Caribbean Netherlands: good to know
The general-information half of trip planning: how expensive Caribbean Netherlands feels, what is considered polite, what is not, and the everyday practicalities - alongside our 34 written places.
Three tiny Dutch islands where everyone greets everyone; diving days and quiet evenings set the rhythm.
✓ Considered polite
- Say Bon dia on Bonaire, where Papiamentu opens doors, and a friendly Good morning on Saba and Statia
- Greet everyone - shopkeepers, drivers, people you pass - these islands are villages
- Pay the STINAPA nature fee before swimming or diving on Bonaire - it funds the marine park
- Follow reef rules to the letter - no touching, no gloves, no standing on coral
✗ Better avoided
- Expect nightlife - evenings are dinner, sunset and an early dive the next morning
- Plan shopping on Sunday - much closes entirely or shuts by early afternoon
- Rush anyone - island calm applies to service, boats and paperwork alike
- Wear beachwear in town - cover up away from the water
Worth knowing
- The currency is the US dollar, not the euro, despite the Dutch flag
- Dutch is official, but Papiamentu rules daily life on Bonaire and English on Saba and Statia
- Some shops still close for lunch between 12:00 and 14:00
- Tipping runs 10-15% and some restaurants add a service charge - check the bill first
Plugs and voltage: Wikipedia, «Mains electricity by country» (after the IEC World Plugs list), read 15 October 2026.
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Keep planning
Customs are living things - regions differ, cities relax, generations shift. Take these notes as a friendly head start, watch what locals do, and when in doubt a smile and a greeting in the local language cover almost everything.