Netherlands Antilles , Former (1954–2010) nonmetropolitan island territory of the Netherlands, in the Caribbean Sea. Area: 308 sq mi (800 sq km). Population: (2010 est.) 204,000. Capital: Willemstad, on Curaçao. The Netherlands Antilles consisted of two widely separated groups of Caribbean islands: Sint Eustatius, the southern section of St. Martin, and Saba made up the northern group, at the northern end of the Leeward Islands; and Curaçao, Bonaire, and, until 1986, Aruba constituted the southern group, about 500 mi (800 km) to the southwest, off the coast of Venezuela. Originally inhabited by Arawak and Carib Indians, the islands were encountered by Spanish explorers in the late 15th century and were claimed for Spain. In the 17th century the Dutch gained control, and in 1845 the islands were brought under a collective administration, with its seat of government in Curaçao. In 1954 they were reorganized as the federation of the Netherlands Antilles and became an integral part of the Netherlands with full autonomy in domestic affairs. Aruba seceded from the federation in 1986. In 2006 the islands and the Dutch government agreed to dismantle the Netherlands Antilles, which took place in 2010. Sint Maarten and Curaçao became autonomous states within the Netherlands. Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius became special municipalities of the Netherlands.
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