THE HAGUE - The 36th InterExpo Conference will take place from December 9 to 11 at the Nieuwspoort Debate Center in The Hague, under the theme “Fifteen Years After 10/10/10.”

The event will bring together key political leaders from across the Kingdom of the Netherlands, including Prime Minister Gilmar “Pik” Pisas of Curaçao, Prime Minister Mike Eman of Aruba, and Prime Minister Luc Mercelina of St. Maarten. They will share their insights and engage in an open debate alongside former Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende.

The discussion will be moderated by Ernst Hirsch Ballin, former Dutch Minister of Justice and Kingdom Relations.

According to Peter Oerlemans of InterExpo, the conference aims to foster dialogue and cooperation across the Kingdom: 

“This congress offers a unique opportunity for exchange and connection between the islands and the European part of the Kingdom.”

With more than 100 participants expected from the fields of politics, business, and academia — including representatives from the Supreme Court of the Netherlands and UNESCO — the conference promises to be a major platform for addressing key issues in Kingdom relations.

Interest in the event is high, with 85 percent of available space at Nieuwspoort already reserved.

“This makes the conference not only relevant but an essential meeting place for Caribbean and Dutch stakeholders,” Oerlemans added.

The InterExpo Conference, first launched in the 1980s, has become one of the most significant forums for dialogue between the Caribbean countries and the European Netherlands, offering a platform to reflect on progress and challenges since the 10/10/10 constitutional reforms.