The Netherlands will launch a new grant program on August 11, 2025, providing funding for social initiatives related to the transatlantic history of slavery. This program represents a significant step in addressing the legacy of slavery and its ongoing impact on communities today. Program Overview The initiative stems from the …
Read More »Preserving Saba’s Heritage: Development of an Official Monuments List
The Department of Community Development and Culture, in collaboration with the Saba Archaeological C…
Gary’s pond an alternative to Cove Bay?
The Public Entity Saba will commence dredging operations at Gary’s Pond beginning Monday, July…
Caribbean Netherlands Employment Grows 12% in 2024
The Caribbean Netherlands experienced significant employment growth in 2024, with the employed labor…
Sargassum Seaweed Accumulation in Cove Bay area
PES wishes to inform the public that we are actively monitoring the current accumulation of sargassu…
State Secretary Van Marum aims to improve anti-poverty measures BES
The Dutch government is working to improve coordination and policy alignment in its fight against po…
Recent Posts
Saba’s School Housing Project: Gym Demolition Begins This Summer
The Public Entity Saba is pleased to announce a major milestone in its School Housing Project for St. Johns: demolition of the existing gymnasium will commence this summer. This critical first phase will enable the construction of a state-of-the-art sports complex and a new Technical School in St. Johns. Project …
Read More »BES Islands Residents May Be Entitled to Compensation in Booking.com Price-Fixing Case
Residents and visitors of the BES islands—Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba—may be eligible for compensation in a major legal action against Booking.com over alleged anti-competitive practices that have systematically inflated hotel prices for consumers. The Consumer Competition Claims Foundation has filed a collective lawsuit against the online booking giant, alleging …
Read More »Dutch Govt aims to provide more support for large families on BES
The outgoing Dutch government is exploring options for increasing financial support to large families in Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba (BES islands), following a recent evaluation of the Child Benefit Provision (Kinderbijslagvoorziening BES). A final decision on any additional support will be made by the next administration, wrote caretaker State …
Read More »New research project launches to map cultural practice in Dutch Caribbean
Lemonade B.V., a new Caribbean startup based in St. Maarten with a mission to unlock the potential of the cultural and creative industries, has begun work on a cultural practice research project entitled “Where Culture Lives.” The research, to be conducted over the next 10 months, will document and analyse …
Read More »Police report of Monday, the 23rd of June until Wednesday, the 25th of June
The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee and Caribbean Netherlands Police Corps (KPCN) conducted a scheduled traffic enforcement operation on Samuel A. Charles Street on Tuesday, June 24th, from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM. Operation Results During the one-hour operation, officers inspected 12 vehicles and issued three citations: Two violations for driving without …
Read More »New Digital Tool Streamlines Netherlands Study Preparation for Caribbean Students
More than 1,600 young people from the Caribbean territories of the Kingdom of the Netherlands begin their studies in the European Netherlands each year. To ease this significant transition from island-based preparatory education to Dutch higher education, the government has launched a specialized digital tool that provides prospective students and …
Read More »BZK moves to bridge policy gap with Bonaire, St, Eustatius, Saba
The Ministry of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations BZK is taking new steps to strengthen the involvement of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba in national policymaking and legislation. The aim is to reduce the distance — both literal and bureaucratic — between the European and Caribbean parts of the Netherlands, …
Read More »BES students engage with island leaders in The Hague
Under the banner “The Best for the BES,” WeConnect organized a pivotal gathering on June 18 in The Hague, bringing the challenges and opportunities of Bonaire, Saba, and St. Eustatius into sharp focus. The BES islands are grappling with significant labor shortages, while dozens of BES students and young professionals …
Read More »Police report of Friday, the 20th of June until Monday, the 23rd of June 2025
Scheduled traffic check. On Friday, the 20th of June, a scheduled traffic check was held on Samuel A. Charles Street on Saba between 4 PM and 5 PM. Eighteen (18) vehicles were checked during the check, with two (2) fines issued. Both fines were issued for not wearing a seatbelt. …
Read More »Kingdom affairs remain active under Dutch caretaker govt.
The Dutch Parliamentary Committee for Kingdom Relations has agreed that current Kingdom affairs can proceed, despite the Netherlands being under a caretaker government. The committee did not classify any pending Kingdom topics as “controversial”. Ongoing policies and cooperation are allowed to continue. A final decision is expected later this year …
Read More »Caribbean Netherlands Islands Unite for Progress: BES Summit Advances Regional Cooperation
The Island Councils of Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba concluded a landmark Summit on June 16 in The Hague, demonstrating unprecedented unity and shared commitment to addressing the challenges facing the Caribbean Netherlands. The meeting, hosted at Igluu Meetings & Events, exemplified the collaborative spirit that emerges when island communities …
Read More »Police report of Monday, the 16th of June until Friday, the 20th of June 2025
Garbage dump on fire On Thursday, the 19th of June, around 8 PM, the central control room received a report of a fire at the garbage dump on Saba. Upon arrival, the patrol observed that it was a large fire, which posed a risk of spreading. The fire was concentrated …
Read More »Saba Joins Forces with Dutch Island Counterparts to Launch ‘E8’ Collaborative Network
Eight islands unite to strengthen cooperation and address shared challenges Saba has joined a groundbreaking partnership of eight Dutch islands, known as the E8, designed to strengthen cooperation and tackle shared challenges across diverse island communities. The collaborative network includes the five Wadden Islands—Texel, Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland, and Schiermonnikoog—alongside the …
Read More »Fire erupts on Saba dump
Columns of smoke drifted into the village of St. John’s on Thursday night as a fire erupted on Saba’s dump. Emergency workers were busy trying to contain the blaze at 9:00pm Thursday. The cause of the fire was still unknown as of press time, but dry weather has prevailed in …
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