WILLEMSTAD - The Kindness Rock Garden at Marie Pampoen is an initiative that promotes kindness, creativity, and togetherness within the community. The project invites everyone—young and old—to paint beach rocks with positive messages or cheerful designs and add them to the garden. Visitors are welcome to choose a rock that speaks to them, leave one for someone else, or simply enjoy the colorful expressions of hope and kindness. 

Minister Middelhof, together with Member of Parliament Ishahier Monte and the team from the Ministry of Economic Development, visited the garden to show their support for the initiative. During the visit, Minister Middelhof placed his own painted rock bearing the words “Together we achieve” — a message symbolizing unity and the power of collaboration. 

The Kindness Rock Garden is the creation of local artist Jahina Helmijr, who launched the project in 2024 with one simple goal: to “paint our island with kindness.” The garden is located by the seaside, behind the playground area at Marie Pampoen, and has been open to the public since October 28, 2025. 

Both officials reaffirmed their full commitment to the implementation of the Country Package but acknowledged that certain adjustments and prioritizations will be required in 2026, with particular attention to several projects that will demand administrative decision-making at the highest level.