THE HAGUE – The VVD faction in the Dutch House of Representatives has revived a legislative proposal aimed at making it easier for Caribbean countries within the Kingdom to pursue independence.
MP Renate den Hollander (VVD) has informed the Speaker of the House that she will take over the defense of the bill, which was originally introduced in 2019 by former MP André Bosman. The proposal had remained inactive following Bosman’s departure from Parliament.
The initiative seeks to amend the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands to allow Curaçao and Sint Maarten—like Aruba—to independently decide on independence. It would also create the possibility for the Caribbean Netherlands—Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba—to leave the Dutch constitutional framework if they choose to do so.
A key aspect of the proposal is the lowering of procedural thresholds for exiting the Kingdom. The requirement to first consult the population through a formal process would be removed, and a two-thirds majority in the local parliament would no longer be mandatory.
The move is not entirely unexpected. In the coalition agreement of the current Dutch government, the VVD had already emphasized that the Charter should explicitly allow Caribbean countries to declare independence if they wish.
The proposal is likely to spark renewed debate within the Kingdom, particularly in Curaçao and Sint Maarten, where questions about autonomy, governance, and future relations with the Netherlands remain politically sensitive.