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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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, …

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 …

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. …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …