Hi, I was talking to someone who mentioned you can get antillean rights after several years of residency. Does anyone have more information on what exactly it means to have antillean rights and the requirements or how you go about getting them?

Thanks.

You have to be of Dutch nationality. After living in the Dutch Antilles for 10 years without interruption you will be "van rijkswegen toegelaten" and that means you get Antillean rights. But still you’re not equal. There still some issues. Like for instance if you want to own a company and be it's director you still have to apply for a permit (Direkteurs vergunning) which an Antillean born does not need. On the other hand if you're not Dutch, you have to live in the Antilles for 10 years and than pass an exam and apply for a Dutch nationality and that also will never give you the same rights as an Antillean.

You can always check with DEZA. They will provide you with all the info you need

You can find most of the info you need at their web site at http://www.bonaireeconomy.org

I thought it took about 5 years to get dutch citizenship.

Dutch Citizenship is not the same as having Antillean Rights from what I understand.

Madman: I thought that is exactly what having Antillean Rights means. That you are treated the same as someone born in the dutch antilles including when it comes to business affairs ad anything else.
As I understand there is a special application/process which you have to go through which is not dutch citizenship.

Kali: as far as i know antillean rights are only for people of dutch nationality. After being on Bonaire for 10+ years al you have to do is; go to "bevolking" and tell them you want to be "van rijkswegen toegelaten". You will <after> a letter signed by the Lt. gov. stating that you are. that is all there is to it. But as i said before you will not have the same rights.

Victor; It has been changed a couple of times in the last few years. It was 10 years then they changed it to 5 and later it was 10 years again. Check with immigration or the Lt.Gov. office

Thank you MadMan for removing me from doubts.

Need to make a small correction here. Although born in Aruba, I don't have "Antillean Rights". My brother, who was born two years prior to me, does. The laws changed I think in 1949 or 1950 to where you have to take on the citizenship of your parents - at least in Aruba.

Don't think I was very clear. Aruba was then part of the six islands that made up the Netherlands Antillies. Not sure if that was a law applying to all 6 islands, or just Aruba. Just know it means I don't have rights in Aruba like my brother, even though I was born there.

You guys are getting things confused.

After 5 years of continuous legal residence on Bonaire you can apply for Dutch citizenship, which requires passing a spoken language proficiency test in Dutch or Papiamentu, but you have to give up your other citizenship(s) to do this.

After 10 years of continuous legal residence on Bonaire you can get so-called "Antillean Rights" (regardless of your citizenship - you do not have to be a Dutch citizen), which means you no longer have to apply for work permits or residence permits, and theoretically can no longer be kicked off the island should you displease some official greatly.

However, as someone who is a year away from Antillean Rights (and a dual U.S./Czech citizen), I wonder if they will simply vanish when Bonaire becomes part of Holland as is currently the plan...

Jake

Ah, thanks for clarifying things, Jake.

It seems I was right about the 5 years required to get(or apply for)dutch citizenship.

Jake: What is the process for applying for antillean rights? Which government office is responsible, etc.?

You have to go to Bevolking to make the application, and possibly get some confirmation from the Immigration office too.

Jake

Hi,

I'm almost 50% Dutch so does that count?

Also, are there any singles sites for Bonaire?

Thanks,

Larry R. Howland

How old are you, Larry? There are probably three women for every man in the 20-30 year old age group.

interesting stat...wonder what the ratio is for someone past 30?

Not as badly mismatched, but still mismatched. I think that a lot of the young men that have gone to Holland to seek their fortune come back by then. When we have a party here, it is really strange to see all these attractive 23 year old women at the party with no dates.

Larry, welcome to Bonaire Talk! Kevin, Michael, by Larry's profile he's 57...hmmmm....and I don't know of any "singles" Bonaire boards...do you? What's the ration of women over 50?

There are no singles boards, etc, here on Bonaire. You just go to City or Karels and take your chances.

I'm 57.