On January 1, 1986 Aruba became a separate entity within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, an event of historic proportions.

Historically, Aruba was part of the Netherlands Antilles, a six-island federation which also included Bonaire, Curaçao, St. Maarten, St. Eustatius and Saba.  This island grouping, in turn, formed the Caribbean component of the Dutch Kingdom, a constitutional monarchy with the Queen of the Netherlands having the dual role of head of state of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, as well as of the country of the Netherlands.

At a Round Table Conference (March 1983), all partners in the Kingdom (the Netherlands, the Central Government of the Netherlands Antilles, and the governments of the individual islands) agreed to grant Aruba a separate status within the Kingdom.  As of January 1, 1986, the Kingdom consists of three partners:  the Netherlands, Aruba, and the Netherlands Antilles (five islands). As a result of this agreement, Aruban affairs, formerly under the jurisdiction of the Central Government of the Netherlands Antilles, (aviation, customs, immigration, communications, and other internal and external matters) are now handled autonomously by Aruba.  The Kingdom retains responsibility for defense and foreign affairs.

Aruba has its own constitution predicated on western democratic principles, with a Governor to form a seven-member Council of Ministers vested with executive powers and headed by a Prime Minister.  Judicial powers lie with the Common Courts in Aruba in the Netherlands Antilles, and ultimately with the High Court of Justice in the Netherlands.

Aruba