>Bruce,
>
>>Dutch West Indies
>
>This is now called Indonesia, which far away from the netherlands antilles. In fact the dutch had many, many colonies in the past.
>
>For example: New York was called New Amsterdam before they selled it to the english. Once up a time there was a vote, about what should be the language to speak in the east of the US (in the time of Peter Stuivesant). Dutch had only one vote less than english...

I beg to differ, Walter, Indonesia was Dutch *East* Indies. West Indies refers to the Caribbean area...

You mean we almost could be speaking in your native tongue in the U.S.? A small twist of fate makes a big difference sometimes :)