THE HAGUE - The VVD parliamentary faction in the Dutch House of Representatives has appointed Eric van der Burg (60) as its new spokesperson for Kingdom Relations. Van der Burg is not a stranger to the Caribbean part of the Kingdom — in March 2024, as State Secretary for Asylum and Migration, he paid a working visit to Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire, followed by a trip in June 2024 to Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius, Saba, and again Bonaire.
Van der Burg has had a long career in Dutch politics. He was a member of the Senate (Eerste Kamer) from 2019 to 2022, before joining the Rutte IV Cabinet as State Secretary for Asylum and Migration from 2022 to 2024. Since December 6, 2023, he has served as a member of the House of Representatives, where he has already attended several meetings of the Parliamentary Committee for Kingdom Relations.
His appointment comes as the new parliamentary session begins following recent national elections, with a number of new faces taking on key roles related to the Kingdom’s affairs. Duri
ng the election campaign, Van der Burg shared his views on the Caribbean territories in an interview with the media, emphasizing the importance of promoting employment opportunities on Bonaire, which he described as “the best way to structurally combat poverty.”
However, local experts and social advocates have pointed out that poverty on Bonaire is driven less by a lack of jobs and more by low wages, high living costs, and the absence of an adequate social safety net.
As the new VVD spokesperson for Kingdom Relations, Van der Burg will play a key role in shaping the Netherlands’ political dialogue with the Caribbean countries and public entities within the Kingdom — at a time when discussions about economic development, social equity, and governance reforms remain high on the agenda.