Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and the Netherlands agree on steps toward new country status

Saba’s referendum supported a direct relationship with the Netherlands. The result formed part of island-by-island decisions about the future of the Netherlands Antilles, rather than a single...

A referendum backed a separate country status within the Kingdom. This expressed a desire to leave the Netherlands Antilles structure while retaining Kingdom ties, a constitutional compromise rather...

Voters took part in an island referendum as the Netherlands Antilles’ constitutional structure was renegotiated. The varied island choices made clear that “self-determination” in the Dutch Caribbean...

The Court held Suriname responsible for failures to investigate the 1986 attack and for violations connected to displacement and community rights. The judgment recognized that state violence had...

The mini-conference’s final declaration provided for the three islands to become public bodies within the Netherlands, while Curaçao and Sint Maarten would become countries in the Kingdom. The...

Voters approved the proposed process for becoming an autonomous country within the Kingdom as the Netherlands Antilles was dissolved. The result reflected a negotiated status change, not...

The Netherlands Antilles ceased to exist. Curaçao and Sint Maarten became countries within the Kingdom, while Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba became public bodies within the Netherlands. The...

Rutte apologized on behalf of the government for the Dutch state’s role in slavery and acknowledged its continuing effects. Activists and Caribbean representatives welcomed the recognition while...

The King apologized for the Netherlands’ role in slavery at the national commemoration. The speech followed sustained activism by descendants and Caribbean communities; debates continued over...

The Council of State supported a proposal to let descendants change surnames imposed during slavery without the usual fees. The policy recognizes that names can carry the continuing imprint of...