DEN HAAG, WILLEMSTAD – The District Court of The Hague has rejected HNO Vastgoed en Beheer’s attempt to immediately collect millions of dollars from Ballast Nedam, citing concerns that the money might not be recoverable if HNO ultimately loses its broader legal battle.
The court ruled that HNO may only claim an additional 5,521 dollars in interest from Ballast Nedam, instead of the 6.52 million dollars demanded.
One of the reasons behind the court’s decision was the financial risk that Ballast Nedam could face if HNO collected millions now and later lost the ongoing substantive legal proceedings.
According to the ruling, the financial position of HNO’s tenant, the Curaçao Medical Center (CMC), is a concern. The hospital has reportedly not fully paid its rent obligations to HNO for some time.
The court also noted that HNO is currently not making repayments on a loan provided by the Government of Curaçao.
Because of these circumstances, the judge concluded that there was a significant risk that Ballast Nedam would not be able to recover any overpaid amount in the future.
Dispute continues in Amsterdam
The Hague ruling does not end the broader dispute between HNO and Ballast Nedam.
HNO has already started substantive proceedings at the District Court of Amsterdam, where it is seeking to recover the remaining millions it believes are owed by Ballast Nedam and its parent company.
The case revolves around compensation payments connected to the construction of Curaçao’s new hospital.
Ballast Nedam originally received millions after claiming delays caused by problems with the availability of the construction site. However, the Joint Court of Justice later ruled in December 2025 that a substantial part of those payments had to be returned.
The latest ruling from The Hague, dated June 11 and published on July 13, 2026, only concerns whether HNO could immediately enforce a higher payment amount while the broader dispute continues.
The final outcome of the underlying case will be determined in the Amsterdam proceedings.