WILLEMSTAD – The budget of the government accounting office Stichting Overheidsaccountantsbureau (SOAB) will increase sharply over the coming years as a result of expanded audit, investigative and advisory activities within the public sector. This was confirmed in Parliament by Charles Cooper, Minister of Finance.
According to Cooper, the audit budget allocated to SOAB will grow from 8 million guilders in 2021 to 22 million guilders in 2026. The increase reflects the broader role SOAB is playing in strengthening financial oversight, compliance and internal control across government entities.
The minister pointed to recent figures showing that tighter tax collection and compliance policies have contributed to higher government revenues. He noted that the increase in tax income in 2025 was partly driven by growth in the tourism sector, which has expanded the overall tax base.
Cooper also addressed questions about financial oversight within SOAB itself. He stated that SOAB’s annual financial statements have consistently received unqualified audit opinions in recent years from an international audit firm ranked among the global top five.
In addition, the minister emphasized that consultants engaged through SOAB are subject to strict scrutiny by the external auditor. This includes checks on the reasonableness of declared hours and the appropriateness of costs charged, aimed at safeguarding transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.
The rising budget comes at a time when SOAB’s role has been the subject of public and political debate, particularly regarding the scope of its assignments. Cooper maintained that enhanced oversight capacity is necessary to support sound public financial management in the years ahead.
