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Bonaire (Caribbean Netherlands)

Eilandgebied Bonaire, Boneiru, The Netherlands

Last modified: 2014-05-29 by zoltán horváth
Keywords: caribbean netherlands | bes islands | netherlands antilles | bonaire | antilles |
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(2:3)
image by Mark Sensen, 14 December 2003
Adopted on 11 December 1981


See also:

Overview

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


Flag of Bonaire

Divided from lower hoist to upper fly with lower portion dark blue (or blueish purple) and upper half divided with a yellow top portion starting 1/3 down from top hoist and paralleling the diagonal. The portion between the blue and the yellow is white with a red six pointed star circled with a blue line that has dots (? la compass rose) at four primary directions.
William M. Grimes-Wyatt, 8 Apr 1996

From <www.infobonaire.com/html/history.html>:
"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


Status of Bonaire

From "amigoe site" I realized there were a referendum on the Bonaire status held on September 10, 2004. It actually was a consultation in order to know what are the wishes on political status of the Bonaireans. According the results, Bonaireans chose, out of for options, the one that states that Banaire should became a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
Here you are some pages:
- <www.amigoe.com/article_9116.shtml> (opinion).
- <www.amigoe.com/artikel> (referendum results).
Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, 24 Nov 2004

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 30.
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


Harbour Village

Two flags at <www.ajcampbell.net/bonaire/Completed_Bonaire/Flags.jpg> (defunct). The photograher named them at
<www.ajcampbell.net/bonaire/bonaire_picts.html> (defunct) as: "A shot of the Harbour Village Flag and the Flag of Bonaire(?) "
It is a Bonaire flag...but is there a place called "Harbour Village" there ?
Dov Gutterman, 4 Jan 2003

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


Rincon Village


image by António Martins-Tuválkin, 20 October 2010
Source: http://web.me.com/cadushy/Rincon.nl/Bonbini_files/Vlag2.jpg

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