Uncategorised
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08 May 2024
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Netherlands Antilles
In Netherlands Antilles, the Governor is the representative of the Dutch Monarch and also the head of government.
The economy of the country is based on oil refining, ship repair, tourism, and transit trade. The country has a well-developed infrastructure and a high per capital income. They depend on other countries for consumer goods because of the poor soils and inadequate water supplies that hindered agriculture in the country.
The weather of Netherlands Antilles is hot all year round. Hurricanes hit the leeward island during summer while parts of the leeward Antilles is usually warm and dry. The islands on the north like Sint Eustatius have a moderately rainy climate while those on the south like Curacao are usually more arid.
Road transportation system is effective in the country and there are also ports and harbors to facilitate water transportation. There are about 5 airports in the country. Railways have never existed in the Netherlands Antilles.
English, Dutch, and Papiamentu are the official languages of the country. Majority of the population adhere to the Christian faith, with a Protestant majority in Sint Eustatius and Sint Maarten, and a Roman Catholic majority in Bonaire, Curaçao and Saba. Curaçao also has followers of the Jewish religion and there are about 2,000 Muslims, with a mosque in the capital.
The cuisines in the country are variations of the Caribbean Creole cuisine although food customs differ a little between islands. They have a traditional meal Funchi and Pan Bati (a maize porridge and a pancake made of maize flour) usually combined with Carni Stoba a goat meat stew.
The country records about 2.6 million tourists yearly. There are very beautiful and fun places to visit while in the country like;
- Bonaire National Marine Park, Bonaire: This is a very famous dive destination in the Caribbean. The park is famous for its clear waters, calm seas, and there are varieties of fishes here too. Snorkelers will really enjoy this park.
- Mount Scenery Hike, Saba: This is the highest point in the Netherlands. The mount Scenery is about 887m high. To get to the top, you will have to climb over a thousand steps.
- Washington-Slagbaai National Park, Bonaire: This Park occupies about one-fifth of the Bonaire Island. It is an excellent place to spot many species of birds like flamingos, parakeets, herons etc.
Curacao is the largest and most populated island in Netherlands Antilles. The best time to visit the country is from May to November during the off-peak season.
There are about 4000 hotels in the Netherlands for you to lodge when you come visiting.
