Governor of the Netherlands Antilles


The Governor of the Netherlands Antilles was the representative of the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Netherlands Antilles and the head of the National Government of the Netherlands Antilles.

Duties and competences

With the introduction of the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1954, the powers, obligations and responsibilities of the Governor as an organ of the Kingdom of the Netherlands were regulated in the Regulations for the Governor. Article 15, paragraph 1 reads:
The Governor is therefore authorized, within the limits of these regulations and the instruction of the Crown, to act on behalf of the Kingdom Government.
According to the Constitution, the Governor, as a representative of the King, is the head of the Government of the Netherlands Antilles. As the head of the Government, the Governor is immune. The Governor exercises the executive power under the responsibility of the Ministers, who are responsible to the Estates of the Netherlands Antilles. As such, the Governor does not have any independent authority.

Dissolution

On 10 October 2010 the Netherlands Antilles were dissolved. Curaçao and Sint Maarten have their own governors now, while Bonaire, Eustatius and Saba joined the Netherlands as special municipalities. This means that the position of Governor of the Netherlands Antilles was abolished; the last Governor of the Antilles became the first Governor of Curaçao.

List of Governors of the Netherlands Antilles