MIAMI – Willem-Alexander has emphasized the importance of the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands during the opening of his official working visit to Florida.
In a statement delivered at the start of the visit, the King underlined the close connections between the Kingdom and the United States, particularly Florida. He noted that the Kingdom is partly Caribbean and that the geographic and cultural ties are often underestimated.
King Willem-Alexander in Miami
“Palm trees and mangroves are just as much a part of us as tulips and windmills,” the King said, highlighting the shared identity within the Kingdom.
He pointed out that for Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten, Florida serves as the most important U.S. trading partner. The King also noted the strong flow of American tourists to the islands and the growing number of students from the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom who choose to study in the United States.
The visit includes a Kingdom delegation made up of ministers from Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten. Representing Curaçao are Minister of Economic Development Roderick Middelhof and Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Sithree van Heydoorn.
From Aruba, Minister Croes and Minister Cicilia are part of the delegation, while Sint Maarten is represented by Minister Heyliger-Marten.
According to the King, the strong economic, educational, and tourism ties between Florida and the Caribbean islands are a key reason for the visit, aimed at further strengthening cooperation within the Kingdom and with the United States.