THE HAGUE – The Dutch government wants to enter new talks with Curaçao and Sint Maarten on repaying the loans that have remained outstanding since the constitutional reforms of 2010, according to a new Kingdom Relations policy letter presented by State Secretary for Kingdom Relations Eric van der Burg.
The policy document outlines the Dutch cabinet’s strategy for the Caribbean part of the Kingdom and makes clear that financial sustainability remains a key priority. For Curaçao and Sint Maarten, this means discussions about creating “workable agreements” to settle the remaining debts while maintaining enough fiscal space for investment and economic growth.
The issue of outstanding loans has remained politically sensitive for years. Both Curaçao and Sint Maarten have repeatedly argued that financial obligations must be balanced against the economic realities of small island economies still recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation and regional instability.
The Dutch cabinet says its goal is to help both countries maintain sustainable debt positions without undermining their ability to invest in infrastructure, healthcare, education and economic diversification.
The policy letter also confirms that the Netherlands continues to place strong emphasis on sound public finances as part of broader Kingdom cooperation, linking fiscal discipline to economic resilience and long-term stability.
For Curaçao, where public finances remain under scrutiny and reforms under the landspakket are still ongoing, the announcement signals that financial negotiations with The Hague remain far from over.
The coming talks could prove crucial in determining how much financial flexibility Curaçao will have in the years ahead.