THE HAGUE – The Dutch government wants to establish a recurring Kingdom Conference as a permanent platform for cooperation with Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten, in what is being presented as a major step toward stronger structural cooperation within the Kingdom.
The proposal is outlined in a new policy letter on the future of the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, sent to the Dutch Parliament by State Secretary for Kingdom Relations Eric van der Burg.
According to the policy document, the Kingdom Conference would become a fixed consultation mechanism between the four governments, creating a regular forum to discuss shared challenges and opportunities.
Topics expected to be addressed include energy cooperation, trade, logistics, education and broader regional economic development.
The Dutch cabinet says the initiative is partly driven by changing geopolitical realities, which it believes create new strategic opportunities for cooperation in the Caribbean region.
The proposed conference is one of three main priorities outlined by The Hague for the coming years.
While the other two priorities focus mainly on the BES islands—Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba—the Kingdom Conference is specifically aimed at strengthening relations with the autonomous countries within the Kingdom.
For the BES islands, the Dutch government wants to focus on strengthening public administration, improving integrity and increasing economic and social resilience.
As part of that strategy, The Hague plans to establish a Caribbean Economic Growth Platform to better connect entrepreneurs, innovation and investment capital across the region.
In addition, the Netherlands intends to open its new National Investment Institution to the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, potentially creating new financing opportunities for businesses and development projects.
The policy also includes the creation of a dedicated financing fund for farmers and fishermen, aimed at improving food security and strengthening local production.
To address poverty in the BES islands, the Dutch government says it will make €30 million available annually starting in 2027.
Although much of the policy package is directly aimed at Caribbean Netherlands, the proposed Kingdom Conference signals a clear effort by The Hague to build more structured political dialogue with Curaçao, Aruba and St. Maarten.
For Curaçao, the initiative could create a more formal channel to discuss strategic issues with the Dutch government, especially as regional challenges—including migration, energy security and economic diversification—continue to grow.
The Dutch cabinet aims to organize the first Kingdom Conference before the end of this year.