title: 2005 Sint Eustatius status referendum
text: # 2005 Sint Eustatius status referendum
  
  A status referendum was held on the island of Sint Eustatius on 8 April 2005.
  
  ## Background
  
  After the 1994 referendum came out in favour of maintaining and restructuring the Netherlands Antilles, the government of the Netherlands Antilles tried to restructure the Netherlands Antilles and attempted to forge closer ties between the islands, as is exemplified by the adoption of an anthem of the Netherlands Antilles in 2000. A new referendum on Sint Maarten, which was in favour of a separate status for Sint Maarten as a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, sparked a new series of referendums across the Netherlands Antilles, however.
  
  Sint Eustatius was the only island to again vote for retaining the Netherlands Antilles. However, since none of the other islands chose to remain part of the Netherlands Antilles, the Sint Eustatius island council opted for direct ties with the Netherlands.
  
  ## Result
  
  | Choice | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - |
  | Remain part of the Netherlands Antilles | 605 | 76.58 |
  | Direct constitutional ties with the Netherlands | 163 | 20.63 |
  | Integration into the Netherlands | 17 | 2.15 |
  | Independence | 5 | 0.63 |
  | Invalid/blank votes | ? | – |
  | Total | 790+? | 100 |
  | Registered voters/turnout | 1,411 | 55.98 |
  | Source: Direct Democracy |||
  