Region: Netherlands Antilles (Dutch West Indies)

1630: St. Maarten is seized from the Spanish
1633: the West India Company (WIC) claims Bonaire and Aruba
1634: the WIC claims Curaçao (abandoned by the Spanish)
1636: Zeeland colonizes St. Eustatius (Statia)
1640: the first Dutch are on Saba
1678: Saba, St. Maarten, and St. Eustatius are under the direct control of the WIC
1954: the islands' status is upgraded from colonial territory to become part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
1986: Aruba secedes to become independent state within the Kingdom of the Netherlands
2000–2004: referendums occur on all islands
2005: Round Table Conference determines the future status of the Netherlands Antilles
2010: the Netherlands Antilles are disbanded: Curaçao and St. Maarten are now independent states within the Kingdom of the Netherlands; Bonaire, Saba, and St. Eustatius are special municipalities comprising the Caribbean Netherlands.