What to see in the Netherlands Antilles, where they are, what the islands are, travel tips, health precautions, best times to go.
Tourist information
The Netherlands Antilles, geographically part of North America, have Willemstad as their capital and are an overseas territory of Holland.
Located in the Caribbean area, they are part of the Lesser Antilles archipelago.
These islands constitute a federal state which can autonomously take decisions concerning internal matters, while for foreign policy the responsibility is of the Netherlands.
The main islands that form the archipelago are five, namely Curaçao, Bonaire, Saba, Sint Eustatius and Saint Maarten, divided into Leeward and Windward Islands, the latter characterized by a climate with a higher humidity rate in the air and much more windy than the first, to the point that every year they are affected by violent hurricanes.
The climate of the two groups of islands is tropical, with temperatures ranging between 23 ° and 30 ° C. Although the official language is Dutch, the Papiamento is normally spoken in the islands, which is a local dialect that brings together languages several which include Portuguese, African, Spanish, English and Dutch words.
Before leaving, it is advisable to immunize yourself, via vaccine, against hepatitis A, typhoid, tetanus and diphtheria, and consult with your family doctor for any antimalarial prophylaxis in case you intend to visit the island of Saba, where it could be possible to contract malaria.
In your baggage, include a supply of basic necessities and take out health insurance that includes on-site assistance and any air repatriation according to the needs that may arise.
To enter, you must have a valid passport and return flight ticket, you must not stay longer than two weeks, otherwise it is essential to request an extension of the residence permit from the immigration office.
About the best times to go, it is recommended to visit the archipelago in the dry season, which runs from December to April, to avoid the risk of hurricanes that may occur at other times of the year.
As for the religious aspect, almost all of the population is Christian, Protestant and Catholic, with minorities of Muslims, Jews and Hindus.
Recommended readings- Haiti (Caribbean): what to see
- Virgin Islands (American): what to see
- Grenada (Caribbean): what to see on the spice island
- Cuba: useful information
- Caribbean: what they are, holidays
If you decide to spend a holiday in the Netherlands Antilles, you should not expect an unfrequented island, as tourists are numerous throughout the year, confirming the particular beauty of these islands.
What see
Willenstad is the capital recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site.
Located on the island of Curaçao, it is a city with Dutch-style houses of various colors and very sloping roofs.
Among the attractions to visit in the city include the Curaçao museum, where there is a collection of art objects produced by past generations of inhabitants, the two Ponton bridges, located at a height of 490 meters above the natural port of the city, and the museum maritime, which collects documents narrating the primary importance of navigation over time.
Curaçao, Leeward islands, is located a few tens of kilometers from the coast of Venezuela, with a rocky territory and scarce vegetation due to drought.
In addition to the capital, the stalactite caves that are located in Hato, near the airport, including streams, waterfalls and paintings on the rock are also worth visiting.
Also interesting is the aquarium, which reproduces the marine environment of the Caribbean, with hundreds of species of fish, in addition, for fans of outdoor walks in the green, a visit to the natural park of St. Christoffel is recommended, where there are over 400 plants and countless bird species.
Do not miss the frequent cave paintings that can be observed wandering around the island, the result of the artistic wisdom of the Arawak Indians.
Bonaire, Leeward islands, can be divided into two territorially distinct areas.
To the north green hills, while to the south arid and flat terrain with salt water lakes.
Kralendijks is a city that stands out for its colonial-style houses with bright colors and for the promenade dotted with places to eat.
Washington Slagbaai National Park occupies the northwestern part of the island and is worth a visit.
The island is also renowned for the beauty of the underwater world with its coral reef, which attracts tens of thousands of tourists every year, including many scuba diving enthusiasts.
With a convenient daily ferry service, Little Bonaire can be reached, an island characterized by paradisiacal beaches with white beach of fine sand.
Saba, Leeward islands, is the smaller of the Netherlands Antilles islands.
The entire perimeter of the island is characterized by a steep coast composed of volcanic rock, with no natural bays with sandy beaches.
To visit the city The Bottom and the remains of the first settlement, dating back to 1640.
Saint Eustatius, Leeward Islands, stands out for the magnificent rainforest along the slopes of the extinct volcano Mount Quill and the hills of Boven Mountain.
In Oranjestad, the only inhabited center divided into two districts, interesting places are the remains of the colonial period and the fort of Oranje, a defensive position on the sea still intact with lots of cannons.
The beaches are sandy, some black due to the volcanic origin, and surrounded by coral reefs, the north-east coast has ideal characteristics for surf lovers.
Saint Maarten, Windward Islands, is of volcanic origin with a landscape formed largely by mountains and rolling hills thick with woods that rise behind the white sandy beaches along the coast.
Philippsburg, the capital of the island, includes numerous colonial buildings and churches.
To see the monument in honor of Queen Wilhelmina and Fort Amsterdam, dating back to the first human settlements on the island.
Maho Bay, is a perfect place for swimming and diving, thanks to the beautiful beaches.
