The '''Netherlands Antilles''' are a nation composed of several islands in the Caribbean, split into two geographically distant groups: the Leeward Islands east of the Virgin Islands (Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten) and the Windward Islands north of Venezuela (Bonaire, Curacao). (The Windward island of Aruba was once part of the Netherlands Antilles - the group is sometimes called the "ABC"s - but is now independent.)

Regions

Leeward Islands

  • Saba
  • Sint Eustatius
  • Sint Maarten
  • Windward Islands

  • Bonaire
  • Curacao
  • Cities

  • Kralendijk
  • Philipsburg
  • Westpunt
  • Willemstad
  • Other destinations

    Understand

    Once the center of the Caribbean slave trade, the island of Curacao was hard hit by the abolition of slavery in 1863. Its prosperity was restored in the early 20th century with the construction of oil refineries to service the newly discovered Venezuelan oil fields. The island of Sint Maarten is shared with France; its northern portion is named "Saint-Martin" and is part of Guadeloupe.

    The Antilles are part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, but with full internal autonomy.

    Climate

    Tropical; ameliorated by northeast trade winds.

    Landscape

    Five islands in two groups. Generally hilly, volcanic interiors.

    Get in

    By plane

    There is an airport on each island.

    By boat

    Ports and harbors at Kralendijk, Philipsburg, Willemstad.

    Get around

    Talk

    Buy

    Costs

    Eat

    Drink

    Sleep

    The different islands of the Netherlands Antilles vary enormously and so do the accommodations. On Bonaire it is forbidden to build higher than three floors up, resulting in many smaller accommodations scattered along the islands coast. On the largest island Curacao, you will find basically any kind of accommodation, from large hotel chains to small privately owned properties that you can rent per week or even per day. Some good places to stay include:

    Bonaire

  • Plaza Resort Hotel Bonaire [http://my.hotelroomie.com/Hotel/Plaza_Resort_Hotel_Bonaire.htm]
  • Harbour Village Beach Club Hotel Bonaire [http://my.hotelroomie.com/Hotel/Harbour_Village_Beach_Club_Hotel_Bonaire.htm]
  • Habitat dive resorts [http://www.habitatdiveresorts.com/bonaire/]
  • Villas Bonaire [http://www.propertyalert.org/villasbonaire/]
  • Coral Paradise Bonaire Resort [http://www.coralparadise.com/]
  • Curacao

  • Floris Suite [http://www.florissuitehotel.com/]
  • Kura Holanda [http://www.kurahulanda.com/]
  • Learn

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