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History
This federation consists of Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maartin
at the northern end of the Windward Islands; Aruba (not part
of the federation) and Bonaire and Curacao off the coast of Venezuela.
Spaniards landed there in 1499 and claimed them in 1527. The
last three were captured from Spain by the Dutch when they settled
there in 1643.
(Spain did not control them closely and had little interest
in them compared to the value of the mainland). There was a British
occupation during the Napoleonic wars. The federation is associated
with the Netherlands for purposes of defense and foreign affairs
but has internal self-government. There is an independence movement.
Sint Maartin is an island shared with the French administered
St Martin.
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