HARBOUR VIEW, PHILIPSBURG — On Tuesday, August 11 2026, the fourth naturalization ceremony of 2026 was held at the Cabinet of the Governor of Sint Maarten. During two separate ceremonies, a total of 74 individuals took the declaration of allegiance before the Governor of Sint Maarten, His Excellency Ajamu G. Baly, and in so doing formally obtained their Dutch citizenship.
The newly declared Dutch citizens represent 18 different nationalities across the Sint Maarten community. 16 of them were born and raised here in Sint Maarten. The youngest of those 74 was 3 years old and the oldest was 81.
In his address to the attendees, the Governor emphasized the significance of Dutch nationality and highlighted the core values of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and of Sint Maarten in particular as a democracy and a country governed by the rule of law, which is laid down in the core constitutional document of the Kingdom, the Kingdom Charter, and in the Sint Maarten Constitution. He also pointed out the rights and responsibilities that accompany citizenship and the connection with the Sint Maarten community and the Kingdom as a whole. He emphasized the importance of and urged the individuals who obtained Dutch nationality to embody the Friendly Island spirit in their daily lives.
Dutch nationality can be obtained in several ways, that is automatically at birth if at least one parent is Dutch, through adoption or acknowledgment, or through formal procedures such as the option and naturalization process. All of the attendees on August 11 acquired their Duch citizenship through either option (60) or naturalization (14). These procedures are governed by stringent requirements under the Kingdom Act on Dutch Nationality (Rijkswet op het Nederlanderschap). To honor the importance of the completion of this milestone, the Governor’s Cabinet organizes naturalization ceremonies for all individuals who obtain Dutch nationality through the option or naturalization procedure. Attendance at a naturalization ceremony is mandatory and must be undertaken within one year of the decision being rendered.
These ceremonies take place across the Kingdom of the Netherlands. By publicly marking this milestone, the Cabinet wishes to promote awareness and understanding of the process regarding acquiring Dutch citizenship.
