Last modified: 2014-05-29 by zoltán horváth
Keywords: caribbean netherlands | bes islands | netherlands antilles | bonaire | antilles |
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image by Mark Sensen, 14 December 2003
Adopted on 11 December 1981
Bonaire is one of the Leeward Antilles, and part of The Netherlands. As such
it's one of the three islands described together as The Caribbean Netherlands,
though formally, it simply belongs to The Netherlands. Before their dissolution
on 10 October 2010, Bonaire was one of The Netherlands Antilles. According to
law, Bonaire is a public body (openbaar lichaam), consisting of the islands of
Bonaire and Little Bonaire (Klein Bonaire). Of the ABC islands, the three
Leeward Antilles that at one time were part of The Netherlands Antilles, Bonaire
is the Easternmost.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 11 May 2011
"Our flag contains the colors red, white and blue, representing our respect for the Dutch Kingdom's tricolor.
At the upper end of our flag we have a yellow triangle, which is the bright light of our sun and also the beauty of our nature. Most Bonairean flowers are yellow like Kibrahacha, Kelki gel, Brasilia, Hobada, Cucu, Sente-bibu, Angelo Watapana and many others.
Below we have a blue triangle, and that is the color of our beautiful sea. You can see the triangle as a gigantic wave or a high mountain to remind us of the great heights we have climbed.
In the middle of our flag is the white area symbolizing peace, liberty and tranquility.
In this white area we have a black ring with four points of the navigation-compass. That compass is what our indisputable navigators have used to travel all over the world.
In that ring there is a six-pointed red star. The color symbolizes blood, as the fighting and surviving spirit of the six traditional regions, which form together the people of Bonaire."
Erki Kurrikoff, 5 Feb 2002
According to Album 2000 [pay00] - Bonaire
- Proportions 2:3, divided diagonally from lower hoist to upper fly, the
lower part blue, the upper part divided diagonally yellow and white, parallel
to the former, starting at a point 1/2.4th of the flag height under the
upper hoist. At the white stripe a red six pointed star in a black compass
rose. The centre of these located horizontally at the line 1/2.4th of the
flag height right of the upper hoist, vertically half way the points of
contact of this line and the two diagonal lines. The height of the star
is equal to one quarter of the flag height. The radius of the outer circle
of the compass rose is equal to the length of a side of one of the two
triangles forming the star. The radius of the inner circle of the compass
rose is equal to the height of one of the two triangles forming the star.
The diameter of the imaginary circle trough the outer points of the compass
rose is half the flag height. The little triangles at the points are formed
by tangent lines to the imaginary circle circumscribing the star. Adopted
by Island-Order of 11 December 1981.
Mark Sensen, 14 Dec 2003
As far as I can see there are no officially recommended or defined colours
for the flag of Bonaire. If it of any use however, the Album des
Pavillons [pay00] gives red 186C, blue
286C and yellow 129C, while the Flag Institute of Great Britain gives red
032C, blue 286C and yellow 109C.
Christopher Southworth, 1 Sep 2004
Bonaire still uses the flag it had as island territory
(eilandgebied) within The Netherlands Antilles. I have not seen any formal
re-adoption, but I may well have missed it.
The six points of the star in the flag symbolise the six original villages of the island: Antriol, Nikiboko, North Salinja, Playa, Tera Kora and Rincon. The first five have merged to form the capital Kralendijk, only the eldest and northernmost, Rincon, has remained a separate village. Kralendijk apparently has no identity separate of that of the island itself and no flag, Rincon has both.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 11 May 2011
Minister Nicolai of Kingdomrelations reached a historic agreement with
Curaçao and Sint Maarten. The islands will become separate countries,
like Aruba. That means that the co-operation between the Netherlands
and the Netherlands Antilles, as agreed by the "Koninkrijksstatuut" of
1954, will end. It is agreed that there will be a common court of justice
of the Netherlands, Curaçao and Sint Maarten. There are also agreements
on policing and prosecution. The Netherlands will take care of the debts
of the Netherlands Antilles, totalling 2,5 billion Euros. The Netherlands
Antilles will cease to exist on 1 July 2007. Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius
will become Dutch municipalities. Aruba is a separate entity since 1986.
No info about change of flags. The currency is also unclear, although it seems that Aruba might be forced to enter the Euro-zone(!)
Source: <www.nos.nl> reported by Stefan Lambrechts.
Jarig Bakker, 3 Nov 2007
The Netherlands Antilles will cease to exist on October 10 next year
(2010). The Netherlands Antilles have decided this last Wednesday, September
The Netherlands Antilles arose in 1954 as an autonomous entity within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Until the achievement of the Status Aparte (separate status) for Aruba on January 1, 1986 the Dutch Antilles consisted of the Caribbean islands of Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St Eustatius and St Maarten (St. Martin). They were represented by the six stars in the 1959 flag of the Netherlands Antilles.
With the separation of Aruba in 1986 one star was dropped, to represent the five islands left in the Netherlands Antilles.
The remaining five islands in the Netherlands Antilles will on 10 October
2010 go their own political way. Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius will become
special overseas municipalities of the Netherlands.
Curaçao and St. Maarten will get the same status as Aruba already has achieved.
The current flag of the Netherlands Antilles will cease to exist. The flags of Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius will become Dutch municipality flags.
The flags of St. Maarten and Curcacao will get the same status as the
flag of Aruba now.
From October 10, 2010 the Kingdom of the Netherlands will consist of: The Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten/St. Martin (where the Kingdom of the Netherlands will still border on la République Française).
Jos Poels, 1 Oct 2009
Yes, there is a place. According to the description found: "Bonaire's
most luxurious resort. Features a highly rated spa, as well as one of the
only two marinas." Website: <www.harbourvillage.com>.
The flag is white white the logo of that place.
Pascal Vagnat, 4 Jan 2003
image by António Martins-Tuválkin, 20 October 2010
Rincon is one of only two towns on the island of Bonaire and it has a flag.
Here is image of it :<http://www.rinconjudoclub.110mb.com/img/index.8.jpg>.
And here you can see it on a photo flying on the official website :<http://www.rincon.nl/>.
I assume that after recent changes Rincon has a status of village inside the Municipality of Bonaire.
Valentin Poposki, 20 October 2010
Horizontal tricolor of dark blue, white, and dark green, with five white
triangles pointing up, on the blue stripe, barely touching the stripe edges and
each other, and a styluzed red "R" on the white stripe.
António Martins-Tuválkin, 20 October 2010