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Kingdom of the Netherlands
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Queen Beatrix |
The Kingdom of the Netherlands (Dutch: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden) is a federation since 1954 currently consisting out of the three constituent parts: the Netherlands (Dutch: Nederland), Netherlands Antilles (Dutch: Nederlandse Antillen) and Aruba. It is a federal monarchy with the Queen of the Netherlands as head of state. The Kingdom of the Netherlands as a federal monarchy is constituted in the Statute for the Kingdom of the Netherlands of October 28th 1954. Prior to 1954, the "Kingdom of the Netherlands" referred to the Netherlands and its colonial possessions.
History
Before the Statute for the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1954, Surinam and the Colony Curaçao and Dependencies were mere colonies of the Netherlands.
In 1954, the colonial relation between the Netherlands, Surinam and the Colony Curaçao and Dependencies (since then the Netherlands Antilles) came to an end. Surinam and the Netherlands Antilles both obtained a status of country (land) which meant autonomy on internal affairs. The Netherlands handed in autonomy to the Kingdom of the Netherlands (on matters such as foreign affairs and citizenship). A new (federal) Kingdom of the Netherlands was set up by the statute.
In 1975, Surinam left The Kingdom of the Netherlands and became an independent republic. In 1986, Aruba (until then part of the Netherlands Antilles) obtained the status aparte or status of country and became independent (from the Netherlands Antilles) within the kingdom. Since then The Kingdom of the Netherlands consists of the three constituent parts; The Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba.
Constitution
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is constituted by the Statute for the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This document is applicable in every part of the Kingdom.
Each of the constituent parts has its own constitution. The constitution of the Netherlands is the Constitution of the Netherlands (Grondwet van het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden). This constitution is not applicable in the Netherlands Antilles or Aruba but only in the Netherlands.
The Netherlands Antilles is constituted in the Constitution of the Netherlands Antilles (Staatsregeling van de Nederlandse Antillen) and Aruba in the Constitution of Aruba (Staatsregeling van Aruba).
Federal Monarchy
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a federal monarchy divided into three constituents parts, each with its own administration and parliament. Together these constituent parts form a federation. The head of state is a King or another monarch.
In the Kingdom of the Netherlands is a unique federation. The institutions on federal level are mostly institutions of the Netherlands, with or without representation oversea.
States
- Netherlands is a decentralized unitary state administered by the Monarch and the council of ministers together. The people are represented by the Staten-generaal, which consists out of a chamber of representatives and a chamber of senators. The Netherlands is devided in 12 provinces: Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland and Zuid-Holland. The provinces are divided in communities.
- Aruba is a centralised unitary state with as administration the King (represented by the governor) and the (Aruban) council of ministers together. The people are represented by the Staten of Aruba.
Future status
A joint commission has proposed major reforms for the Netherlands Antilles. On November 28, 2005, an agreement was signed between the Dutch government and the governments of each island that would put into effect the commission's findings by July 2007. Under these reforms, Curaçao and Sint Maarten will form a status aparte (therefore becoming two new countries inside the Kingdom of the Netherlands). Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius will become directly part of the Netherlands as Kingdom Islands (Koninkrijkseilanden). The Kingdom itself would get its own staff.
Additionally, the Kingdom government would consist of the government of the Netherlands and one mandated minister per Caribbean country. The Kingdom Islands would be represented in the Kingdom Government by the Netherlands.
The Netherlands has proposed that the new EU constitution allows the NA and Aruba to get OMR-status (Outermost Region, also called Ultra Peripheral Region or UPR), or in Dutch: UPG-status (Ultraperifere gebieden), if and when they wish.
Government
The Statute for the Kingdom of the Netherlands decides what is considered to be a kingdom-affair and constitutes organs that execute these affairs.
Affairs
The affairs of the kingdom include:
Administration
The King or Queen and the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom (Dutch: Rijksministerraad) together form the administration of the kingdom. The Council of Ministers of the Kingdom constitutes of the Council of Ministers of the Netherlands (Dutch: Ministerraad) completed by two Authorized Ministers (Dutch: Gevolmachtigd minister) from both Islands.
Laws applicable to the whole Kingdom are known as Kingdom Laws (Dutch: Rijkswetten). An example of such a law is the Kingdom Law regarding Dutch citizenship (Dutch: Rijkswet op het Nederlanderschap).
The Dutch King or Queen is the head of state of the kingdom. Because the Dutch King or Queen resides in the Netherlands, two governors are appointed to represent him or her in both Island governments.
Legislator
The legislator of the kingdom consists out of the parliament of the Netherlands and the administration of the kingdom together. Articles 14, 16 and 17 of the Statute give some participation to the parliaments of the Netherlands Antilles respectively Aruba.
European Union
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a member of the European Union. However Antilles and Aruba are not considered part of the EU, but rather have the status of OCTs (overseas countries and territories; in Dutch LGO's, landen en gebiedsdelen overzee). Since citizenship is handled by the kingdom, and not distinguished for the three countries, citizens from all three countries are also EU citizens.
Geography
The highest point is Mount Scenery (862 m) on the small island of Saba, Netherlands Antilles.
See also
