amounts over 20 thousand florins (or equivalent) must be declared.

Persons over the age of 15 are allowed duty-free import of up to 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, or 100 cigarillos (weighing up to 3 grams each) and up to 250 grams of tobacco; up to 1 liter of spirits or 2.25 liters of wine, or 3 liters of beer, as well as personal items and gifts worth up to 100 florins. If the total value of goods of commercial value for one person entering exceeds 500 florins, you will need to fill out a customs declaration and pay a duty (however, there is a chance to prove that these are goods for personal use). There are no restrictions on the import of perfumes and perfumes.

Leather goods from Haiti, weapons and explosives, drugs and narcotic medications are prohibited from being imported into the country, although there are some concessions for the latter, as well as silver coins and products from Holland and Suriname. The export of objects and things of historical and artistic value, especially those found at the bottom of the sea, without special permission is prohibited.

- one of the tourist centers of the Caribbean.

Netherlands Antilles

Netherlands Antilles- a self-governing autonomous territory within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. And although today it is not considered the main tourist center of the Caribbean, you can have a great rest here, and at the same time admire the local attractions, which, by the way, are abundant in the Antilles.

Antilles on the world map

The territory, with a total area of ​​960 km 2, includes five islands: Aruba and Curacao located off the coast of Venezuela and Saba, Saint Martin and Saint Eustatius located near Puerto Rico. They are inhabited by more than 250 thousand islanders.

The capital of the territory is Willemstad, a city located on the largest island of Curacao among the rest. The Antiles have three official languages: English, Dutch and Papiamento (a local creole dialect with roots in Portuguese). The Antillean guilder – “ANG” – has been approved as the national currency.

Islands flag and missing star

Netherlands Antilles have their own flag. On the white flag of the flag, adopted in 1986, two stripes of equal width are crossed in the form of a straight cross: vertical red and horizontal blue.

On the blue stripe, which means , in the center of the flag there are five small white stars, symbolizing all the islands that are part of the territory. The top three stars are Saba, Saint Martin and Saint Eustatius; the lower ones are Baneiro and Curacao. The red stripe is a symbol of their unity.

The colors of the Antilov flag, designed to emphasize the inextricable connection of the territory with the metropolis, fully correspond to the colors of the national standard of the Netherlands.

The Antillean flag is flown only together with the Dutch one. Interestingly, from 1959 to 1985 there was another star on the flag, representing Aruba. However, after Aruba acquired the status of an independent territory and entered the Commonwealth as a full partner, only five stars remained.

Climate in the Antilles

The tropical climate of the archipelago means that the Antilles enjoy wonderful weather all year round: warm and comfortable. And even the trade winds that prevail here cannot spoil the mood of tourists vacationing here. On the contrary, they bring only freshness and pleasant coolness. Temperatures of +25 - 27°C are typical for this area throughout the year.

Geographical position

A group of three former Netherlands Antilles islands is located in the Caribbean Sea and is divided into two unequal groups - Bonaire (together with Curacao is part of the “ABC Islands,” as they are called in English-speaking countries) are located in the southern part of the water area, in the group of Leeward Islands off the northern coast of Venezuela. Saba and St. Eustatius are in the north, in the Windward Islands group.

It is washed on all sides by the waters of the Caribbean Sea. The total area of ​​the islands is about 410 square meters. km.

Capital: The administrative center of the property is the city of Willemstad on the island of Curacao.

Time: 7 hours behind Moscow. Language: Dutch (official), local Papiamento Creole (based on Spanish and Portuguese), English, Spanish.

Religion: Catholics - 85%, Protestants - 15%.

Currency: Dutch Antillean guilder (florin), equal to one hundred cents.

Climate in the Antilles

The tropical climate of the archipelago means that the Antilles enjoy wonderful weather all year round: warm and comfortable. And even the trade winds that prevail here cannot spoil the mood of tourists vacationing here. On the contrary, they bring only freshness and pleasant coolness. Temperatures of +25 - 27°C are typical for this area throughout the year.

Each island in the Antilles is interesting and unique in its own way, each island has its own characteristics, attractions, beaches and wonderful vacation spots.

The coast of the largest island of Curaçao is dotted with small cozy coves, suitable for both beach holidays and diving and snorkeling.

Bonaire Island.

“Good air” is the name of the island of Baneiro translated from Creole.

Diving in Bonaire is the main attraction for tourists. Transparent and warm water all year round, steep underwater walls and coral “gardens”, a riot of colors and an abundance of underwater flora and fauna - this is what determines the attractiveness of the island in the eyes of thousands of tourists from all over the world.

Saba Island

There is complete freedom for divers on the island of Saba: the waters around it have been declared a protected area with the status of a national park, so for an experienced diver it is simply a paradise. Underwater visibility here ranges from 20 to 30 meters in summer and 40 m in winter, and the water temperature rarely drops below +30 C in summer and +24 C in winter. The fragile coral reefs clinging to the mountain's underwater slopes are teeming with colorful fish, sharks and barracudas, while giant sea turtles and humpback whales are common visitors to the area. Most of the best dive sites are concentrated on the quieter western side of the island, between Tent Bay and Diamond Rock, where reef walls, caves and real underwater ridges adorned with beautiful “coral gardens” abound.

Saba Island

Saba is quite well suited for various types of hiking.

Festivals and holidays in the Netherlands Antilles

Like other countries in the Caribbean, the Netherlands Antilles is home to a variety of religious and secular celebrations, each reflecting the cultural mix that characterizes the local community.

The shops

On the territory of the Antilles, many retail outlets have a duty-free rule, so here you can buy a wide range of goods at very competitive prices. This includes electronics, jewelry, treasures, and much more. Here you can also find products from the most famous couturiers in Europe, and the prices will also be very tempting.

The cuisine of the Antilles is varied, representing a mixture of European and Caribbean culinary traditions. Here you can try a variety of seafood dishes, exotic fruits, numerous fruit desserts and drinks. There is less meat on the menu of local establishments, but recently there are more and more such dishes - due to the influence of Europe. The islands produce delicious liqueurs and various types of rum.