Sint Eustatius status referendum, 2005

A status referendum was held on the island of Sint Eustatius on 8 April 2005.

Background

After the 1994 referendum came out in favour of maintaining and restructuring the Netherlands Antilles, the government of the Netherlands Antilles tried to restructure the Netherlands Antilles and attempted to forge closer ties between the islands, as is exemplified by the adoption of an anthem of the Netherlands Antilles in 2000. A new referendum on Sint Maarten, which was in favour of a separate status for Sint Maarten as a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, sparked a new series of referendums across the Netherlands Antilles, however.

Sint Eustatius was the only island to again vote for retaining the Netherlands Antilles. However, since none of the other islands chose to remain part of the Netherlands Antilles, the Sint Eustatius island council opted for direct ties with the Netherlands.

Result

Choice Votes %
Remain part of the Netherlands Antilles60576.58
Direct constitutional ties with the Netherlands16320.63
Integration into the Netherlands172.15
Independence50.63
Invalid/blank votes?
Total790+?100
Registered voters/turnout1,41155.98
Source: Direct Democracy

See also

Notes