Netherlands Antilles		Back to table of contents
			Country selection: - all countries - Africa America Asia Australia Europe Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Aruba Bahamas Barbados Belize Bermuda Bolivia Brazil Canada Cayman Islands Chile Colombia Costa Rica Cuba Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guyana Haiti Honduras Jamaica Martinique Mexico Montserrat Netherlands Antilles Nicaragua Panama Paraguay Peru Puerto Rico Saint Kitts And Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent And The Grenadines St. Pierre and Miquelon Suriname Trinidad And Tobago Turks and Caicos Islands USA Uruguay Venezuela Virgin Islands (British) Virgin Islands (U.S.) Entry Regulations / General Information Country and People Local Customs / Cuisine Climate / Weather Vaccinations and Health Currency / Exchange Contact Addresses Sightseeing Travel Advice / Safety Precautions Entry for German Nationals Geographical Location Population Language Time Difference Electricity Postal Service Telephone Mobile Phones Internet Public Holidays Opening Hours Clothes

Entry Regulations / General Information
	Entry for German Nationals
	Travellers are exempt from holding a visa for a stay of up to three months, provided they hold a national passport valid for at least six months beyond the period of stay, tickets for their return or onward journey, and sufficient funds.
Top of Page
	Geographical Location
	The Netherlands Antilles are situated in the Caribbean Sea. The so-called "Leeward Islands" are located north of the Venezuelan coast and to the east of the island of Aruba. Bonaire and Curaçao - the two largest islands of the Netherlands Antilles - belong to these islands. The so-called "Windward Islands" are located in the eastern Caribbean Sea to the west of the island of Puerto Rico. The islands of St. Eustatius, St. Maarten and Saba belong to this group; the northern part of St. Maarten belongs to France (St. Martin). Total area: 800 km² (Bonaire 290 km², Curaçao 444 km², St. Eustatius 24 km², St. Maarten 41 km², Saba 13 km²).
Top of Page
	Population
	Population (approximate numbers): 185,000 (Curaçao 135,000; Bonaire 10,600; St. Maarten 35,000; St. Eustatius 2,500; Saba 1,200). Cities: Willemstad (capital city of the Netherlands Antilles; on the island of Curaçao) approximately 125,000. The capital town of Bonaire is Kralendijk, of Saba The Bottom, of Sint Eustatius Oranjestad and of St. Maarten Philipsburg.
Top of Page
	Language
	The official language is Dutch. As a colloquial language, Papiamento is spoken. English and Spanish are also spoken.
Top of Page
	Time Difference
	Central European Time (CET) -5 hours. During European summertime, the time difference is -6 hours.
Top of Page
	Electricity
	Bonaire: 127V alternating current, 50Hz; Curaçao: 110-130V alternating current, 50Hz; St. Maarten: 220V alternating current, 60 Hz; St. Eustatius: 110V alternating current, 50 Hz; Saba: 110/220V alternating current, 60Hz. Adapters should be carried.
Top of Page
	Postal Service
	Airmail to Europe takes approximately four to six days.
Top of Page
	Telephone
	The international dialling code for calls from Western Europe to the Netherlands Antilles is 00599; for international calls from the Netherlands Antilles, the prefix "00" must be dialled prior to the relevant country code (in the case of calls to Germany, for example, 0049). Dialling codes for calls from island to island: Bonaire 07, Curaçao 09, Saba 04, Sint Eustatius 03, Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 05. International calls to Europe can be dialled direct from the five islands. International calls are relatively expensive; always enquire as to the tariff before calling. EMERGENCY NUMBERS: - Bonaire: Police 911, fire brigade 919, ambulance 912; - Curaçao: Police 911, fire brigade 911, ambulance 912; - St. Maarten: Police 911, fire brigade 911, ambulance 911; - St. Eustatius: Police 911, fire brigade 912, ambulance 913; - Saba: Police 911, fire brigade 911, ambulance 912.
Top of Page
	Mobile Phones
	Mobile network technologies: GSM 900/1800/1900. Tri-band and quad-band mobile phones are capable to operate on GSM 1900 networks. Information for users of mobile phones registered with German network providers: Mobile phones connected to the E-Plus, T-Mobile or Vodafone networks can be used due to international roaming agreements. Travellers intending to use other mobile phones are advised to contact their network provider for detailed information.
Top of Page
	Internet
	Country code suffix: .an Internet cafes are available in Kralendijk/Bonaire, Philipsburg/St. Maarten und Willemstad/Curacao.
Top of Page
	Public Holidays
	1 January (New Year), 23 February (Carnival Monday), Good Friday, Easter Monday, 30 April (Queen´s Birthday), 1 May (Labour Day), Ascension Day, 15 December (Day of Kingdom), 25/26 December (Christmas). In addition, each island has its own particular public holiday.
Top of Page
	Opening Hours
	Banks: On Bonaire/Curaçao Mon to Fri 8a.m.-3:30p.m., on the other islands 8:30a.m.-11a.m. and 1:30p.m.-4:30p.m.; Offices: Mon to Fri 7:30a.m.-12p.m., 1:30p.m.-4:30p.m.; Post offices: Mon to Fri 7:30a.m.-12p.m., 1:30p.m.-4:30p.m.; Shops: Mon to Sat 8a.m.-12p.m., 2p.m.-6p.m. The length of lunch breaks may vary from island to island.
Top of Page
	Clothes
	Light, airy and easily washable summer clothing is sufficient throughout the year; light woollen garments should be taken for air-conditioned buildings. Comfortable and sturdy footwear is necessary for trips and trekking tours on the islands of Saba and St. Eustatius. Swimsuits and similar garments should only be worn on the beach. Nude or topless bathing is prohibited on the Netherlands Antilles. In the evening, somewhat more elegant clothes should be worn.
Top of Page
	© 2001 All rights reserved TIP-Touristik-Informations-Programme GmbH, 73760 Ostfildern Last updated: 01.07.2009 - Proposals, hints and contact - Copyright Lufthansa cannot accept any liability or give any guarantee for the validity, correctness and completeness of the information provided in the following.