Dutch Antillean people

Dutch Antilleans are the inhabitants of the former Netherlands Antilles and their descendants. These are the people of Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Maarten and Sint Eustatius. These islands count more than 300,000 inhabitants. In addition, about 130,000 people live in the Netherlands.^[vague][1]

Ancestry

Antilleans have a wide variety of ancestors, which is determined by the History of the Netherlands Antilles. Until the arrival of the Spaniards in 1493, the Antilles were inhabited by Amerindians. In the early 16th century, the majority of the Amerindians disposed of as slaves, and the Spaniards became the majority of the population. In 1634, the Netherlands took over Curaçao and settled also Dutch people on the islands. After 1665, the Antilles became a transit port for African slaves, which were traded by the West India Company. A small proportion of the slaves remained behind and was deployed at the plantations.

The Windward Islands were at the end of the 15th century discovered by the Spaniards. The islands changed regularly as owner. The population is descended from British, Scottish, Irish, French, African slaves and Dutch people.

Languages

The Antilleans from the Leeward Islands talk often Papiamento, the Antilleans of the Windward Islands generally speak English.

See also

• History of the Netherlands Antilles

References

1. ^ Infoplease.com.