Happy Constitution Day. The following is information about how this official holiday. Below is a quick historical timeline with sources showing the steps that were taken to achieve country status within the Kingdom. Click here to be redirected to the piece '12 years in, now what? a reflection on county Sint Maarten.'
1954
15th December 1954, Queen Juliana signed the first version of the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Statuut voor het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden). The Charter or Statuut described the relationship between the Netherlands, Suriname, and the Netherlands Antilles (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius & Saba).
1975
Suriname left the Kingdom and became an Independent Republic
1977
Arubans weren’t pleased with the construction of the Netherlands Antilles and thought that a lot of the power was in the hands of Curacao. During this time independence movements were mobilized and on 25 March 1977 an independence referendum was held. Voters had the choice to vote to remain in the Netherlands Antilles or independence. Independence won with over 95% of the vote.
1983
The Treaty of the Hague was signed between the Netherlands and Aruba. The Treaty mentioned Aruba becoming a constitutional country within the Kingdom first, and full independence by 1996. Independence never came into fruition for Aruba.
1986
Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles and became an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
1993
Curacao held a status referendum on 19th November 1993 as a result of discussions about the future of the Netherlands Antilles. The referendum had four options. Option A: Restructuring the Netherlands Antilles, Option B: Becoming a self governing country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Option C: Becoming a direct part of the Netherlands and Option D: Independence. Option A won. This was interesting as most politicians, the government of the Netherlands Antilles, and the island government campaigned for secession.
1994
In October Saba held a status referendum as a result of the discussions about the future of the Netherlands Antilles. The referendum had four Options. Option A: Status Quo, Option B: Autonomy, Option C: Integration with the Netherlands and Option D: Independence. Option A won.
In October Sint Eustatius held a status referendum as a result of the discussions about the future of the Netherlands Antilles. The referendum had four Options. Option A: Status Quo, Option B: Autonomy, Option C: Integration with the Netherlands and Option D: Independence. Option A won.
In October Bonaire held a status referendum as a result of the discussions about the future of the Netherlands Antilles. The referendum had four Options. Option A: Status Quo, Option B: Autonomy, Option C: Integration with the Netherlands and Option D: Independence. Option A won.
In October Sint Maarten held a status referendum as a result of the discussions about the future of the Netherlands Antilles. The referendum had four Options. Option A: Sint Maarten remaining part of the Netherlands Antilles, Option B: Sint Maarten becoming a self governing country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Option C: Sint Maarten integrating into the Netherlands and Option D: Sint Maarten becoming an independent country. Option A won. This was interesting as most politicians, the government of the Netherlands Antilles, and the island government campaigned for secession.
In October Sint Eustatius held a status referendum as a result of the discussions about the future of the Netherlands Antilles. The referendum had four Options. Option A: Status Quo, Option B: Autonomy, Option C: Integration with the Netherlands and Option D: Independence. Option A won.
In October Bonaire held a status referendum as a result of the discussions about the future of the Netherlands Antilles. The referendum had four Options. Option A: Status Quo, Option B: Autonomy, Option C: Integration with the Netherlands and Option D: Independence. Option A won.
In October Sint Maarten held a status referendum as a result of the discussions about the future of the Netherlands Antilles. The referendum had four Options. Option A: Sint Maarten remaining part of the Netherlands Antilles, Option B: Sint Maarten becoming a self governing country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Option C: Sint Maarten integrating into the Netherlands and Option D: Sint Maarten becoming an independent country. Option A won. This was interesting as most politicians, the government of the Netherlands Antilles, and the island government campaigned for secession.
2000
The government of the Netherlands Antilles adopted an official anthem known as "An Anthem With No Title" written by Zahaira Hillman of Sint Maarten in attempts for forge closer ties between the islands of the Netherlands Antilles
After the results of the 1994 referendum failed to show support for secession, the island council organized a new referendum. This referendum was originally supposed to be held in October of 1999, but was postponed until June 2000. The referendum had four options: Option A: Maintaining the present status. Option B: Remaining a part of a restricted Netherlands Antilles, Option C: Becoming a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Option D: Independence. Option C won. This result sparked another series of referendums within the Netherlands Antilles.
2004
After the results of Sint Maarten’s 2000 referendum, Bonaire held another status referendum in 2004 with four options. Option A: Directions within the Netherlands, Option B: Autonomy within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Option C: Status quo and Option D: Independence. Option A won.
After the results of Sint Maarten’s 2000 referendum, Saba held another status referendum in 2004 with three options. Option A: Remain part of the Netherlands Antilles, Option B: Independence, Option C: Direct constitutional ties with the Netherlands. Option C won.
After the results of Sint Maarten’s 2000 referendum, Saba held another status referendum in 2004 with three options. Option A: Remain part of the Netherlands Antilles, Option B: Independence, Option C: Direct constitutional ties with the Netherlands. Option C won.
2005
After the results of Sint Maarten’s 2000 referendum, Curacao held another status referendum in 2005 with four options. Option A: Autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Option B: Integration into the Netherlands, Option C: Independence and Option D: Remain part of the Netherlands Antilles. Option A won.
After the results of Sint Maarten’s 2000 referendum, Sint Eustatius held another status referendum in 2005 with four options. Option A: Remain part of the Netherlands Antilles, Option B: Direct constitutional ties with the Netherlands, Option C: Integration into the Netherlands and Option D: Independence. Option A won. However, Sint Eustatius was the only island that voted to remain in the Netherlands Antilles and the island council opted for direct ties with the Netherlands.
After the results of Sint Maarten’s 2000 referendum, Sint Eustatius held another status referendum in 2005 with four options. Option A: Remain part of the Netherlands Antilles, Option B: Direct constitutional ties with the Netherlands, Option C: Integration into the Netherlands and Option D: Independence. Option A won. However, Sint Eustatius was the only island that voted to remain in the Netherlands Antilles and the island council opted for direct ties with the Netherlands.
2009
A final status referendum was held in Curacao on 15 May 2009 to accept the proposed agreement on becoming an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The agreement was approved by 51.99% of the voters
2010
On October 10, 2010, the Netherlands Antilles were officially dissolved. Curacao and Sint Maarten both became autonomous countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, the BES Islands, became a special municipality within the Netherlands.