WILLEMSTAD, THE HAGUE – The Dutch House of Representatives has approved a motion submitted by Peter van Haasen, Member of Parliament for the Party for Freedom (PVV), to exempt flights between the Netherlands and the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom from the proposed air travel tax increase. 

The motion, which passed on Tuesday, urges the Dutch Cabinet to ensure that the differentiated air travel tax planned for implementation in 2027 does not apply to flights to and from Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius. Van Haasen argued that affordable air travel is vital for the social and economic development of all six islands. 

He also cited France as an example, noting that the French government exempts overseas flights from its air travel tax by treating them as domestic routes. 

Curaçao’s Minister Plenipotentiary in The Hague, Carlson Manuel, welcomed the decision and congratulated the people of Curaçao. Manuel has been an outspoken critic of the proposed air travel tax, particularly its potential impact on Caribbean residents and tourism. 

The motion was considered during parliamentary discussions on the upcoming law governing air travel taxation. Dutch State Secretary for Kingdom Relations Zsolt Szabó opted to leave the final decision on the motion to the parliament, which approved it by vote. 

The exemption is seen as a major victory for the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom, ensuring continued accessibility and affordability of air connections with the Netherlands, which are essential for tourism, business, and family relations.