St. Eustatius

Locally known as “Statia”, St. Eustatius has changed power at least 22 times. In 1636, at the end of the 80 year war between Holland and Spain, the Dutch took possession of the island. Statia was a major trading center for about 20,000 inhabitants and thousands of ships during the 17^th and 18^th century. During the latter part of the 18^th century, Statia was a supplier of arms and ammunition to the rebellious British Colonies in North America. For a long time, Statia was the only link between fledgling American colonies. In 1776 the “Andrew Doria” sailed onto Statia shores firing the 13-gun salute indicating America’s independence. Statia replied with an 11-gun salute being the first foreign nation to recognize America’s newly found independence. Every year, thousands of ships landed on the shores of Statia with hundreds of crates packed with good to trade (legal and illegal). More trade happened on this Caribbean island than any others at the end of the American Revolution. At the end of the 18^th century Statia lost the importance of a trading center. Through the 19^th and 20^th centuries the island remained untouched “waiting” for visitors. In the 1960’s and 1970’s the people of the island decided to preserve the heritage and nature making it another island of the Caribbean untouched by major industries. 

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Saba

In 1493 Christopher Columbus spotted the island but due to it treacherous terrain did not set foot. In 1632 a group of shipwrecked Englishmen were the first European settlers.  The Englishmen reported the island was already inhibited and ancient artifacts revealed Amerindian settlers. In 1640, the Dutch West Indian Company (already settled in St. Eustatius) brought people over to colonize the island. For almost 200 years the island switched power between The Dutch, French, Spanish, and English. The Dutch took power in 1816 and kept power for almost two centuries. Slavery did not last long in Saba because life on the island was hard and needed everyone to work together to survive. The men of the island were mostly sailors and fisherman, which sent them away for long periods of time, giving Saba the nickname “The Island of Women!” Women made many types of clothing that acquired the name “Saba Lace” and is still sold in many places across the island. Until 1943, transportation was almost impossible on the island. “The Road” is the only road on Saba and took 15 years to be completed. An airport linked to St. Marteen was opened in 1963. A pier opened in 1972 allowed not only fishing boats, but dive boats and sailboats. The construction of the pier is what opened the island of Saba to tourism. The Saba Conversation Foundation (SCF) was created in 1987. Their mission is to preserve Saba’s Natural and cultural heritage leaving it to be one of the only islands in the Caribbean not touched by big industries and corporations. Saba was ruled by the Dutch for almost 200 years and in 2010 became a part of a Special municipality of the Kingdom of the Netherlands together with the islands of St. Eustatius and Bonaire in 2010.

Saba's Flag