Curaçao  
             
            
              
                
                  
                    
                      -  
   
                      -  1634 - 1807, From 4 Mar 1816
 
                         
                     
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                      -  
 
                       
                      -  15 Dec 1959 - 29 Nov 1982
 
                     
                   | 
                  
                    
                      -  
   
                      -  29 Nov 1982 - 2 Jul 1984
 
                     
                   | 
                  
                    
                      -  
   
                      -  Adopted 2 Jul 1984
 
                     
                   | 
                 
              
             
            
              
                
                  |  Map
                          of Curaçao  | 
                   Hear
                          National Anthem 
                    "Wilhelmous van Nassouwe" 
                    (William of Nassau)  
                   | 
                  Hear
                          Local Anthem  
                      "Himno di Kòrsou"/ 
                      "Volkslied van Curaçao"   
                    (Anthem of Curaçao)  
                      Adopted 26 Jul 1978  | 
                   Constitution 
                    (10 Oct 2010; in Dutch)  | 
                 
                
                   Capital:
                      Willemstad 
                    (Fort Amsterdam 1634-c.1674; 
                      Santa Ana 1539-1634)  | 
                   Currency:
                      Caribbean Guilder (XCG); Netherlands 
                    Antillean Guilder (ANG) 
                      1848-31 Mar 2025 
                      | 
                   National Holiday:
                      27 Apr (1967) 
                    Koningsdag (King's Day) 
                    --------------------------------------- 
                        Local Holiday: 2 Jul (1984) 
                    Curaçao Dag (Curaçao Day)  | 
                  Population:
                      153,289 (2024)  | 
                 
                
                  | 
                    GDP: $4.14 billion (2022)
                   | 
                  
                    Exports: $2.05 billion (2022) 
                        Imports: $2.9 billion (2022)  | 
                   Ethnic
                        groups: Curaçaoan 75.4%, Dutch 6%, Dominican
                      3.6%, 
                       Colombian 3%, Bonairean, Sint Eustatian,
                      Saban 1.5%,  
                      Haitian 1.2%, Surinamese 1.2%, Venezuelan 1.1%,
                      Aruban 1.1%, other 5%, unspecified 0.9% (2011) 
                      | 
                 
                
                   Total
                        Police Force: N/A 
                    Defense is the Responsibility of
                        The Netherlands 
                      Merchant marine:
                      57 ships (2023)  | 
                   Religions:
                      Roman Catholic 72.8%, Pentecostal 6.6%,  
                      Protestant 3.2%, Adventist 3%, Jehovah's Witness
                      2%,  
                      Evangelical 1.9%, other 3.8%, none 6%, unspecified
                      0.6% (2011)  | 
                 
                
                  | International
                          Organizations/Treaties: ACS (associate), AOSIS (observer), Caricom
                      (associate), DLU (cooperation), FATF, ILO, IMF, Interpol, ITUC, LAP,
                      UNESCO (associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCO,
                      WMO, WTO (observer)  | 
                 
                
                  
                    
                      
                        
                          
                            Curaçao 
                                   Index
                           | 
                          
                            
                            Chronology
                             26 Jul
                                  1499               
                                  Sighted and claimed for Spain by
                                  Alonso de Ojeda, 
                                           
                                           
                                          
                                  named Isla de los Gigantes
                                  (Island of the Giants).  
                                1502 - 1634
                                              
                                    Part of Nueva Andalucía (from
                                  1538, Nueva
                                    Granada)  
                                                            
as
                                  Captaincy of Curaçao (incl. Aruba and
                                  Bonaire).  
                                28 Jul 1634      
                                          
                                  Dutch invasion begun under Johannes
                                  van Walbeeck. 
                                  21 Aug
                                  1634               
                                  Dutch colony.  
                                21 Aug 1634 - 16 Mar 1792 
                                  Under Dutch West India Company
                                  administration.  
                                1647 -  8 Sep
                                  1664        
                                  Part of New Netherland colony (see New York).
                                 
                                30 Jan 1648      
                                          
                                  Spain recognizes Dutch possession of Curaçao,
                                Aruba 
                                           
                                           
                                           and
                                  Bonaire. 
                                   
                                  13 Mar
                                  1673               
                                  Unsuccessful assault on Curaçao
                                  by French Antilles 
                                           
                                           
                                          
                                  governor Jean-Charles
                                    de Baas-Castelmore. 
                                  18 Feb 1713 - 27 Feb 1713  French
                                  pirate occupation.  
                                 4 Sep 1799 - 22 Sep 1799 
                                  French attempted invasion. 
                                  13 Sep 1800 - 13 Jan 1803 
                                  British occupation.  
                                 1 Jan 1807 -  4 Mar
                                  1816  British occupation.  
                              20 May 1828 - 29 Oct
                                1845  Curaçao, Aruba, Bonaire,
                                Saba, Sint Eustatius,   
                                                          
                                Sint Maarten and Dutch Guiana united
                                as   
                                                          
                                the Dutch West Indies; with the governor
                               
                                                          
                                of Dutch Guiana as the governor-general
                               
                                                          
                                (see Suriname). 
                                    29
                                    Oct 1845       
                                            Suriname
                                    colony is separated from Curaçao and
                                    its 
                                          
                                             
                                           
                                       dependencies. 
                                  27 Jan
                                  1848               
                                  Islands united under the name of
                                  Curaçao and 
                                           
                                           
                                         
                                   Dependencies (from 20 Sep 1948,
                                  renamed 
                                           
                                           
                                           Netherlands Antilles). 
                                   8-9 Jun 1929    
                                          
                                  Venezuelan rebel Rafael Simón Urbina
                                  López (b. 1897  
                                                              
                                  - d 1950) raids Curaçao
                                      and seizes Fort
                                  Amsterdam 
                                           
                                           
                                          
                                  taking the Dutch governor hostage.  
                                   1 Apr 1937
                                                  
                                    First Constitution of Curaçao (of
                                    1936) enacted.  
                                    13 May 1940 - 11 Feb 1942 
                                    Allied forces (French to 6 Jul 1940,
                                    then U.K.) 
                                                                
                                    garrison
                                      Curaçao.  
                                  11 Feb 1942 -  3
                                  Dec 1945  U.S. forces garrison Curaçao.
                                 
                                20 Sep
                                1948               
                                Netherlands Antilles a coequal part of
                                Netherlands 
                                         
                                         
                                         realm. 
                                29 Dec
                                1954               
                              Netherlands Antilles an autonomous
                                part of The 
                                         
                                         
                                        
                                Netherlands Kingdom (by charter of 15
                                Dec 1954), 
                                                            
                                end of colonial status. 
                                30 May 1969 - 31 May 1969  Trinta
                                  di Mei uprising in Curaçao.  
                                 1 Jan
                                1986               
                                Aruba a
                                separate dependency. 
                                  19 Nov
                                  1993               
                                  In referendum Curaçao votes to remain
                                  within   
                                                            
                                  the Netherlands Antilles.  
                                 8 Apr
                                  2005               
                                  Referendum supports "status aparte" as
                                  a  
                                                            
                                  separate entity within The Netherlands
                                  by 68%. 
                                   2 Nov 2006    
                                             
                                     Sint Maarten and Curaçao sign
                                    agreement with The 
                                             
                                             
                                           
                                     Netherlands on "status
                                    aparte" 
                                28 Nov 2006    
                                           
                                   Curaçao island council
                                  rejects "status aparte" 
                                           
                                           
                                           agreement. 
                                 9 Jul 2007  
                                           
                                     Curaçao island
                                  council accepts "status aparte" 
                                             
                                             
                                             agreement. 
                                15 May 2009               
                                    Referendum supports "status aparte"
                                    as a separate 
                                                            
                                    entity within The Netherlands
                                    52%-48%%.  
                                10 Oct 2010 
                                       
                                      Curaçao
                              an autonomous country of The
                                Netherlands, 
                                         
                                         
                                        
                                Country of Curaçao (Land Curaçao/Pais
                                  Kòrsou). 
                           | 
                         
                        
                          
                            Netherlands
                                    Antilles 
                                (1848-2010)
                           | 
                         
                        
                          
                            
                             
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            Encomendero and Factors 
                17 Nov 1526 -  8 Feb 1533  Juan Martínez de
                Ampués (Ampiés)   (d. 1533) 
                c.1538              
                      Pedro de San Martin (steward) 
                1539 - Sep? 1540          
                Lázaro de
                Bejarano                
                (b. 1501 - d. 1575) 
                 4 Jul 1541 - ....        
                Manuel Mendéz (solicitor) 
              16.. - 1634 
                           
              Juan Mateo (alcalde) 
            16.. - 21 Aug
                1634        
                Alonso Lope de López de Morla 
              16.. - 21 Aug
              1634         Nuñez
              Melian (governor) 
              Directors  
            21 Aug 1634 - 1638
                      Johannes van
              Walbeeck             
              (b. 1602 - d. af.1649)  
              1638 -
              1641               
              Jacob Pietersz. Tolck  
            Mar 1641 - Dec 1641        Jan
              Claesz. van
              Campen            
              (d. 1641)  
            1642            
                        Heyndrick
              Gerritszoon (acting)          
                    
              1642 -  8 Sep
              1664        
              Petrus Stuyvesant          
                     (b. c.1612 - d. 1672) 
               
                                        
              (in New Netherlands from 1647)  
            1644 - 1655
                            
              Lucas Rodenburch (Rodenburg)
                    (b. 1620 – d. 1655)  
                             
                          
              (vice-director)  
                         
                           
               (acting for Stuyvesant to 1647) 
              1655 - Nov
              1668           
              Matthias Beck           
                        (d. 1688) 
                                        
              (vice-director to 1664)  
            1668 -
              1669               
              Willem Beck (1st time)(acting)      
            14 Sep 1669 - 29 Dec 1669  Ludovicus
              Boudewijns van Berlicum  (d. 1669) 
             29 Dec 1669 -  5 Aug 1670  Willem Beck
              (2nd time)(acting)     
              5 Aug 1670 - 27 Apr 1673 
              Dirck Otterinck           
                      (d. 1673) 
             27 Apr 1673 - 22 Jun 1679  Jan
              Doncker             
                        (d. c.1713) 
                                          
            (acting to 29 Jun 1673) 
              24 Dec 1679 -  1 Sep 1682  Nicolaas van
              Liebergen  
             1682 - 20 Jan
              1683         Apero
              van der Houven (Hoeve) 
                                          
              (2nd time)(acting) 
              20 Jan 1683 - 14 Nov 1685  Joan van
              Erpecum                  
              (d. 1685) 
             1685                      
              Apero van der Houven (Hoeve)  
                                         
              (1st time)(acting)  
             1685 -
              1686               
              Willebrord van Engelen (acting)  
             25 Oct 1686 - 11 Jul 1692  Willem
              Kerckrinck   
                           
              (b. 1644 - d. 1692)  
             18 Jul 1692 - 1694
                      Gualtenus
              Schagen                 
              (d. 1694) 
                                        
             + Bastiaan
              Bernagie               
              (b. 1663 - d. 1700) 
                                        
              (acting) 
              1694 - 19 Apr
              1700        
              Bastiaan Bernagie          
                     (s.a.)  
             19 Apr 1700 -  8 Apr 1704 
              Nicolaas van Beek                 
              (b. 1666 - d. 1715?) 
                          
                            
              (acting to 24 May 1701) 
            19 Oct 1700 - 23 Jan 1701  Coenraed Burgh,
                heer van Kortenhoef(b. 1656 - d. 1701) 
                               
                             (died
                on way to Curaçao) 
              1704                      
              Jeremias van Collen (1st time)     (b. c.1675 -
              d. 1715) 
                          
                           
               (acting)  
            
              1704             
                       Gerard Luls (acting) 
             28 Jul 1704 - 24 Nov 1708  Jacob
              Beck            
                          (b. 1665?
              - d. 1709) 
             1708
                                   
              Jeremias van Collen (2nd time)    
              (s.a.) 
                          
                           
               (acting)  
             24 Nov 1708 - 31 Oct 1710  Abraham
              Beck             
                       (b. 1667 - d. 1710) 
             31 Oct 1710 - 18 Jan 1715  Jeremias
              van Collen (3rd time)     (s.a.)  
            
                                        
                (acting to 17 Dec 1711) 
             18 Feb 1713 - 27 Feb 1713  Jean
              Jacques Cassard            
                (b. 1679 - d. 1740)  
                                          
            (French commander) 
             18 Jan 1715 - 12 Dec 1719  Jonathan
              van Beuningen            
              (b. 1677 - d. 1724)  
                      
                             
                 (from 1720, Jan van Beuningen, 
                          
                            
              vrijheer van Zuylenburgh,  
                          
                           
               heer Darthuysen) 
                                          
              (acting to 17 Oct 1716) 
            12 Dec 1719 - 18 Sep 1720  Jan van
              Beuningen              
                 (b. 1667 - d. 1720) 
                                          
              (acting to 8 Jul 1720) 
              1720 -
              1721               
              Cornelis Anderman van der Burgh 
            
                                        
              + Juan Pedro van Collen (1st time) (b. 1696 - d. 1738) 
            
                                        
              + Frederik Eck 
            
                                        
              (interim administration) 
             29 Dec 1721 -  5 Feb 1731  Jan
              Noach du Faij (Fay)        
                 (b. 1683 - d. 1737)   
             Feb 1731 - 20 May
              1738     Juan Pedro van Collen (2nd
              time)   (s.a.)  
             16 Sep 1738 - 18 Jul 1740  Jan
              Gales   
             18 Jul 1740 - 13 Oct 1758  Isaäc
              Faesch              
                      (b. 1687 - d. 1758)  
             14 Oct 1758 - 11 Mar 1761  Jean
              Isaïe Claris Rodier de la     (b. 1713 - d.
              1782) 
                                         
              Brugière (1st time)(acting)  
             12 Mar 1761 - 29 Jul 1762  Jacob
              van Bosveld            
                   (d. 1762) 
             30 Jul 1762 - 31 Jul 1782  Jean
              Isaïe Claris Rodier de la     (s.a.) 
                                         
              Brugière (2nd time)  
            
                                       
                 (acting to 11 Sep 1764) 
             29 Jun 1782 - 15 Aug 1782  Jan
              Lixraaven (lieutenant director)(b. 1724 - d. 1792) 
              16 Aug 1782 - 10 Aug
              1796  Johannes de
              Veer                  
            (b. 1738 - d. 1796) 
             10 Aug 1796 -  6 Dec 1796  Jan
              Jacob Beaujon (acting)        
              (b. 1756 - d. 1836) 
               6 Dec 1796 - 13 Jan 1803  Johan
              Rudolph
              Lauffer             
              (b. 1752 - d. 1833) 
                       
                             
                 (acting to 14 Feb 1799, civil governor from
              1800) 
             23 Oct 1800 -  7 Dec 1800 
              Lord Hugh Seymour          
                     (b. 1759 - d. 1801)  
                                          
              (British military commander) 
               7 Dec 1800 -  9 Oct 1801  Walter
              Tremenheere            
                  (b. 1761 - d. 1855)  
                                        
                (British military commander) 
              Governors  
                   1 Jun 1801 - Oct 1801
                  William Carlyon Hughes (1st time) 
              (b. 1752 - d. 1808)  
            Oct 1801 - Aug 1802     
                Arthur
              Whetham                    
              (b. 1753 - d. 1813)  
            Aug 1802 - 13 Jan 1803    
              William Carlyon Hughes (2nd time)  (s.a.)  
            13 Jan 1803 - Feb 1803    
                Cornelius Hubertus Buschman     
                  (b. 1765 - d. 1803)  
                                            
                (acting) 
              Feb 1803 -  9 Feb 1803    
              Cornelius Berch (acting)        
                (b. 17.. - d. 1810) 
               9 Feb 1803 - 27 Aug 1804 
              Abraham de Veer            
                     (b. 1767 - d. 1838)  
            10 Sep 1804 -  1 Jan 1807  Pierre Jean
              Changuion             
              (b. 1763 - d. 1820)  
               1 Jan 1807 -  9 Jan 1807  Sir
              Charles Brisbane (1st time)    (b. 1769 - d.
              1829) 
               9 Jan 1807 - 27 Jan 1807  William
              Henry Bolton (acting)      (b. 1767? - d.
              1817)  
                                          
             (commander H.M.S. Fisgard) 
            27 Jan 1807 - 28
                    Feb 1807  Sir Charles
                    Brisbane (2nd time)    (s.a.) 
                28 Feb 1807 - 10 Jul 1807  David Baillie
             
            
              1807                      
              David van Guericke          
                    (b. 1748 - d. 1816) 
                             
                          
              (governor-general; did not take office) 
            10 Jul 1807 -  3 Sep 1807  Sir
                  Charles Brisbane (3rd time)    (s.a.) 
               3 Sep 1807 - 1807
                      Micaiah
              (Micajah) Malbon (acting) 
              (b. bf.1763 - d. 1813) 
                                        
               (commander H.M.S. Hebe) 
              1807 -  5 Jan
              1808         Sir
                Charles Brisbane (4th time)    (s.a.) 
               5 Jan 1808 - 1808
                      Robert Nicholas
              (acting)           (b.
              17.. - d. 1814) 
                                         
             (commander H.M.S. Lark) 
              9 Jun 1808 - 20 May 1809  Sir James
              Cockburn          
                    (b. 1771 - d. 1852) 
             20 May 1809 - 18 Jun 1811  John
              John Thomas Layard
                        
              (b. 1753 - d. 1828)  
             18 Jun 1811 - 15 Sep 1814  John
              Studholme Hodgson         
                 (b. 1757 - d. 1846)  
             11 Sep 1813 - 15 Sep 1813  John
              Burges Haffey       
                       (b. 1773
              - d. 1814) 
                                          
              (acting for Hodgson) 
              15 Sep 1814 -  4 Mar 1816  John Le Couteur  
                            
                (b. 1760 - d. 1835)  
             Governors-general  
              4 Mar 1816 - 18 Dec 1819 
              Albert Kikkert            
                      (b. 1761 - d. 1819)  
             19 Dec 1819 - 20 Jul 1820  Petrus
              Bernardus  van Starckenborgh (b. 1755 -
              d. 1820)  
                      
                             
                 (acting) 
             20 Jul 1820 - 16 Nov 1820  Isaäc Johannes
              Rammelman Elsevier  (b. 1770 - d. 1841) 
                             
                           (acting) 
             Governor  
             16 Nov 1820 - May
              1828     Paulus Roeloff
              Cantz'laar         
              (b. 1771 - d. 1831)  
             20 May 1848 - 29 Oct 1845  the
                governors-general of the Dutch  
                                          
                West Indian Possessions (see Suriname) 
                Director  
               1 Mar 1828 - 15 Apr 1833  Isaäc
              Johannes Rammelman Elsevier  (s.a.)  
             Lieutenant governors
                (gezaghebber)  
             15 Apr 1833 -
              1836         Isaäc
              Johannes Rammelman Elsevier  (s.a.)  
             10 Dec 1836 - Apr
              1845     Reinier Frederik, baron van
              Raders (b. 1794 - d. 1868)  
               6 Jul 1842 -  1 Mar 1844  Caspar
              Lodewijk van Uytrecht       (b. 1790 - d.
              1846) 
                          
                           
               (acting for baron van Raders) 
            19 Jul 1845 - 29 Oct 1845 
                  Rutgers Hermanus Esser       
                       (b. 1800 - d. 1864)  
                  Governors  
              29 Oct 1845 - 20 May 1848 
              Rutgers Hermanus Esser         
                 (s.a.)  
              20 May 1848 - 15 Apr 1951  the
                governors-general of the Netherlands
                  Antilles  
             Lieutenant governors (gezaghebber)
             
             15 Apr 1951 -  1 Mar 1967 
              Michaël Peter
              Gorsira             
              (b. 1913 - d. 1994)  
               1 Mar 1967 -  1 Jun 1968  Willem
              George Shon Weis de Haseth  (b. 1915 - d. 1994) 
                                         
              (acting)  
               1 Jun 1968 - 22 Apr 1969  Otto Rudolf
              Anthon Beaujon         (b.
              1915 - d. 1984)  
             22 Apr 1969 -  1 Aug 1970 
              Elias José
              Morkos                 
              (b. 1919 - d. 1982)  
               1 Aug 1970 -  1 Aug 1976  Anno
              Elígio Kibbelaar          
                 (b. 1929 - d. 2005)     
               1 Aug 1976 -  1 Aug 1982  Ornelio
              "Kees"
              Martina            
              (b. 1930 - d. 1996)  
               1 Aug 1982 -  1 Oct 1982  Faroe
              Metry
              (acting)              
              (b. 1943)            DP 
               1 Oct 1982 -  1 Oct 1988  Ronald "Ronnie"
              Anthony Casseres   (b. 1939 - d. 1988)  
               1  Oct 1988 -  1 Oct
              1994  Elmer Raynold "Kadé" Wilsoe    
                 (b. 1943)  
               1 Oct 1994 -  1 Oct 2000  Stanley Mario
              Betrian             
              (b. 1951) 
               1 Oct 2000 - 10 Oct 2010  Lizanne
              Marie Richards-Dindial (f) (b. 1957) 
             Governors 
             10 Oct 2010 - 24 Nov 2012  Frits
              Martinus de los Santos      
              (b. 1951)   
                                          
              Goedgedrag   
             27 Sep 2012 - 22 Oct 2012  Adèle van
              der Pluijm-Vrede (f)     (b. 1952)  
                          
                            
              (acting for Goedgedrag) 
             24 Nov 2012 -  4 Nov 2013  Adèle van der
              Pluijm-Vrede (f)     (s.a.) 
                                        
              (acting) 
             4 Nov 2013
              -             
              Lucille George-Wout
              (f)           
              (b. 1950) 
             
               
              Leaders of the government
              (unofficial post) 
              1951 - 10 Oct
              2010         .... 
                Prime ministers 
              10 Oct 2010 - 29 Sep 2012  Gerrit Fransisco
              Schotte          
              (b.
              1974)           
              MFK 
              29 Sep 2012 - 31 Dec 2012  Stanley Mario Betrian
              (interim)   
              (s.a.)              
              Non-party 
              31 Dec 2012 -  7 Jun 2013  Daniel
              Hodge                      
              (b.
              1959)           
              Non-party 
               7 Jun 2013 -  1 Sep 2015  Ivar Onno Odwin
              Asjes      
                     (b.
              1970)           
              PS  
               1 Sep 2015 - 23 Dec 2016  Bernard
              Whiteman                  
              (b. 1954)           
              PS 
              23 Dec 2016 - 24 Mar 2017  Hensley Felix
              Koeiman             
              (b. 1956)            MAN 
              24 Mar 2017 - 29 May 2017  Gilmar Simon "Pik" Pisas
              (1st time)(b.
              1971)           
              MFK 
              29 May 2017 - 14 Jun 2021  Eugene
              Rhuggenaath                
              (b. 1970)            PAR 
              14 Jun 2021
              -             
              Gilmar Simon "Pik" Pisas (2nd
              time)(s.a.)              
              MFK 
                 
               
            Party abbreviations: MAN =
              Movementu Antia Nobo/Beweging voor een Nieuwe Antillen
              (Movement for a New Antilles, from 2005 Partido MAN
              [Movementu Alsa Nashon/Beweging Verhef de Natie/Movement
              Raise the Nation], social-democratic, center-left, Curaçao
              regionalist, est.6 Feb 1971); MFK = Movementu
              Futuro Kòrsou/Beweging voor de Toekomst van Curaçao
              (Movement for the Future of Curaçao, centrist,
              pro-independence, Curaçao regionalist, est.9
              Jul 2010); PAR = Partido Alternativa
                Real/Echte Alternatieve Partij (Real Alternative Party,
              liberal, centrist, Curaçao regionalist,
              1993-2016 named Partido Antiá Restrukturá/Partij voor
              Geherstructureerde Antillen [Party for Restructuring the
              Antilles], est.14 Dec 1993); PNP
              = Partido Nashonal di Pueblo/Nationale Volkspartij
              (National People's Party, christian-democratic, centrist,
            Curaçao regionalist, est.19 Apr 1948);  
              - Former parties: DP =
                Demokratische Partij/Partido Democraat (Democratic
                Party, liberal, centrist, Curaçao regionalist,
                est.1944); FOL = Partido Frente
              Obrero Liberashon 30 Di Mei/Arbeiders Bevrijdingsfront van
              30 Mei (Party Workers' Liberation Front of 30th of May,
              social-democratic, populist, est.5 Jun 1969);
                PLKP = Partido Laboral Krusada Popular/Partij van de
              Arbeid en de Volksstrijd (Labour Party People's
                Crusade, social democratic, center-left,
                Curaçao regionalist,  est.1 May 1997); PS
              = Pueblo Soberano/Souverein Volk (Sovereign People, pro-independence,
              nationalist, left-wing, Curaçao
                regionalist, est.1 Apr 2005) 
            
  
             
            Netherlands Antilles  
               
               
                
                  
                    
                      
                        
                          
                            
                              
                                -  
 
                                 
                                - 1634 - 15 Dec 1959
 
                               
                             | 
                            
                              
                                -  
   
                                -  15 Dec 1959 - 1
                                    Jan 1986
 
                               
                             | 
                            
                              
                                -  
   
                                -  1 Jan 1986 - 10
                                    Oct 2010
 
                               
                             | 
                           
                        
                       
                      
                        
                          
                            
                              Map
                                      of the Netherlands 
                                Antilles
                             | 
                            
                              Hear
                                      National Anthem 
                                "Wilhelmous van
                                  Nassouwe" 
                                (William of Nassau)
                             | 
                            
                              Hear
                                      Local Anthem 
                                Untitled (2000 - 10 Oct
                                  2010) 
                                -------------------------------- 
                                Former
                                      Local Anthem 
                                "Tera di Solo y Suave
                                  Biento" 
                                  (Land of the Sun and Soft Breeze) 
                                  (1964 - 2000)(without lyrics) 
                                
                             | 
                            
                              Constitution 
                                (29 Dec 1954 - 10 Oct
                                  2010;  
                                  in Dutch)
                             | 
                           
                          
                            
                              Capital:
                                  Willemstad 
                                  (Paramaribo 20 May 1828 -  
                                  29 Oct 1845) 
                                
                             | 
                            
                              Currency:
                                  1848-2010  
                                  Netherlands
                                  Antillean 
                                   Guilder
                                  (ANG); 1828-1848  
                                  Dutch Guilder (NLG)  
                                
                             | 
                             National
                                  Holiday: 30 Apr (1938) 
                              Koninginnedag (Queen's
                                Day) 
                              ---------------------------------------- 
                              Local Holiday:
                                  1954-95, 2008: 
                                 15 Dec
                                (1954) 
                                Koninkrijksdag  
                                (Kingdom Charter Day) 
                              --------------------------------------- 
                                 1995-2007: 21 Oct (1975) 
                              Antillendag (Antillean
                                Day)  | 
                            
                              Population:
                                  227,049 (2010)
                             | 
                           
                          
                            | 
                              GDP: $3.34
                                  billion (2006)
                             | 
                            
                              Exports:
                                  $3.71 billion (2006) 
                                Imports: $15.7
                                  billion (2006)
                             | 
                            
                              Ethnic groups:
                                  mixed black/Antillean Creole 81.1%,
                                  Dutch 5.3%, 
                                Surinamese 2.9%, East
                                  Asian and other 10.7% (2000)
                             | 
                           
                          
                            
                              Total Active
                                    Dutch Armed Forces: 1,000 (2005) 
                                Defense is the
                                    Responsibility of the Netherlands 
                                Merchant marine:
                                  120 ships (2010)
                             | 
                            
                              Religions:
                                  Roman Catholic 72%, Pentecostal 4.9%, 
                                Protestant 3.5%,
                                  Seventh-Day Adventist 3.1%, Methodist
                                  2.9%, 
                                Jehovah's Witnesses
                                  1.7%, other Christian 4.2%,  
                                Jewish 1.3%, other or
                                  unspecified 1.2%, none 5.2%
                                  (2001) 
                             | 
                           
                          
                            | International
                                    Organizations/Treaties
                                  (1948-2010): ACS (associate),
                                AOSIS (observer), Caricom (observer),
                                DLU (candidate), ILO, Interpol, IOC,
                                ITUC, LAP, UNCLOS, UNESCO (associate),
                                UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCO, WMO | 
                           
                        
                       
                      
                        
                          
                             Netherlands 
                                Antilles Index  | 
                            
                              Chronology
                               1513                      
                                  Spanish name the Lesser Antilles Islas
                                    Inútiles  
                                                             
                                  ("Useless Islands").   
                                 29 Jul
                                  1634               
                                  Curaçao a Dutch possession.  
                                  9 Feb
                                  1635               
                                  Bonaire a Dutch possession.  
                                 10 May
                                  1636               
                                  Aruba a Dutch possession.  
                                 20 May 1828 - 29 Oct
                                  1845  Aruba,
                                Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint
                                    Eustatius, 
                                 
                                                              Sint
                                    Maarten, and Dutch
                                  Guiana united as   
                                                             
                                  the Dutch West Indies; with the
                                governor 
                                                             
                                  of Dutch Guiana (see Suriname)
                                as governor- 
                                                             
                                  general.  
                                 29 Oct
                                        1845       
                                               
                                        Suriname colony is separated
                                        from Curaçao and its 
                                            
                                               
                                               
                                              
                                        dependencies. 
                                      27 Jan
                                  1848               
                                  Dutch Antilles islands united under
                                  the name of  
                                                              
                                  Curaçao and Dependencies.
                                 
                                  8-9
                                          Jun 1929      
                                                
                                          Venezuelan rebel Rafael Simón
                                          Urbina López (b. 1897  
                                                                      
                                          - d 1950) raids Curaçao
                                              and seizes Fort
                                          Amsterdam 
                                                 
                                                 
                                                 
                                               taking the
                                          governor hostage.  
                                        13 May 1940 - 11 Feb
                                      1942  Allied forces (French
                                      to 6 Jul 1940, then U.K.) 
                                                                  
                                      garrison the Netherlands Antilles.
                                     
                                    11 Feb 1942 -  3
                                    Dec 1945  U.S. forces garrison
                                    the  Netherlands Antilles. 
                                 20 Sep
                                  1948               
                                  Renamed Netherlands Antilles
                                  a coequal part of 
                                           
                                           
                                           the
                                  Netherlands realm. 
                                 29 Dec
                                  1954               
                                  Autonomous part of The Netherlands
                                  kingdom (by  
                                                              
                                  charter of 15 Dec 1954), end of
                                  colonial status. 
                                  1 Jan
                                  1986               
                                Aruba
                                  separated  
                                 19 Nov
                                  1993               
                                  In referendum Curaçao votes to remain
                                  within   
                                                             
                                  the Netherlands Antilles.  
                                 2000/2004/2005            
                                  Referendums in Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba
                                  and Sint 
                                                             
                                  Maarten support a redefined status
                                  within The  
                                                             
                                  Netherlands, only Sint Eustatius
                                  supports 
                                                             
                                  remaining within the Netherlands
                                  Antilles.  
                                 10 Oct 2010
                                          
                                        Netherlands
                                  Antilles federation dissolved into 
                                           
                                           
                                         
                                   autonomous Curaçao and
                                  St.
                                    Maarten, the islands of 
                                           
                                           
                                           Bonaire, Saba and St.
                                    Eustatius become
                                  public  
                                           
                                           
                                          
                                  bodies (openbaar lichaam) of
                                  The Netherlands.
                               
                             | 
                           
                          
                             Netherlands 
                                Antilles Islands  | 
                           
                          
                             Aruba 
                                    (to 1986) 
                                    | 
                           
                          
                            |  Bonaire
                             | 
                           
                          
                            |  Curaçao
                             | 
                           
                          
                            |  Saba
                             | 
                           
                          
                            |  Sint
                                    Eustatius  | 
                           
                          
                            |  Sint
                                    Maarten | 
                           
                          
                            |   | 
                           
                          
                            |    | 
                           
                        
                       
                        | 
                   
                
               
            
             
               Governors  
                27 Jan 1848 - 20 Dec 1848  Rutgers Hermanus
                Esser            
                 (b. 1800 - d. 1864] 
               20 Dec 1848 - 28 Apr 1854  Jonkheer Isaäc
                Johannes Rammelman   (b. 1802 - d. 1877)  
                                           
                Elsevier, Jr.  
                                            
                (acting to 14 May 1849) 
               28 Apr 1854 - 25 Feb 1856  Jacob
                Bennebroek
                Gravenhorst       
                (b. 1802 - d. 1859)  
                                           
                (acting)  
               28 Feb 1856 - 13 Jul 1859  Reinhart Frans
                van Lansberge       
                (b. 1804 - d. 1873)  
               13 Jul 1859 - 16 Apr 1866  Johannes
                Didericus Crol            
                (b. 1806 - d. 1870)  
               16 Apr 1866 - 24 Nov 1870  Abraham Mathieu
                de
                Rouville        
                (b. 1813 - d. 1881)  
               24 Nov 1870 -  1 May 1877  Herman
                François Gerardus Wagner     (b.
                1822 - d. 1904)  
                        
                               
                   (acting to 5 Apr 1871) 
                1 May 1877 -  1 Oct 1880 
                Hendrik Bernardus
                Kip              
                (b. 1823 - d. 1897)  
               10 Oct 1880 - 18 Oct 1882  Johannes
                Herbert August Willem,     (b. 1829
                - d. 1893)  
                                           
                baron van Heerdt tot Eversberg  
               18 Oct 1882 -  6 May 1890 
                Nicolaas van den
                Brandhof          
                (b. 1834 - d. 1904)  
                8 May 1890 - 24 Aug 1901
                 Charles Augustinus Henry
                Barge      (b. 1844 - d. 1919)
               
               24 Aug 1901 - 11 Sep 1901  Theodorus
                Isaak Andreas Nuyens      (b.
                1859 - d. 1923)  
                                           
                (1st time)(acting)  
               11 Sep 1901 - 16 Oct 1909  Jonkheer Jan
                Olpbert de Jong van    (b. 1863 - d.
                1935)  
                                           
              Beeken Donk  
               23 Jul 1904 - 16 Oct 1904  Caspar
                Statius Muller            
                  (b. 1862 - d. 1936) 
                            
                              
                (acting for de Jong) 
               16 Oct 1909 - 26 Mar 1919  Theodorus Isaak
                Andreas Nuyens      (s.a.)  
                                           
                (2nd time)   
               27 Mar 1919 - 10 Jun 1919  John Brown
                Gorsira (1st time)       (b. 1865 - d.
                1927)  
                                           
                (acting) 
               10 Jun 1919 - 24 Jun 1921  Oscar Louis
                Helfrich               
                (b. 1860 - d. 1958)  
               24 Jun 1921 - 13 Oct 1921 
                John Brown Gorsira (2nd time)      
                (s.a.)  
                                           
                (acting)  
               13 Oct 1921 - 31 Aug 1928  Nikolaas
                Johannes
                Laurentius        (b.
                1874 - d. 1948)  
                                           
                Brantjes  
               3 Aug 1924 -  9 Nov
                1924  John Brown Gorsira (3rd time)   
                   (s.a.) 
                            
                             
                 (acting for Brantjes) 
               26 May 1927 - 30 Nov 1927  Herman Bernard
                Cornelis Schotborgh  (b. 1883 - d. 1950) 
                        
                               
                   (1st time)(acting for Brantjes) 
               31 Aug 1928 - 30 Jan 1929  Marinus van Dijk
                (acting)       
                   (b. 1896 - d. 1971) 
               30 Jan 1929 -  3 Oct 1929  Leonard
                Albert Fruytier      
                      (b. 1882 - d. 1972)
               
                                           
                (hostage of Rafael Simón Urbina 8-9
                Jun 1929) 
               3 Oct 1929 - 20 Feb 1930  Herman
                Bernard Cornelis Schotborgh  (s.a.)  
                        
                               
                   (2nd time)(acting) 
               20 Feb 1930 - 22 Jun 1936  Bartholomeus
                Wouther Theodorus      (b. 1882 - d.
                1956)  
                                           
                van Slobbe (acting to 11 Mar 1930)  
               7 Aug 1933 - 21 Dec
                1933  Herman Bernard Cornelis Schotborgh 
                (s.a.)  
                        
                               
                   (3rd time)(acting for van Slobbe) 
               22 Jun 1936 - 13 Jul 1936  Frans Adrianus
                Jas, Jr. (1st time) 
                                          
              (acting)  
               13 Jul 1936 - 15 Jul 1942  Gielliam
                Johannes Josephus Wouters  (b. 1883 - d. 1973)
               
               15 Jul 1942 -  1 Jul 1948  Petrus
                "Piet" Albertus Kasteel     
                (b. 1901 - d. 2003)  
               30 Oct 1946 - 14 Dec 1946  Frans
                Adrianus Jas, Jr. (2nd time) 
                            
                             
                 (acting for Kasteel) 
                 1 Jul 1948 -  4 Aug 1948 
                Cornelius Süthoff (acting)         
                (b. 1877 - d. 1961) 
                4 Aug 1948 - 30 Mar 1951  Leonard
                Antoon Hubert
                Peters        (b.
                1900 - d. 1984)  
               30 Mar 1951 -  7 Jun 1951  Frans
                Adrianus Jas, Jr. (3rd time) 
                                          
              (acting)  
                7 Jun 1951 - 27 Oct 1956 
                Antoon "Teun"
                Struiken             
                (b. 1906 - d. 1977)  
                                           
                (from 16 Jun 1953, Antoon "Teun"
                Struycken)   
               27 Oct 1956 - 24 Apr 1957  Frans E.J. van
                der Valk (acting)  
               24 Apr 1957 -  1 Jun 1961  Antonius
                Bernardus Speekenbrink     (b. 1905
                - d. 1978)  
                1 Jun 1961 - 11 Aug 1962 
                Christiaan Winkel
                (acting)         
                (b. 1899 - d. 1962)  
               11 Aug 1962 - 10 Sep 1962  Aldert Pieter
                Jan van Bruggen       (b.
                1925 - d. 1980)  
                                          
              (acting)  
               10 Sep 1962 -  1 Jun 1970  Nicolaas
                "Cola"
                Debrot             
                (b. 1902 - d. 1981)  
               24 Feb 1970 - 15 Apr 1970  Willem
                Frederik Meinhardt Lampe     (b.
                1896 - d. 1973) 
                                            
                (acting for Debrot)  
                 1 Jun 1970 - 16 May 1983  Bernadito "Ben" M.
                Leito           
                (b. 1923 - d. 1996)  
               16 May 1983 - 24 Oct 1983  Julius Richard
                Lope Beaujon (acting)(b. 1914 - d. 2004) 
               24 Oct 1983 - 15 Jan 1990  René
                Antonio
                Römer                 
                (b. 1929 - d. 2003)  
                8 Jan 1990 - 15 Jan 1990  
                Rosemarie de Paula (f)  
                                              
                  (acting for Römer) 
                15 Jan 1990 -  1 Jul 2002  Jaime
                Mercelino
                Saleh              
                (b. 1941)  
                1 Jul 2002 - 10 Oct 2010 
                Frits Martinus de los
                Santos        (b.
                1951)   
                                           
                Goedgedrag  
               
                
             
            Chairmen of the College of General Administration
                 
               21 Aug 1948 - 10 May 1949  August George
                Statius Muller       
                (b. 1873 - d. 1950) 
               10 May 1949 - 14 Jul 1949  Moises Frumencio
                da Costa Gomez     (b. 1907
                - d. 1966)  NVP-PNP 
               14 Jul 1949 - 17 Aug 1950  Lindoro
                Cristoffel Kwartsz          (b.
                1873 - d. 1959)  NVP-PNP 
               17 Aug 1950 - 18 Apr 1951  Nicolaas "Cola"
                Debrot             
                (s.a.)              
                NVP-PNP 
               Chairmen of the Council of Government 
               18 Apr 1951 -  8 Dec 1954  Moises
                Frumencio da Costa Gomez    
                (s.a.)              
                NVP-PNP  
                8 Dec 1954 - 15 Dec 1954
                 Efraïn
                Jonckheer              
                     (b. 1917 - d. 1987)  DP 
               Chairmen of the Council of Ministers (Prime
                  ministers) 
               15 Dec 1954 - 14 Feb 1968  Efraïn
                Jonckheer        
                          
                (s.a.)              
                DP  
               14 Feb 1968 - Sep 1969    
                Ciro Domenico
                Kroon                
                (b. 1916 - d. 2001)  NVP-PNP  
               Sep 1969 - Dec
                1969        Gerald
                Cornelis Sprockel (interim)  (b. 1919 - d. 1999) 
               
               Dec 1969 - Feb
                1971        Ernesto
                Otilio Petronia            
                (b. 1916 - d. 1992)  PPA  
               Feb 1971 - Jun
                1971        Ramez
                "Ronchi" Jorge Isa (1st time) (b. 1917 - d. 2005) 
                DP  
               Jun 1971 - Oct
                1972        Otto
                Rudolf Anthony Beaujon
                        (b. 1915 - d.
                1984)  NVP-PNP  
               Oct 1972 - Dec
                1973        Ramez
                "Ronchi" Jorge Isa (2nd time)
                (s.a.)              
                DP  
               20 Dec 1973 - 30 Sep 1977  Juan Miguel
                Gregorio
                Evertsz        (b.
                1923 - d. 2008)  NVP-PNP  
               30 Sep 1977 -  4 Oct 1977  Leo
                Alphons Ignatius
                Chance        
                (b.
                1932)           
                WIPM 
                 4 Oct 1977 - 14 Oct 1977  Lucina da Costa
                Gomez-Matheeuws (f) (b. 1929 - d. 2017)  NVP-PNP
               
               14 Oct 1977 -  6 Jul 1979  Sylvius
                "Silvio" Gerard
                Marie       (b. 1928 - d.
                2003)  DP  
                                           
                Rozendal   
                6 Jul 1979 - Dec
                1979     Miguel Arcangel Pourier
                (1st time)  (b. 1938 - d. 2013)  UPB
               
               Dec 1979 - 18 Sep 1984    
                Dominico "Don" Felipe Martina  
                    (b. 1935 - d. 2024)  MAN
                 
                                            
              (1st time) 
               18 Sep 1984 -  1 Jan 1986  Maria
                Liberia-Peters (f) (1st time) (b.
                1941)           
              NVP-PNP 
                1 Jan 1986 - 17 May 1988 
                Dominico "Don" Felipe Martina  
                   
                (s.a.)              
                MAN  
                                            
                (2nd time) 
               17 May 1988 - 25 Nov 1993  Maria
                Liberia-Peters (f) (2nd time)
                (s.a.)              
              NVP-PNP  
               25 Nov 1993 - 28 Dec 1993  Susanne "Suzy"
                Fransisca Coromoto   (b.
                1959)           
              NVP-PNP 
                                           
                Camelia-Römer (f) (1st time)   
               28 Dec 1993 - 31 Mar 1994  Alejandro
                "Jandi" Felippe Paula     (b. 1937 -
                d. 2018)  NVP-PNP  
               31 Mar 1994 - 14 May 1998  Miguel Arcangel
                Pourier (2nd time) 
                (s.a.)              
                PAR  
               14 May 1998 -  8 Nov 1999  Susanne
                "Suzy" Fransisca Coromoto  
                (s.a.)              
                NVP-PNP  
                                           
                Camelia-Römer (f) (2nd time)   
                8 Nov 1999 -  3 Jun
                2002  Miguel Arcangel Pourier (3rd time) 
                (s.a.)              
                PAR  
                3 Jun 2002 - 22 Jul 2003 
                Etienne Ys (1st
                time)              
                (b.
                1962)           
                PAR   
               22 Jul 2003 - 11 Aug 2003  Bernhard "Ben"
                Maximiliaan Johan    (b. 1942 - d.
                2004)  FOL   
                                            
              Komproe 
               11 Aug 2003 -  3 Jun 2004  Mirna
                Louisa-Godett
                (f)            
                (b. 1954)    
                       FOL  
                3 Jun 2004 
                (hours)       Errol
                Antonio
                Cova                 
                (b.
                1943)           
                PLKP  
                                           
                (acting for Godett)   
                3 Jun 2004 - 26 Mar 2006 
                Etienne Ys (2nd
                time)              
                (s.a.)              
                PAR  
               26 Mar 2006 - 10 Oct 2010  Emily Saïdy de
                Jongh-Elhage (f)     (b.
                1946)           
                PAR  
                 
               
            Commanders of Allied Forces, Netherlands Antilles 
                - in Aruba and Sint Maarten -   
                12 May 1940 - 15 May 1940  Pierre Frédéric Henri
                Goybet        (b. 1887 -
                d. 1963) 
                                            
                (France)(captain of cruiser Primauguet) 
                15 May 1940 -
                1940        
                Henri Jean-Baptiste Gizard (France) (b. 1895 - d. 19..) 
                                            
                (captain of cruiser Barfleur) 
                1940 -  6 Jul
                1940        
                Michel Marie Maurice
                Charles        (b.
                1896 - d. 1983) 
                                            
                Paul Noël (France) 
                                            
                (captain of cruiser Esterel) 
                - in Curaçao (and from 6 Jul 1940, Aruba) -  
                12 May 1940 -  3 Sep 1940 
              Reginald Barry Lovaine Persse (U.K.)(b. 1896 - d.
                1985) 
                 3 Sep 1940 -  6 Feb 1941  Colin Muir
                Barber (U.K.)      
                     (b. 1897 - d. 1964) 
                   6 Feb 1941 - 11 Feb 1941  Norton
                Montresor Hughes-Hallett     (b. 1895 - d.
                1985) 
                                            
                (U.K.) 
                11 Feb 1941 -  2 Mar 1942  Peter C. Bullard
                (U.S.)
                           
                (b. 1892 – d. 1972) 
                    Allied Commanders of All Forces Aruba-Curaçao
                    Area (CAFAC)(Willemstad, Curaçao; all from U.S.)
                 
                 2 Mar 1942
                –  6 Jun 1942  Jesse Bartlett
                Oldendorf           
                (b. 1887 – d. 1974) 
                 6 Jun 1942 – 27 Apr 1943  Arthur Granville
                Robinson          
                (b. 1892 – d. 1967) 
                28 Apr 1943 – 25 Jul 1944  Theodore Edson
                Chandler            
                (b. 1894 – d. 1945) 
                25 Jul 1944 – 13 May 1945  Frank Edmund
                Beatty                
                (b. 1894 – d. 1976) 
                13 May 1945 –  3 Dec 1945  Leroy White Busbey,
                Jr.            
                (b. 1897 - d. 1952) 
                
            Party abbreviations: DP = Democratische Partij/Partido
                  Democraat (Democratic Party, centrist, liberal,
                Curaçao regionalist, est.1944); FOL = Partido
                Frente Obrero Liberashon 30 Di Mei/Arbeiders
                Bevrijdingsfront van 30 Mei (Party Workers' Liberation
                Front of 30th of May, social-democratic, populist, est.5
                Jun 1969); MAN = Movementu Antia
                Nobo/Beweging voor een Nieuwe Antillen (Movement for a
                New Antilles, from 2005 Partido MAN [Movementu Alsa
                Nashon/Beweging Verhef de Natie/Movement Raise the
                Nation], social-democratic, center-left, Curaçao
                regionalist, est.6 Feb 1971); NVP-PNP =
                Nationale Volkspartij/Partido Nashonal di
                Pueblo (National People's Party,
                christian-democratic, Curaçao, 19 Apr 1948);
                  PAR = Partido Antiá
                  Restrukturá/Partij voor Geherstructureerde Antillen
                (Party for Restructuring the Antilles, liberal,
                centrist, Curaçao based, 14 Dec 1993-2016, renamed
                Partido Alternativa Real/Echte Alternatieve Partij [Real
                Alternative Party]); PDB = Partido Demokrátiko
                Boneriano/Democratische Partij Bonaire (Bonerian
                Democratic Party, social-democratic, center-left,
                Bonaire regionalist, est.10 Aug 1954); PLKP
                = Partido Laboral Krusada Popular/Partij
                  van de Arbeid en de Volksstrijd (Labour Party People's
                    Crusade, social democratic, center-left,
                  Curaçao regionalist, est.1 May 1997); PPA
                = Partido Patriótico Arubano/Patriottische Partij Aruba
                (Patriotic Party of Aruba, social-democratic,
                anti-Aruban/Neth. Antilles independence, est.23 Oct
                1949); UPB = Union Patritiko
                Boneiriano/Union Patriótiko Boneriano/Patriottische Unie
                van Bonaire (Bonaire Patriotic Union, christian
                democratic, centrist, Bonaire regionalist, 1969-1979
                named Partido Patriótiko Boneriano [Bonerian Patriotic
                Party], est.1969); WIPM = Windward
                Islands People's Movement/Volksbeweging van de
                Benedenwindse Eilanden (center-right,
                christian-democrat, Saba regionalist, formerly West
                Indian People's Movement, est.1970) 
             
            
  
             
             
             
             
             © Ben Cahoon  
           |