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Bonaire (Caribbean Netherlands)

Eilandgebied Bonaire, Boneiru, The Netherlands

Last modified: 2022-05-14 by rob raeside
Keywords: caribbean netherlands | bes islands | netherlands antilles | bonaire | antilles |
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image by António Martins, 22 April 1999


See also:

Overview

Bonaire is one of the Leeward Antilles, and part of The Netherlands. As such it's one of the three islands described together as The Caribbean Netherlands, though formally, it simply belongs to The Netherlands. Before their dissolution on 10 October 2010, Bonaire was one of The Netherlands Antilles. According to law, Bonaire is a public body (openbaar lichaam), consisting of the islands of Bonaire and Little Bonaire (Klein Bonaire). Of the ABC islands, the three Leeward Antilles that at one time were part of The Netherlands Antilles, Bonaire is the Easternmost.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 11 May 2011


Earlier flag of Bonaire

(2:3)
image by Mark Sensen, 14 December 2003
Adopted on 11 December 1981, valid from 15 December 1981

Divided from lower hoist to upper fly with lower portion dark blue (or bluish purple) and upper half divided with a yellow top portion starting 1/3 down from top hoist and paralleling the diagonal. The portion between the blue and the yellow is white with a red six pointed star circled with a blue line that has dots (? la compass rose) at four primary directions.
William M. Grimes-Wyatt, 8 April 1996

From www.infobonaire.com/html/history.html:
"Our flag contains the colors red, white and blue, representing our respect for the Dutch Kingdom's tricolor.
At the upper end of our flag we have a yellow triangle, which is the bright light of our sun and also the beauty of our nature.  Most Bonairean flowers are yellow like Kibrahacha, Kelki gel, Brasilia, Hobada, Cucu, Sente-bibu, Angelo Watapana and many others.
Below we have a blue triangle, and that is the color of our beautiful sea.  You can see the triangle as a gigantic wave or a high mountain to remind us of the great heights we have climbed.
In the middle of our flag is the white area symbolizing peace, liberty and tranquility.
In this white area we have a black ring with four points of the navigation-compass. That compass is what our indisputable navigators have used to travel all over the world.
In that ring there is a six-pointed red star.  The color symbolizes blood, as the fighting and surviving spirit of the six traditional regions, which form together the people of Bonaire."
Erki Kurrikoff, 5 February 2002

According to Album 2000 [pay00] - Bonaire - Proportions 2:3, divided diagonally from lower hoist to upper fly, the lower part blue, the upper part divided diagonally yellow and white, parallel to the former, starting at a point 1/2.4th of the flag height under the upper hoist. At the white stripe a red six pointed star in a black compass rose. The centre of these located horizontally at the line 1/2.4th of the flag height right of the upper hoist, vertically half way the points of contact of this line and the two diagonal lines. The height of the star is equal to one quarter of the flag height. The radius of the outer circle of the compass rose is equal to the length of a side of one of the two triangles forming the star. The radius of the inner circle of the compass rose is equal to the height of one of the two triangles forming the star. The diameter of the imaginary circle trough the outer points of the compass rose is half the flag height. The little triangles at the points are formed by tangent lines to the imaginary circle circumscribing the star. Adopted by Island-Order of 11 December 1981.
Mark Sensen, 14 Dec 2003

As far as I can see there are no officially recommended or defined colours for the flag of Bonaire.  If it of any use however, the Album des Pavillons [pay00] gives red 186C, blue 286C and yellow 129C, while the Flag Institute of Great Britain gives red 032C, blue 286C and yellow 109C.
Christopher Southworth, 1 Sep 2004

Bonaire still uses the flag it had as island territory (eilandgebied) within The Netherlands Antilles. I have not seen any formal re-adoption, but I may well have missed it.
The six points of the star in the flag symbolise the six original villages of the island: Antriol, Nikiboko, North Salinja, Playa, Tera Kora and Rincon. The first five have merged to form the capital Kralendijk, only the eldest and northernmost, Rincon, has remained a separate village. Kralendijk apparently has no identity separate of that of the island itself and no flag, Rincon has both.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg
, 11 May 2011

While the origin of the flag is from 11 December 1981, valid from 15 December 1981, this document confirms that it was retracted 10 October 2010, while at the same time by island decree Bonaire it has been re-adopted for the public body of Bonaire, as applicable for the public body of Bonaire.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg
, 14 March 2021


Construction details

The text of "EILANDSVERORDENING van de 11e december 1981, no. 1 tot het vaststellen van de vlag van het eilandgebied Bonaire", the official law creating the flag on 11 December 1981 is available at http://decentrale.regelgeving.overheid.nl/cvdr/xhtmloutput/historie/Bonaire/812/812_1.html. It is captured below for the record.

De iskundig exacte aanwijzingen voor het ontwerp van de Boneriaanse Vlag.

Vlakverdeling

1.1. De verhouding van de totale rechthoekige oppervlak van de vlag is: lengte staat tot breedte als drie staat tot twee.

1.2. Bij de eerste stap wordt: de rechthoek diagonaalsgewijs verdeeld met vlakverdeling wit boven, blauw beneden, zodat wit tegen de vlaggestok zit.

1.3. Bij de tweede stap wordt: de vlaggebreedte gedeeld door 2,4 waardoor een lengte “x” wordt verkregen.

1.4. Bij de derde stap wordt punt I bepaald door lengte x vanaf de bovenhoek A naar beneden toe af te passen langs de vlaggebreedte.

1.5.Bij de vierde stap wordt vanuit punt I een lijn schuin naar boven getrokken die parallel loopt met de diagonaal en de bovenste driehoek (A-I-B) die nu ontstaat is geel.

De ster

2.1. Bij de vijfde stap wordt lengte x langs de vlaggelengte afgepast waardoor punt II bepaald wordt.

2.2. Bij de zesde stap wordt een denkbeeldige loodlijn vanuit punt II neergelaten zodat punt III en punt IV bepaald worden.

2.3. Bij de zevende stap wordt met lengte x als straal en punten III en IV als achtereenvolgende middelpunten een soort oogfiguur geconstrueerd, en de ooghoeken bepalen punt V en punt VI.

2.4. Bij de achtste stap wordt een denkbeeldige verbindingslijn getrokken tussen punt V en punt VI waardoor punt M ontstaat als middelpunt van dezespuntige ster.

2.5. Bij de negende stap wordt met punt M als middelpunt een cirkel geconstrueerd waarvan de cirkellijn precies samen valt met de boven en beneden lijnen van het oogfiguur , zodoende hebben we de omgeschreven cirkel van de ster.

2.6. Bij de tiende stap wordt de zespuntige ster binnen haar omgeschreven cirkel geconstrueerd, zodat haar boven en beneden punten precies op de loodlijn vanuit punt II vallen.

Deze ster is rood.

Het kompas

3.1. Bij de elfde stap wordt met punt M als middelpunt de omgeschreven cirkel beschreven van de kompas door als straal te gebruiken de diameter van de omgeschreven cirkel van de zespuntige ster.

3.2. Bij de twaalfde stap worden de kompaspunten geconstrueerd door vanuit deze punten raaklijnen te trekken tegen de omgeschreven cirkel vande ster.

3.3. Bij de dertiende stap wordt de buitenste cirkel van de kompasring geconstrueerd door als straal te gebruiken een van de zijdes van de grootste gelijkzijdige driehoeken die de zespuntige ster vormen.

3.4. Bij de veertiende stap wordt de binnenste cirkel van de kompasring geconstrueerd door als straal te gebruiken de loodlijn van één van de grootste gelijkzijdige driehoeken die de zespuntige ster ­vormen.
There was a question as well regarding the flag colors. While I did not see anything amended in the 1981 law to stipulate the colors needed for the flag, http://bonairegov.nl/nl/downloads has style sheets for both the flag and arms of Bonaire. In this style sheet ( http://bonairegov.nl), published on 23 September 2019, it gives the following Pantone codes for all colors used (with the exception of white):
Yellow (Pantone 012C)
Blue (Pantone 287C)
Black (Pantone Black 6C)
Red (Pantone 199C)

Zachary Harden, 5 August 2020

Status of Bonaire

From "amigoe site" I realized there were a referendum on the Bonaire status held on September 10, 2004. It actually was a consultation in order to know what are the wishes on political status of the Bonaireans. According the results, Bonaireans chose, out of for options, the one that states that Bonaire should became a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
Here you are some pages:
- www.amigoe.com/article_9116.shtml (opinion).
- www.amigoe.com/artikel (referendum results).
Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, 24 Nov 2004

Minister Nicolai of Kingdomrelations reached a historic agreement with Curaçao and Sint Maarten. The islands will become separate countries, like Aruba.   That means that the co-operation between the Netherlands and the Netherlands Antilles, as agreed by the "Koninkrijksstatuut" of 1954, will end. It is agreed that there will be a common court of justice of the Netherlands, Curaçao and Sint Maarten. There are also agreements on policing and prosecution. The Netherlands will take care of the debts of the Netherlands Antilles, totalling 2,5 billion Euros. The Netherlands Antilles will cease to exist on 1 July 2007. Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius will become Dutch municipalities. Aruba is a separate entity since 1986.
No info about change of flags. The currency is also unclear, although it seems that Aruba might be forced to enter the Euro-zone(!)
Source: www.nos.nl reported by Stefan Lambrechts.
Jarig Bakker, 3 Nov 2007

The Netherlands Antilles will cease to exist on October 10 next year (2010). The Netherlands Antilles have decided this last Wednesday, September 30.
The Netherlands Antilles arose in 1954 as an autonomous entity within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Until the achievement of the Status Aparte (separate status) for Aruba on January 1, 1986 the Dutch Antilles consisted of the Caribbean islands of Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St Eustatius and St Maarten (St. Martin). They were represented by the six stars in the 1959 flag of the Netherlands Antilles.
With the separation of Aruba in 1986 one star was dropped, to represent the five islands left in the Netherlands Antilles.

The remaining five islands in the Netherlands Antilles will on 10 October 2010 go their own political way. Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius will become special overseas municipalities of the Netherlands.
Curaçao and St. Maarten will get the same status as Aruba already has achieved.

The current flag of the Netherlands Antilles will cease to exist. The flags of Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius will become Dutch municipality flags.

The flags of St. Maarten and Curaçao will get the same status as the flag of Aruba now.
From October 10, 2010 the Kingdom of the Netherlands will consist of: The Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten/St. Martin (where the Kingdom of the Netherlands will still border on la République Française).
Jos Poels, 1 Oct 2009


Antriol Village

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 21 April 2022

The Bario of Antriol on Bonaire has adopted a new flag.
https://infobonaire.com/bonaires-bario-of-antriol-proudly-launches-flag-and-hymn/

The official flag-raising ceremony took place with the pomp and respect that such an event demands. The flag was carried in a custom-made glass case, by four flag bearers, to the flagpole, where it would join the flags of the Netherlands and Bonaire. While those who worked hard to see this day looked on, the flag was slowly raised while Antriol’s new hymn was sung by Reginald “Jonchi” Dortalina. As soon as it touched its highest point, a rousing, celebratory car caravan of Antriol residents and businesses, all honking their horns and flying the flag from their vehicles, drove by to mark this important time in the annals of the town's history.

The search for the perfect flag to properly represent Bonaire’s neighborhood of Antriol began as long ago as October 2021, when 18 participants submitted 22 designs for consideration. Somehow, on an island where everyone knows what is going on, the flag commission was able to keep the chosen design a secret until the official unveiling on Sunday. Rolando Marin, who many visitors know from his 30 years of working with the Tourism Office, designed the chosen flag. He tells us about his inspiration:

“The compass in the center comes from the Bonaire flag, to illustrate that Antriol is an important part of the whole of Bonaire and to emphasize the many families in Antriol who make their livings from the sea. The six stars represent the six original barios of Bonaire – Antriol, Rincon, Nikiboko, Nord’Saliña, Tera Korá, and Playa (Kralendijk). Since Antriol Is physically located in the center of Bonaire, the Antriol star is placed in the center of the compass, with the five other bario stars in a constellation around it, much as it is in the barios’ physical layout. The Antriol star is enlarged to signify it as the largest of all the original barios, as well as to encompass all of the many people of Antriol who have greatly contributed to its past or current culture – the town’s musicians, athletes, and other historically prominent citizens.
Dave Fowler, 20 April 2022

It is difficult to tell if the stars' arrangement looks asymmetrical due to the flag's fluttering in the wind, or if it was intentionally made such, so until that can be definitely decided, they are arranged symmetrically.
Tomislav Todorovic, 21 April 2022


Harbour Village

Two flags at www.ajcampbell.net/bonaire/Completed_Bonaire/Flags.jpg (defunct). The photographer named them at www.ajcampbell.net/bonaire/bonaire_picts.html (defunct) as: "A shot of the Harbour Village Flag and the Flag of Bonaire(?) "
It is a Bonaire flag...but is there a place called "Harbour Village" there ?
Dov Gutterman, 4 Jan 2003

Yes, there is a place. According to the description found: "Bonaire's most luxurious resort. Features a highly rated spa, as well as one of the only two marinas." Website: www.harbourvillage.com.
The flag is white white the logo of that place.
Pascal Vagnat, 4 Jan 2003


Rincon Village

image by António Martins-Tuválkin, 20 October 2010
Source: http://web.me.com/cadushy/Rincon.nl/Bonbini_files/Vlag2.jpg

Rincon is one of only two towns on the island of Bonaire and it has a flag. Here is image of it :http://www.rinconjudoclub.110mb.com/img/index.8.jpg. And here you can see it on a photo flying on the official website :http://www.rincon.nl/.
I assume that after recent changes Rincon has a status of village inside the Municipality of Bonaire.
Valentin Poposki, 20 October 2010

Horizontal tricolor of dark blue, white, and dark green, with five white triangles pointing up, on the blue stripe, barely touching the stripe edges and each other, and a stylized red "R" on the white stripe.
António Martins-Tuválkin, 20 October 2010