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Special municipality (Netherlands)

Caribbean Netherlands
Caribisch Nederland  (Dutch)
Overseas region of the Netherlands
Flag of Caribbean Netherlands
Flag
Coat of arms of Caribbean Netherlands
Coat of arms
Location of the Caribbean Netherlands (green and circled). From left to right: Bonaire, Saba, Sint Eustatius.
Location of the Caribbean Netherlands (green and circled). From left to right: Bonaire, Saba, Sint Eustatius.
Coordinates: 12°11′N 68°14′W / 12.183°N 68.233°W / 12.183; -68.233
Country  Netherlands
Special municipalities
Incorporated into the Netherlands 10 October 2010 (dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles)
Government (see Politics of the Netherlands)
 • National Rep. Gilbert Isabella
 • Lt. Governors
Area
 • Total 328 km2 (127 sq mi)
  (0.8% of the Netherlands)
Highest elevation
(Mount Scenery)
887 m (2,910 ft)
Population (2010)
 • Total 21,133
 • Density 64/km2 (170/sq mi)
  (0.1% of the Netherlands)
Languages
 • Official Dutch
 • Recognised regional
Time zone AST (UTC−4)
Calling code +599
ISO 3166 code BQ, NL-BQ1, NL-BQ2, NL-BQ3
Currency United States dollar (USD)
Internet TLD .nl, .an,.bq 
^ .an is to be discontinued
^ .bq is assigned but not used

The Caribbean Netherlands (Dutch: Caribisch Nederland) are the three special municipalities of the Netherlands that are located in the Caribbean Sea. They consist of the islands of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba, although the term "Caribbean Netherlands" is sometimes used to refer to all of the islands in the Dutch Caribbean. In legislation, the three islands are also known as the BES islands (a more traditional acronym of their names). The islands are currently classified as public bodies in the Netherlands and as overseas countries and territories of the European Union; thus, EU law does not automatically apply.

Bonaire (including the islet of Klein Bonaire) is one of the Leeward Antilles and is located close to the coast of Venezuela. Sint Eustatius and Saba are in the main Lesser Antilles group and are located south of Sint Maarten and northwest of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

The three islands gained their current status following the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles on 10 October 2010. At the same time, the islands of Curaçao and Sint Maarten became autonomous countries (Dutch: landen) within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The island of Aruba is also a country of the Kingdom located in the Caribbean. The term "Dutch Caribbean" may refer to the three special municipalities (e.g. for stamps), but may also refer to all of the Caribbean islands within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The population of the BES islands is 21,000. Their total area is 328 square kilometres (127 sq mi).


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Wikipedia

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