WILLEMSTAD – The Sint Elisabeth Foundation (Stichting Sint Elisabeth), successor to the entity that operated Curaçao’s oldest hospital until the end of 2019, has been officially declared bankrupt. The Court of First Instance issued the ruling this week after the foundation's warnings about its financial distress went unheeded. The foundation had filed claims against the government for just over 22 million guilders and sought nearly 58 million guilders in damages — none of which were paid. 

According to the board of the Sint Elisabeth Foundation (SEF), the bankruptcy is a direct result of the lack of a final settlement with the Government of Curaçao, as outlined in a 2013 memorandum of understanding. The foundation operated the St. Elisabeth Hospital (Sehos) as the island’s sole general hospital until the end of 2019 and had been under court protection from creditors ever since. 

End of an Era 

Sehos first opened its doors on December 3, 1855, evolving over more than 160 years from a charitable institution into the medical center of Curaçao. The current foundation was established in 1973 under the mission “All for All,” a reflection of the hospital’s Catholic roots. In recent years, SEF had been working to redevelop the site under the name Sint Elisabeth District, with plans for restoration, education, and healthcare services. 

The foundation emphasized the religious and historical significance of the Otrobanda site — including the former hospital building and its associated archives — and hoped to preserve it for future generations. It remains unclear how the bankruptcy will affect these long-term ambitions.