THE HAGUE – The prime ministers of Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten will participate in the 36th InterExpo Congress from December 9 to 11, 2025, held at the Nieuwspoort press and debate center in The Hague. This year’s edition focuses on fifteen years of constitutional reform since the landmark date of 10 October 2010.
On that day, the Netherlands Antilles was dissolved, granting Curaçao and Sint Maarten country status within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, while Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba became special municipalities of the Netherlands. Fifteen years later, the congress revisits the impact, challenges and future direction of these reforms.
Curaçao’s Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas, Aruba’s Prime Minister Mike Eman and Sint Maarten’s Prime Minister Luc Mercelina will take part in a high-level debate with former Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende. The discussion will be moderated by constitutional scholar Prof. Ernst Hirsch Ballin. State Secretary for Kingdom Relations Eddie van Marum will officially open the event.
Three Key Themes
The congress will revolve around three central topics:
• Future perspectives for the Kingdom
• Socially just education across all parts of the Kingdom
• Mutual expectations between the Netherlands and the Caribbean countries
Business leaders, academic experts and policymakers will also contribute to the program, offering both critical reflections and constructive proposals for strengthening cooperation within the Kingdom.
According to InterExpo, nearly 170 participants have already registered—one of the highest attendance numbers in decades. Organizers say the broad interest reflects the continued relevance of the Kingdom’s constitutional structure and the ongoing debate about its evolution.
A joint presentation is also planned by Aruba’s Minister of Finance Geoffrey Wever and the chair of the Board of Financial Supervision (Cft), Lidewijde Ongering. They will address the current financial outlook and expectations for the coming years.
The three-day congress is expected to generate significant discussion regarding the Kingdom’s future direction, shared responsibilities and opportunities for deeper cooperation across its European and Caribbean parts.