|RConstitution:|N Autonomous part of the Netherlands.
|RNature and climate:|N Two groups of islands, the leeward Group, Curacao, Aruba and Bonaire and the Windward Islands, southern part of Sint Maartin, Sint Eustatius and Saba in the West Indies. The Leeward Group is located 100 km north of Venezuela and the Windward Group 800 km to the northeast.
The climate is tropical marine with an average temperature all through the year between 26 and 28°C.
Percipitation 580 km.
|RPeople:|N 85% mixed African, remainder Carib Indians, European, Latin and Oriental.
|REconomy:|N One of the world's largest oilrefineries dominates economy. Founded in 1916 it imports crude oil from venezuela and most of the refined products are exported accounting for 98% of the export revenues.
Tourism is the second most important industry.
Shipbuilding is extensive.
|RHistory:|N The islands were discovered about 1500 and has belonged to Spain, Britain, France and the netherlands.
The island Aruba was constitutionally separated from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986.
