Netherlands Antilles flag patch

Size: 6.5 x 4 cm (2.56 x 1.57 inch)

The flag of the Netherlands Antilles consists of a white base. In the center of the flag is a red vertical stripe with an equal-sized blue horizontal stripe crossing over top of it. In the blue stripe there are five, white, five-point stars which are placed in an oval pattern.

Meaning: The five stars represent the five main islands of the Antilles which are Bonaire,Curaçao, Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten. The red, white and blue colors are linked to the flag of the Netherlands as the Antilles are a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

History: The Netherlands Antilles flag was adopted on January 1, 1986. The first flag was adopted on November 19, 1959 and had six stars. One star was dropped from the flag in 1986 because the island of Aruba left the Antilles.

Interesting facts: Some more of the islands making up the Antilles may eventually leave the group. St. Maarten was supposed to become a new country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands and a new flag for the Antilles was proposed, however no change had occurred as of October 2004 (source: worldflags101).