WILLEMSTAD – On August 14, 2025, the Netherlands’ State Secretary for Kingdom Relations and Digitalization, Eddie van Marum, paid an introductory visit to Curaçao’s Council of Ministers.
The visit began with a bilateral meeting between Van Marum and Deputy Prime Minister Javier Silvania, followed by a joint session with the other ministers.
During the meeting, Silvania expressed his gratitude for the cooperation between the two countries, noting that it has enabled significant government investments aimed at improving the quality of life in Curaçao. He took the opportunity to request that the so-called “bullet loans” provided by the Netherlands as COVID-19 liquidity support be repayable in annual installments rather than as a lump sum at the end of the term. Van Marum indicated that the Netherlands is open to further discussions on the matter.
Key Topics Discussed
Several important bilateral issues were addressed, including:
Hydrogen Development – Both sides discussed the potential for establishing a hydrogen value chain in Curaçao. This aligns with the Pisas III Cabinet’s coalition agreement, which calls for an integrated national energy policy. They agreed on the need to weigh both the challenges and long-term benefits.
BMKB Loan Guarantee Scheme – Van Marum raised the possibility of extending the Dutch Borgstelling MKB-kredieten scheme to entrepreneurs across the Kingdom. The program allows the government to guarantee part of a business loan, helping small and medium-sized enterprises lacking sufficient collateral to access financing. Implementation details will be coordinated between the Ministry of Economic Development and Dutch authorities.
Food Security – Silvania updated the Dutch delegation on Curaçao’s initiatives to improve food security and strengthen the agricultural sector. Efforts include pilot projects to train small farmers, a reverse osmosis facility in Sint Joris, the creation of a “healthy basket” program (makutu saludabel), and laying the groundwork for sector regulation. The aim, Silvania said, is for Curaçao to be resilient rather than vulnerable as a small nation.
Other topics included Curaçao’s position on the Council of State’s unsolicited advice marking the 70th anniversary of the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the “nation building” initiative of the Ministry of General Affairs, which focuses on poverty alleviation, neighborhood revitalization, and addressing an aging population.
Delegations Present
From the Netherlands: State Secretary Van Marum; Roald Lapperre, Director-General for Kingdom Relations; Gerbert Kunst, Representative of the Netherlands in Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten; political adviser Tjitske Groot; spokesperson Marcus Polman; and policy officer Demy Gosman (VNG).
From Curaçao: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and of Health, Environment and Nature Javier Silvania; Minister of Traffic, Transport and Spatial Planning Charles Cooper; Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Sithree van Heydoorn; Minister of Economic Development Roderick Middelhof; Minister of Governance, Planning and Service Kimberley Lew-Jen-Tai; Secretary of the Council of Ministers Cherise Balentin; National Reform Commission Chair Caryl Monte; adviser to the Minister of Finance John de Lannoy; and Acting Deputy Secretary of the Council of Ministers Kristel Hooi.
The meeting took place in what both parties described as an open and constructive atmosphere, underscoring the positive working relationship between the State Secretary and Curaçao’s Council of Ministers.
