KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS

The 'Kingdom of the Netherlands' (Dutch: ) is a federacy which consists of the Netherlands in Northwestern Europe and two autonomous regions in the Caribbean, Netherlands Antilles (Dutch: ''Nederlandse Antillen''), and Aruba. Both these regions have a vote in government when it comes to matters pertaining to the Kingdom as a whole. The two autonomous regions are represented in the government by their respective mandated ministers. The Kingdom of the Netherlands, as a state with two autonomous regions, was constituted in the Statute for the Kingdom of the Netherlands of October 28 1954. From 1830 to 1954, the "Kingdom of the Netherlands" referred to the Netherlands and its colonial possessions.

Contents

History

Constitution

States

Future status

European Union

Government

Affairs

Administration

Legislature

Geography

Population, area, and currency

References

See also

External links

History

Main articles: History of the Netherlands

Before the Statute for the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1954, Surinam, and the Colony of Curaçao and Dependencies were mere colonies of the Netherlands.
In 1954, the colonial relation between the Netherlands, Surinam and the Colony of Curaçao and Dependencies (since then the Netherlands Antilles) came to an end. Surinam and the Netherlands Antilles both obtained the status of a "country" (''land'') which meant autonomy in internal affairs. The autonomous parts of the Kingdom share in the sovereignty of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (on matters such as foreign affairs and citizenship).
In 1975, Surinam left the Kingdom of the Netherlands and became an independent republic. In 1986, Aruba (until then part of the Netherlands Antilles) obtained the status aparte or status of country and became independent (from the Netherlands Antilles) within the kingdom. Since then The Kingdom of the Netherlands has had two autonomous regions; The Netherlands Antilles and Aruba.

Constitution

The Constitution of the Netherlands (''Grondwet van het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden''), applies to the territory of the Kingdom in Europe and to matters pertaining the Kingdom as a whole (including the autonomous parts). The status of the autonomous regions and the relations between them and the territory in Europe towards each other and towards the Kingdom as a whole is laid down in the Statute for the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This document is applicable in every part of the Kingdom.
Each of the two autonomous regions has its own Basic Law: The Constitution of the Netherlands Antilles (''Staatsregeling van de Nederlandse Antillen''), and the Constitution of Aruba (''Staatsregeling van Aruba''). Each of the autonomous regions also has its own administration and parliament. Together with the territory of the Kingdom in Europe, they form one sovereign state.

States

★ The ''Netherlands'' is a decentralized unitary state administered by the Monarch and the council of ministers together. The people are represented by the ''Staten-generaal,'' which consists of a chamber of representatives and a chamber of senators. The Netherlands is divided into 12 provinces: Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland and Zuid-Holland. The provinces are divided into municipalities.

★ The ''Netherlands Antilles'' is a decentralized unitary state, with federal characteristics, with as administration the Monarch (represented by the governor) and the (Antillean) council of ministers together. The people are represented by the Staten of the Netherlands Antilles. The Netherlands Antilles is composed of five insular territories: Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius and Sint Maarten

★ ''Aruba'' is a centralised unitary state with as administration the Monarch (represented by the governor) and the (Aruban) council of ministers together. The people are represented by the Staten of Aruba.

Future status

A joint commission has proposed major reforms for the Netherlands Antilles. On November 28, 2005, an agreement was signed between the Dutch government and the governments of each island that would put into effect the commission's findings by 15 December 2008.^[1] Under these reforms, Curaçao and Sint Maarten will form a ''status aparte'' (therefore becoming two new countries inside the Kingdom of the Netherlands).^[2] Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius will become directly part of the Netherlands as a public body (''openbaar lichaam''),^[3] the same thing as special municipalities (''bijzondere gemeente'').^[4] These municipalities will resemble ordinary Dutch municipalities in most ways (they will have a mayor,^[4] aldermen and a municipal council for example), and will have to introduce most law of the Netherlands; as Dutch law is introduced, current laws of the Netherlands Antilles will still be in force.^[3] There are, however, some derogations for these islands, due to their distance. Social security, for example, will not be on the same level as it is in the Netherlands and the islands are not obliged to introduce the euro.^[4]
Additionally, the Kingdom government would consist of the government of the Netherlands and one mandated minister per Caribbean country. The special municipalities would be represented in the Kingdom Government by the Netherlands, as they can vote for the Dutch parliament; however at first, citizens in the special municipalities will be able to vote in elections to the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament.^[3] New laws will extend voting rights to the First Chamber.^[3] They will also elect MEPs.^[4]
For Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius, The Netherlands has proposed that a study be conducted^[3] on acquiring the status of ''Outermost Region (OMR),'' also called ''Ultra Peripheral Region (UPR).'' The study would also look into how the islands would fare under UPR.^[3]

European Union

The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a member of the European Union. However Antilles and Aruba are not considered part of the EU, but rather have the status of OCTs (overseas countries and territories; in Dutch LGOs, ''landen en gebiedsdelen overzee''). Since citizenship is handled by the kingdom, and not distinguished for the three countries, citizens from all three countries are also EU citizens.

Government

The Statute for the Kingdom of the Netherlands decides what is considered to be a kingdom-affair and constitutes organs that execute these affairs.

Affairs

The affairs of the kingdom include:

★ Defence

★ Foreign affairs

★ Citizenship

★ Extradition

Administration

The King or Queen and the ''Council of Ministers of the Kingdom'' (Dutch: ''Rijksministerraad'') together form the administration of the kingdom. The Council of Ministers of the Kingdom constitutes of the Council of Ministers of the Netherlands (Dutch: ''Ministerraad'') completed by two Mandated Ministers (Dutch: ''Gevolmachtigd minister'') from both Islands.
Laws applicable to the whole Kingdom are known as ''Kingdom Laws'' (Dutch: ''Rijkswetten''). An example of such a law is the ''Kingdom Law regarding Dutch citizenship'' (Dutch: ''Rijkswet op het Nederlanderschap'').
The Dutch King or Queen is the head of state of the kingdom. Because the Dutch King or Queen resides in the Netherlands, two governors are appointed to represent him or her in both Island governments.

Legislature

The legislature of the kingdom consists of the parliament of the Netherlands and the administration of the kingdom together. Articles 14, 16 and 17 of the Statute give some participation to the parliaments of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba.

Geography

The highest point is Mount Scenery (862 m) on the small island of Saba, Netherlands Antilles.

Population, area, and currency

component	population (July 2006 est.)	area (km²)	pop. dens. (per km²)	currency
Aruba	103,891	193	538	Aruban Florin
Netherlands	16,491,461	41,526	397	euro
Netherlands Antilles	221,736	800	277	Netherlands Antilles Gulden
total	16,817,088	42,519	396

Figures per island:

Curaçao (pop. 134,000, 2004 est., 444 km²) Sint Maarten (33,000, 2004 est., 34 km²), Bonaire (10,000, 2004 est., 288 km²), Sint Eustatius (2,500, 2004 est., 21 km² ), Saba (1,400, 2004 est., 13 km²).

References

1. Agreement on division of Netherlands Antilles
2. Official start of constitutional reform for Netherlands Antilles Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations
3. St. Eustatius, Saba, Bonaire and The Hague Reach Historic Agreement The Daily Herald
4. Caribbean islands become Dutch municipalities Radio Netherlands
5. Caribbean islands become Dutch municipalities Radio Netherlands
6. St. Eustatius, Saba, Bonaire and The Hague Reach Historic Agreement The Daily Herald
7. Caribbean islands become Dutch municipalities Radio Netherlands
8. St. Eustatius, Saba, Bonaire and The Hague Reach Historic Agreement The Daily Herald
9. St. Eustatius, Saba, Bonaire and The Hague Reach Historic Agreement The Daily Herald
10. Caribbean islands become Dutch municipalities Radio Netherlands
11. St. Eustatius, Saba, Bonaire and The Hague Reach Historic Agreement The Daily Herald
12. St. Eustatius, Saba, Bonaire and The Hague Reach Historic Agreement The Daily Herald

See also

★ Monarchy of the Netherlands

★ Federacy

External links

★ Netherlands Royal Family

★ The Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands (pdf)

★ Closing statement of the first Round Table Conference concerning the administrative reform of the kingdom

★ information about Holland