WILLEMSTAD – Taxi drivers who pick up tourists at the Mega Pier cruise terminal report being disproportionately targeted by police inspections just as they are about to start their tours. Although the majority of registered taxis comply with all requirements, the timing of these checks is causing frustration within the sector. 

Drivers say that controls often occur right before departure, disrupting their tightly scheduled tours. “For 99 percent, the documents are in order, but we end up wasting unnecessary time,” one driver explained. While they do not oppose inspections, they ask for greater understanding of the operational context in which they work. 

At the same time, the drivers criticize the lack of enforcement against illegal taxis operating freely around the Aqualectra roundabout and Wilhelminaplein. These so-called clandestine taxis provide services without a license, while registered drivers—recognizable by their uniforms and roof signs—are hindered in their work by the unregulated competition.