It is the largest of the ABC islands in terms of area and population, as well as the largest in the Dutch Caribbean. Though labelled "the useless island" due to its poor agricultural yield and lack of precious metals, it became a strategic cattle ranching area.
When the Dutch colonized the island in , they shifted the island's focus to trade and shipping and later made it a hub of the Atlantic slave trade. Members of the Jewish community, fleeing persecution in Europe, settled here and significantly influenced the economy and culture. The abolition of slavery in led to economic shifts and migrations. Dutch remains the official language, though Papiamentu , English, and Spanish are widely spoken, reflecting the island's diverse cultural influences.
There were efforts towards becoming a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands; the island achieved autonomy in When their ship returned, some had recovered, probably after eating vitamin C-rich fruit there. The first Europeans recorded as seeing the island were members of a Spanish expedition under the leadership of Alonso de Ojeda in It functioned as an island extension of Venezuela throughout the s.
As mainland colonization advanced, Spain slowly withdrew from the island. In general, imported sheep, goats and cattle did relatively well. Cattle were herded by Caquetios and Spaniards and roamed freely in the kunuku plantations and savannas. Not all imported species fared equally well, and the Spanish also learned to use Caquetio crops and agricultural methods, as well as those from other Caribbean islands.
Presumably through natural growth, return and colonization, the Caquetio population then began to increase. At that point, Spaniards lived around Santa Barbara , Santa Ana and in the villages in the western part of the island, while the Caquetios are thought to have lived scattered all over the island. Approximately 30 Spaniards and many indigenous people were then deported to Santa Ana de Coro in Venezuela.
