The island group was initially settled by the Spanish. In the seventeenth century, the islands were conquered by the Dutch West India Company and were used as bases for slave trade, which was established only in 1863. In 1954, the islands became a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands as an associated state within a federacy.

One of the main attractions of the island is its culture. Even though western influences have diluted the native customs, some of the important aspects are religiously followed. The Bulawaya dance is one such part of native culture that is still practiced. Even the exotic cuisine is a unique blend of local delicacies and western dishes, mainly by the Dutch.

The Netherlands Antilles are part of the Lesser Antilles and consist of two groups of islands in the Caribbean Sea: the Leeward Islands consisting of Curaçao and Bonaire, just off the Venezuelan coast, and the Windward Islands consisting of Sint Eustatius, Saba and Sint Maarten located southeast of the Virgin Islands. The Leeward Islands are of volcanic origin with some traces of coral reefs, while the Windward Islands are hilly with volcanic interiors. The highest point is Mount Scenery on Saba.