The Netherlands Antilles, which existed from 1954 to 2010, was an autonomous Caribbean country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It had its own government and Prime Minister, though foreign affairs and defense were handled by the Kingdom.
Here’s a summary of past leaders (Prime Ministers) of the Netherlands Antilles, with a focus on major figures:
Prime Ministers of the Netherlands Antilles (1951–2010)
| Name | Term in Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Moises Frumencio da Costa Gomez | 1951–1954 | First Prime Minister; key figure in obtaining autonomy in 1954. |
| Efraïn Jonckheer | 1954–1968 | Longest-serving Prime Minister. Helped stabilize the early autonomous government. |
| Ciro Domenico Kroon | 1968–1969 | Took office after Jonckheer; brief term. |
| Ernesto Petronia | 1969–1971 | First Afro-Caribbean Prime Minister. |
| Ramez Jorge Isa | 1971–1973 | Dutch-Antillean politician of Lebanese descent. |
| Juancho Evertsz | 1973–1977 | From the Democratic Party (Curaçao). |
| Lucinda da Costa Gomez-Matheeuws | 1977 | First female Prime Minister (served briefly). |
| Sylvius Gerard Marie Rozendal | 1977–1979 | Focused on education and infrastructure. |
| Miguel Pourier | 1979–1984, 1994–1998 | Served two terms; helped modernize the economy. |
| Don Martina | 1984–1986, 1988–1994 | Major influence in post-colonial governance. |
| Suzanne Camelia-Römer | 1993, 1998–1999 | Second female Prime Minister; lawyer and prominent Curaçao leader. |
| Ettienne Ys | 2002–2003, 2004–2006 | Stabilized political tensions. |
| Emily de Jongh-Elhage | 2006–2010 | Final Prime Minister before dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles in 2010. |
Dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles – October 10, 2010
After decades of political restructuring:
- Curaçao and Sint Maarten became autonomous countries within the Kingdom.
- Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius became special municipalities of the Netherlands.
