Country Guides
Bonaire
Key Facts

Key Facts

Bonaire

Location

Caribbean, 80km (50 miles) north of Venezuela.

Time

GMT - 4.

Area

290 sq km (112 sq miles).

Population

14,006 (2006).

Population Density

48 per sq km.

Capital

Kralendijk. Population: 3,061 (2006).

Geography

Bonaire is the second-largest island in the Netherlands Antilles and is located 80km (50 miles) north of Venezuela and 48km (30 miles) east of Curaçao. The landscape is flat and rocky and, owing to low annual rainfall, Bonaire has a fairly barren desert climate. The island has small, beautiful beaches and safe waters.

Government

Part of the Netherlands Antilles. Bonaire is therefore a dependency of The Netherlands.

Head of State

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

Head of Government

Prime Minister Emily de Jongh-Elhage since 2006.

Recent History

The Netherlands Antilles consist of Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St Eustatius and St Maarten. The capital of the island group is Willemstad, Curaçao.

The islands are self-governing although foreign affairs and defence are handled by the Dutch government. Prime Minister Emily de Jongh-Elhage is also leader of the Party for the Restructured Antilles.

Language

Dutch is the official language. Papiamento (a mixture of Portuguese, African, Spanish, Dutch and English) is the commonly used lingua franca. English and Spanish are also widely spoken.

Religion

Predominantly Roman Catholic with a Protestant minority. There are many evangelical churches of different denominations, and a new mosque has also been erected on the island.

Electricity

127 volts AC, 50Hz.

Social Conventions

Dutch customs are still prevalent throughout the islands, although they are increasingly subject to US influence. Dress is casual and lightweight cottons are advised. Bathing suits should be confined to beach and poolside areas only. Nudity is prohibited on beaches except at Sorobon Beach Resort, a privately owned nudist resort.

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