Antilles néerlandaises

The Netherlands Antilles consist of two groups of islands in the Caribbean, Curaçao and Bonaire off the coast of Venezuela, and St Maarten, Saba and St Eustatius which are part of the Leeward islands. The Dutch took these territories from the Spanish in the 17th century and used them for the slave trade. The majority of the population are Afro-Caribbeans; smaller groups are Carib Amerindians, Asians, and Europeans. The Netherlands Antilles are an autonomous country within the kingdom of the Netherlands. The island of Aruba, which was part of it until 1986, has its own status. The economy of the Netherlands Antilles is based on oil refinery, tourism, and off-shore finance. The poor soil of the islands does not allow the development of agriculture. The Catholic Church is the majority church in Curaçao and Bonaire, but not in the Leeward islands. In Curaçao, the United Protestant Church, the Catholic Church, the Methodists, Moravians, and Anglicans form together the council of churches. Councils also exist in St Eustatius and St Maarten. The Seventh-day Adventists Church is the largest non-Catholic community, and is associated with the council in Curaçao. Several Pentecostal and Evangelical churches are present, such as the Assemblies of God (Pentecostal), the Baptist Association, the Evangelical Church, and others.