ROTTERDAM – A minor who previously lived in Curaçao will remain with her mother in the Netherlands for the time being, following a ruling by the Rotterdam District Court in an urgent custody case between the parents.
The girl lived in the Netherlands until 2021 before moving to Curaçao, where she stayed with her grandfather with the consent of both parents. In the summer of 2025, she returned to the Netherlands and initially lived with her father.
However, at the end of last year, the mother removed the child from school without consulting the father and has since been caring for her. The father requested that his daughter be returned to his care and enrolled in a different school, while the mother sought to maintain the current arrangement.
The court ruled in favor of the mother, emphasizing the importance of stability for the child.
According to the judge, the girl has already experienced multiple relocations and changes in her living situation, making it essential to create a sense of calm. As she is currently experiencing that stability with her mother, the court has provisionally established her primary residence there.
The court did find that the mother should not have enrolled the child in a new school without the father’s consent. However, the enrollment will remain in place for now, as another change could create further disruption. A final decision on schooling will be addressed in a separate legal procedure.
In addition, the father has been ordered to hand over the child’s passport to the mother, reflecting her current place of residence. A visitation arrangement has also been established to ensure renewed contact between father and daughter.