THE HAGUE – Curaçao, Sint Maarten and the Netherlands have officially abolished the special guardianship arrangement for Caribbean minors who travel alone to the Netherlands. The measure, which had been in place since 2006, ended on November 1, 2025.
The now-discontinued scheme meant that minors from Curaçao and Sint Maarten who moved to the Netherlands were often automatically placed under temporary guardianship upon arrival. The arrangement was originally introduced to ensure supervision and protection for young people living away from their parents.
According to the three governments, the special measure is no longer necessary. Advances in digital communication now allow parents to maintain close contact and exercise parental authority from abroad, reducing the need for automatic guardianship in the Netherlands.
Another key reason for ending the scheme is legal equality. The arrangement created a distinction between Caribbean minors and other young people who relocate to the Netherlands, a difference that has become increasingly difficult to justify. Under the previous system, minors from Curaçao and Sint Maarten were treated differently from peers arriving from other countries, despite similar circumstances.
With the abolition of the regeling, Caribbean minors will now be treated the same as other minors who move to the Netherlands. Parents remain primarily responsible for care and supervision. Judicial intervention will only occur in cases of serious concern, such as neglect or unsafe living conditions, under existing child protection laws.
The decision was previously discussed within the Justice Four-Country Consultation framework and coordinated with guardianship authorities in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom as well as the Dutch Child Protection Council. Authorities stress that the change does not weaken protection for minors, but instead reflects modern realities and the principle of equal treatment.