THE HAGUE – The Dutch political party PVV has voiced strong opposition to climate levies such as the flight tax proposed by the Dutch government on all long-haul flights. If the government insists on implementing the tax, the PVV argues that the Caribbean part of the Kingdom should be granted an exemption — similar to the exemption France has given its overseas territories.
This was stated by PVV Member of Parliament Peter van Haasen during a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee for Kingdom Relations.
“If the cabinet does not grant an exemption for the Caribbean islands voluntarily, the PVV is prepared to submit a motion to make it happen,” Van Haasen said.
The MP questioned the fairness of such a tax, pointing out that both the Netherlands and France share an airline, KLM, and an island, Sint Maarten. “How can it be justified that it becomes more expensive and difficult to reach islands such as Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius?” he asked.
Van Haasen emphasized that air connections are vital to all six Caribbean islands of the Kingdom — for economic, healthcare, tourism, and educational reasons. He pointed out that during the COVID-19 pandemic, when tourism collapsed, the Dutch government had to step in with financial support.
“If the Netherlands now undermines tourism itself by introducing a flight tax, it will be digging its own financial grave,” Van Haasen warned.