State Secretary Eric van der Burg of the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations will pay a working visit to the Windward Islands from 12 to 18 November. The celebrations of Statia Day 2026 and the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the First Salute, as well as the Kingdom Summit, will be central to the visit. In addition to the State Secretary, King Willem-Alexander and Prime Minister Rob Jetten will also attend the celebrations of Statia Day 2026.
The visit will begin on Thursday, 12 November, on Saba with a meeting with the Island Government. The State Secretary will also meet with the four new domain managers who have taken up their positions following the reorganisation of the Public Entity. In addition, he will meet with members of the Youth Council and inspect progress on the construction of the new harbour at Black Rocks. Finally, he will visit Hell’s Gate Farm, where work is underway to strengthen food security on Saba. This project is being made possible in part through funding from the public pillar of the CariFoodFund.
On Sint Maarten, State Secretary Van der Burg will attend the opening of the annual Beat the Marines Junior event. This sporting event for young people is organised by the Marine Detachment on Sint Maarten. The State Secretary will also pay a visit to Governor Baly and meet with Prime Minister Luc Mercelina. Tourism is an important pillar of Sint Maarten’s economy, but at the same time places considerable pressure on public facilities and infrastructure. During a visit to the Cruise Terminal, Mr Van der Burg will learn more about developments in the tourism sector in the context of sustainable economic development. At the Sint Maarten Development Fund, State Secretary Van der Burg will present a cheque to one of the projects receiving a grant from the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations for initiatives aimed at promoting social development.
From Sint Maarten, Mr Van der Burg will travel to Sint Eustatius, where he will attend the Statia Day celebrations and accompany the King during his two-day programme. During the ceremony on 16 November, the island will commemorate the fact that 250 years ago, the United States received its first international recognition as an independent nation on Sint Eustatius. This event has indelibly linked the island to the history of the United States.
The annual Statia Day celebrations highlight the culture, history, identity and resilience of the Statian community. During his stay on Statia, the State Secretary will visit several projects that form part of the Statia Regional Deal, including the renovation of the Botanical Garden and the Madam Theatre. Together with the King, he will visit, among other sites, the Amsterdam and Rotterdam batteries and attend the opening of the museum at Fort Oranje, which will shed light on the history of slavery.
On 17 and 18 November, the State Secretary will conclude his working visit by taking part in the Kingdom Summit on Sint Maarten. This high-level meeting between the governments of the four countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands will focus on strengthening cooperation among the four countries.
