Minister Plenipotentiary, Drs. Gracita R. Arrindell, attended the 2025 Appeltjes van Oranje award ceremony at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague. The annual event, organized by the Oranje Fonds, celebrates inspiring social initiatives that strengthen communities across the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This year’s theme, “Onmisbare schakels” (“Indispensable links”), highlighted individuals and organizations that connect people and foster solidarity in society. The ceremony began with a welcome address by Tamara van Ark, Chair of the Oranje Fonds Board, followed by a panel discussion featuring Sandra Jetten, Matthijs Tiemens, Leyla Kalender, and Lonneke Roza. Her Majesty Queen Máxima, patroness of the [...]

On Friday October 3, the Hon. Drs. Gracita R. Arrindell, Minister Plenipotentiary of Sint Maarten, participated in the B.U.C.-Conference at The Hague City Hall. The central theme of the conference was: “Perspectives on Sustainable Coexistence within the Kingdom.” Minister Arrindell took part in the interactive forum, chaired by National Ombudsman Mr. Reinier van Zutphen. Other panel members included Prof. Irene Asscher-Vonk (emeritus professor of Social Law), Ms. Tanja Fraai (media producer and literary scholar) and Ms. Damaly Linkers (strategic advisor, organizational & leadership development). During the discussions, key propositions were explored on topics such as the mobility of professionals [...]

The Hague - At the invitation of the Senate of the States General, the Hon. Drs. Gracita R. Arrindell, Minister Plenipotentiary of Sint Maarten, attended the opening of the Interparliamentary Kingdom Consultation (IPKO) today in the plenary hall of the Senate. Delegations from Sint Maarten, Aruba, Curaçao and the Netherlands gather this week to discuss matters of common interest within the Kingdom. Under the chairmanship of Mr. Olger van Dijk, the agenda includes education, geopolitical developments, ageing populations, and the 70th anniversary of the Charter of the Kingdom. The consultations will continue until Monday, 29 September. Representing Sint Maarten [...]

The Hon. Gracita R. Arrindell, Minister Plenipotentiary, attended the ceremonial change of command of the Naval Forces Command (Commando Zeestrijdkrachten, CZSK) on September 18 at the naval base in Den Helder. During the ceremony, Vice Admiral René Tas officially handed over command to his successor, Vice Admiral Harold Liebregs. The event also marked Vice Admiral Tas’s retirement upon reaching the functional age limit. In keeping with naval tradition, he made his final departure “per sloep naar de wal” (by small boat to shore). Minister Arrindell, representing Sint Maarten, emphasized the importance of the Royal Netherlands Navy’s role within the [...]

On Thursday September 18, the President of the University of St. Martin (USM), Dr. Antonio Carmona Báez, paid a visit to the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary of Sint Maarten in the Netherlands. Central to the discussion was the Caribbean Academic Foundation Year (CAFY), a preparatory program which successfully commenced in August with twenty eight students from Sint Maarten, Saba and Sint Eustatius. The CAFY program, financed by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW), runs for ten months and focuses on personal development, study skills, and language proficiency. “With this program, we aim to provide students [...]