Caribbean, 56km (35 miles) north of Venezuela.

GMT - 4.

444 sq km (171 sq miles).

224,000 (UN estimate 2005).

504 per sq km.

Willemstad. Population: 125,000 (UN estimate 2001, including suburbs).

Curaçao, the largest island in the Netherlands Antilles, is geographically part of the Dutch Leeward Islands. It is flat, rocky and fairly barren owing to its low rainfall. There are many excellent beaches.

Part of the Netherlands Antilles; dependency of The Netherlands. The Netherlands Antilles consist of Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St Eustatius and St Maarten. The capital of the island group is Willemstad, Curaçao. The Netherlands Antilles, Aruba and The Netherlands each have equal status within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, as regions autonomous in internal affairs. The Dutch monarch is locally represented by a governor, while the Netherlands Antilles are represented in the government of the Kingdom by a minister plenipotentiary. Foreign policy and defence matters are decided by a Council of Ministers of the Kingdom, including the Plenipotentiary, and executed under the authority of the governor. The internal affairs of the islands are administered by the Central Government of the Netherlands Antilles, which is based in Willemstad, Curaçao.

HM Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands, represented locally by Governor Frits Goedgedrag since 2002.

Prime Minister Etienne Ys since 2002.

Island rivalries are at least as important as ideological ones in Netherlands Antilles politics. The present government is a six-party coalition led by the FOL under the premiership of Mirna Louisa-Godett. Of the main parties, only the PAR, still led by the veteran politician and former Premier Miguel Fournier, is excluded. In the referendum held in April 2005 on Curaçao, the citizens of the island expressed themselves in favour of an autonomous status for Curaçao in the Dutch Kingdom. The Island Council of the Island Territory of Curaçao formally ratified the results of the referendum a week later. Efforts will be made to realise the status of an autonomous state for Curaçao by July 2007.

Dutch is the official language. Papiamentu (a mixture of Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, English, Arawak Indian and several African languages) is the lingua franca; English and Spanish are also widely spoken. There are 55 different nationalities.

The majority of the population is Roman Catholic, with Protestant minorities, both evangelical and other low-church denominations. There is also a Baha’i temple and a synagogue.

110/130 volts AC, 50Hz.

The social influences are predominantly Dutch, combined with Indian and African traditions. Dress for men should include tropical lightweight suits for business appointments and formal wear for evening engagements. Similarly, women should take some evening wear, but dress for daytime is casual. Swimwear should be confined to the beach and poolside.