It is located north of the Venezuelan states of Aragua and Carabobo, between the Dutch island Bonaire in the west, and the Los Roques Archipelago in the east, at 12°00′N 67°40′W / 12.000°N 67.667°W / 12.000; -67.667.

The entire French fleet of 13 ships was lost as a result of the Admiral's eagerness to fight.

On Curaçao, a Day of Thanksgiving was observed until far into the 18th century to commemorate the island's fortunate escape from being ravaged by the French.

In 1978, Venezuela and the Kingdom of the Netherlands established the marine limits between the Federal Dependencies and the Dutch Antilles in the Caribbean Sea.

[4] The archipelago consists of two atoll-like reef complexes:[5][6] In total, there are 21 islets and islands in both groups.