Figure 1.--This is a tourist postcard view of a native hut on Curaçao with a boy and his grandmother, probanly during the 1930s. Most of the popultion in the Netherlnds Antilles as on mamy Caribbean islnds is largely of African origins, brought to the islands as slaves. Because the Dutch slands were rather arid, even though the Dutch introduced sugar technology to the Caribbean, none of their islands were important sugar islands. This mean the incredible brutality of the Caribbean sugar plantations (Haiti, Jamaica, and other islands) was not visited on the slaves in the Netherlands Antilles. The Dutch abolished slavery in 1863.

The Netherlands was a major naval power (16th century. This was a primary factor in its ability to achieve and maintain power from the German Hapsburgs, the Spanish Hapsburgs and the French Burbons, all the major powers of the day. Over the long run, however, the Dutch had too small a country to generate the naval power needed to gain and maintain possession of the more valuable Caribbean islands that supported larger sugar plantations. This was a matter of some importance because in the 18th century, Caribbean sugar islands became some of the most vluable realestate in the world. France even gave upCanada rather than lose Guadeloupe and Martinique. The Dutch were able to retain control of several islands know collectively as the Netherlands Antilles or Dutch West Indies. Each island has its own history. Dutch colonization began before the Caribbean sugar industry was founded. The Dutch first seized Sint Maarten to control large salt deposits (1630). The Spanish reconquered the island anbd held it for a time. The Dutch West India Company (WIC) seized Curaçao which would become the cenbter of Dutch power in the Caribbean (1634). The Dutch than seized Bonaire and Aruba (1636). The WIC colonized and governed the Leeward Islands. Curaçao and Sint Eustatius became centers for smuggling, privateering, and the slave trade after the Peace of Westphalia (1648). Curaçao and Bonaire never participated in the sugar trade. The arid climate precluded sugar plantations, but Dutch and Sephardic Jewish merchants on Curaçao sold trade goods and slaves from Africa to the English and French plantaters on the various islands as well as the Spanish mainland. Bonaire was less involved in trade, but salt flats was exploited and cattle ranching pursued. There was a market with passing trade and on were bred for trade and food on Curaçao. Because the Dutch slands were rather arid, ecen though the Dutch introduced sugar technology to the Caribbeamn, none odf their islnds were important sugar islands. This mean the incredible brutality of the Caribbean sugar plantations (Haiti, Jamaica, and other islands) was not visited on the slaves in the Netherlands Antilles. Until the wars betweem France anbd the British began following the French Revolution (1791). The British began attacking French islands and the Dutch islnds as well, because the French seized the Netherlands. The British occupied Curaçao (1801-03 and 1807-16). Aruba has seceded, but the islands have not moved toward inependence. The Dutch ended slavery at a rather late point (1863).

Created: 5:04 AM 4/26/2011
Last updated: 7:41 AM 12/1/2014