Saba Carnival is an annual cultural celebration held on the island of Saba, part of the Caribbean Netherlands. Known for its vibrant atmosphere and deep cultural significance, Saba Carnival typically spans several days, with festivities beginning in late July and continuing through early August. It is an important event for the local community, drawing both residents and visitors together to celebrate the island’s rich cultural heritage.
The carnival is marked by colorful parades, music, dancing, and costume competitions, which reflect Saba’s Afro-Caribbean roots and diverse cultural influences. The celebration includes a mix of traditional and contemporary elements, showcasing local talent and providing a platform for community expression.
Although small in scale compared to other Caribbean carnivals, Saba Carnival plays a central role in the island’s social and cultural life, offering a unique glimpse into the traditions that continue to shape Saba’s identity.
In 2025 Saba Carnival will take place from the 28th of July ’till the 3rd of August.
Are you passionate about, wanting to become more aware of, working with, or maybe even owning cultural heritage in the Dutch Caribbean? Then this is the Conference for you!
Please join our conference with the theme ‘Awareness’, where you’ll have the chance to delve into the rich cultural heritage of the Dutch Caribbean islands of Sint Maarten, Saba, and St Eustatius.
Through either an in-person or an online program, you’ll explore monuments and other cultural sites that are often overlooked, while gaining insights into the diverse history of the region. Engage with local heritage professionals, share knowledge, and collaborate on finding sustainable solutions to the current challenges these islands are facing.
Whether you join us in person or virtually, this conference offers you a platform for learning, discussion, and collective action toward preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of the windward islands of the Dutch Caribbean.
This 1947 film “People of Saba” looks at the small Caribbean island which is the smallest special municipality (officially “public body”) of the Netherlands. Saba consists largely of the potentially active volcano Mount Scenery, at 887 meters (2,910 ft) the highest point of the entire Netherlands. The film was made before an airport was built on the island, and it was essentially cut off from the outside world except by ship. Saba has a land area of 13 square kilometers (5.0 sq mi). As of January 2013, the population was 1,991 inhabitants, with a population density of 150 inhabitants per square kilometer (390/sq mi). Its towns and major settlements are The Bottom (the capital), Windwardside, Hell’s Gate, and St. Johns.
The vegetation of Saba is mainly composed of woodland forest with ferns, damp soil, and many mango trees. Visitors refer to Saba’s forests as “the Elfin Forest” because of its high altitude mist, and mossy appearance. A woodland reserve was created and named “Elfin Forest Reserve”. Saba’s lush plant and animal wildlife is diverse and is cared for by the Saba Conservation Foundation. There used to be forests of Mountain Mahogany trees until a hurricane in the 1960s destroyed many of the trees, which are Freziera undulata in the family Theaceae. Despite the common name, these trees are not related to other Mahogany species. One species of true mahogany tree is found planted on the island at lower levels, and that is the small-leaved mahogany ‘Swietenia mahagoni’, Meliaceae. The native mahogany trees are considered to be at risk of becoming extinct on Saba.
Today the tourism industry now contributes more to the island’s economy than any other sector. There are about 25,000 visitors each year. Saba has a number of inns, hotels, rental cottages, and restaurants. Saba is known as the “Unspoiled Queen” of the Caribbean. The island is especially known for its ecotourism, having exceptional scuba diving, climbing,
and hiking. The Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport offers flights to and from the nearby islands of St. Maarten and Sint Eustatius. There is also a ferry service from St. Maarten; the ferry boats “Dawn II ~ The Saba Ferry” and “The Edge” both travel to Saba three times a week. In addition, there are anchorages for private boats.
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA.
De forten, verdedigingswerken en geschutstellingen van Sint Eustatius en Saba: van Pieter van Corselles tot Abraham Heyliger, 1636-1785, geschreven door J. Hartog, biedt een gedetailleerd inzicht in de militaire geschiedenis van de eilanden Sint Eustatius en Saba. Het boek verkent de bouw en ontwikkeling van forten en verdedigingswerken vanaf de oprichting van Fort Oranje door Pieter van Corselles in 1636 tot het bewind van Abraham Heyliger in 1785. Met 152 pagina’s vol historische beschrijvingen en illustraties, neemt het boek de lezer mee in de strategische en politieke rol van deze eilanden in de Caribische regio. Het werk maakt deel uit van een bredere serie over de forten van de Nederlandse Antillen en is een waardevolle bron voor iedereen die geïnteresseerd is in de koloniale en militaire geschiedenis van het gebied. De gedetailleerde aandacht voor de structuren en hun context maakt het boek een belangrijk naslagwerk voor historici, onderzoekers en liefhebbers van erfgoed.
Based on taped cassette interviews conducted in 1985 on the island of Saba, this film brings to life stories about living on Saba during the 19th and 20th centuries. The original tapes, covering the lives of over 60 different Sabans, can be found at the Queen Wilhelmina Library in The Bottom, Saba.
Funding for the film was made possible by the Prince Bernhard Cultural Fund Caribbean Region (Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds Caribisch Gebied).
This film is not-for-profit or for sale. All filming was original, and every attempt to find copyright information concerning all historic photographs was made.
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