THE HAGUE – Curaçao has once again become the focus of political scrutiny in the Netherlands following parliamentary questions about the presence of tankers carrying Venezuelan oil in the ports of Curaçao and Rotterdam. The questions were submitted by members of the GroenLinks-PvdA faction in the Dutch Parliament to the Minister for Climate and Green Growth and the State Secretary for Kingdom Relations.
The MPs are seeking clarification on reports that oil from Venezuela is being transported via the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom to Europe, with Curaçao allegedly playing a renewed role as a logistical hub. Specific reference is made to Bullenbaai, which in the past functioned as a major transshipment point in the international oil trade.
The parliamentarians want the Dutch government to explain the legal division of responsibilities between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the autonomous country Curaçao when it comes to maritime oil transport, port access and compliance with international regulations. They question whether Curaçao’s authorities are acting independently or whether these matters should be treated as Kingdom affairs.
By raising the issue in The Hague, the MPs effectively place Curaçao within a broader debate about sanctions enforcement, maritime safety and geopolitical responsibility, even though port operations formally fall under the island’s autonomous authority.
