WILLEMSTAD - The Joint Court of Justice will remain in the former KPMG building for the next few years. The renovation plans for the Town Hall in Punda, where the Court was previously located, are not yet finalized.
It will take at least another five years before the Court can return to its location in Punda. In December, the government approved the preliminary design, which includes renovating the interior of the historic part of the building and demolishing and replacing the back part, built in 1985, with new construction. The total investment is estimated at 35 million guilders, which has been included in the national budget.
The final design should be completed by July at the latest, after which the Council of Ministers will make a final decision. The architect plans to change the entrance of the Parliament into a tunnel that connects the Boogjes with the Wilhelminaplein, giving the parliament a new entrance.
The courthouse has been located in the former KPMG building since mid-2020. The Town Hall is facing several issues, such as lack of space, poor air quality, mold formation, and concrete rot. Additionally, the building is reportedly infested with termites and has outdated power installations and sewage problems.