In 1845 Curaçao was one of the six Dutch dependencies in the West Indies that were brought under collective administration. Those dependencies were reorganized as the Netherlands Antilles in 1954 and granted autonomy in internal affairs.

Technically, Curaçao is no longer a "colony," though it remains deeply connected to the Netherlands. In 2010, following the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles, Curaçao became an autonomous constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. While it is self-governing in most internal matters—possessing its own parliament, prime minister, and legal system—the Kingdom of the Netherlands still maintains responsibility for defense and foreign policy. This unique status means residents hold Dutch nationality and carry EU-standard passports, but the island operates independently of the European Union's fiscal and judicial laws. Historical colonial ties are still visible in the iconic Dutch-style architecture of Willemstad and the official use of the Dutch language alongside Papiamentu, but as of 2026, the political relationship is one of partnership within a single sovereign Kingdom rather than the traditional subservience of a colonial territory.