WILLEMSTAD - The Netherlands, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten have formally decided to withdraw the Guardianship Regulation, which has been in effect since October 10, 2010, as of November 1, 2025. This decision was made in consultation with the Guardianship Councils of the three countries and the Dutch Child Protection Board (Raad voor de Kinderbescherming), following extensive discussions during the Judicial Quadrilateral Consultation.
The Guardianship Regulation, originally intended to protect minors from the former Netherlands Antilles who settled in the European part of the Netherlands, is no longer considered necessary. Thanks to technological advancements, it is now possible for parents to exercise parental authority remotely, without the physical presence of a guardian being essential. Furthermore, the regulation no longer meets modern standards for objective justification, as it applies only to the countries of the former Netherlands Antilles.
The withdrawal of the Guardianship Regulation marks a shift toward an approach in which the parents of minors from the Caribbean part of the Kingdom will once again assume full responsibility for the care and guidance of their children. In addition, minors from this region will henceforth be treated in the same manner as minors from other countries.
With the withdrawal of the Guardianship Regulation, the Directive containing guidelines of February 1, 2006, and the Procedures for Guardianship Regulation of Minors from the Caribbean part of the Kingdom will no longer apply. The Ministry of Justice in Curaçao will ensure that the necessary information is available so that parents know which steps to take when their minor child must immigrate to the Netherlands or other parts of the Kingdom for purposes such as study or medical treatment. In October, the ministry will launch an extensive communication campaign to raise awareness about this change.
This important policy shift underscores the commitment of the Minister of Justice to pursue a modern and equitable child protection policy that fully leverages technology to support and strengthen family bonds.
