During his visit to the Netherlands, Prime Minister Mike Eman met with Sybrand van Haersma Buma, the new Vice President of the ‘Raad van State’ (Council of State), to discuss Aruba’s role within the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the importance of ensuring that the interests and circumstances of all four constituent countries are taken into account.
Buma assumed his position as Vice President of the Council of State on July 1, 2026. He previously served as parliamentary leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) in the Dutch House of Representatives and as mayor of Leeuwarden.
The ‘Raad van State’ is an independent institution that advises the Dutch government and parliament on legislation and public administration. It also serves as the highest general administrative court in the Netherlands. Within the Council of State of the Kingdom, Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten each have a representative in the advisory division, which reviews legislation and regulations affecting the Kingdom’s four constituent countries.
Prime Minister Eman emphasized the valuable contributions made by Aruba’s representatives to the ‘Raad van State’ over the years. According to Eman, their involvement has helped the institution better understand the challenges Aruba faces as an autonomous country within the Kingdom.
Their participation has also helped ensure that the ‘Raad van State’s discussions and recommendations reflect the perspectives of Aruba and the wider Dutch Caribbean, where circumstances and priorities often differ from those in the European Netherlands.
During the meeting, Eman also drew a comparison between Aruba and Friesland, the Dutch province where Buma has his roots. He explained that Friesland faces similar challenges in making its voice heard within a centralized system of government.
According to Eman, this shared experience creates a sense of mutual understanding, as Aruba also seeks greater recognition of its identity, interests, and circumstances within the Kingdom’s institutions.
Eman described the meeting as pleasant and constructive, saying that Buma showed understanding for Aruba’s aspirations and his vision of a Kingdom in which all constituent countries have the opportunity to contribute.
Another topic discussed was the concept of the “common good,” particularly how economic and political systems influence the development and well-being of communities.
Eman stressed the importance of examining existing systems to identify shortcomings and explore ways to improve them. He believes such discussions can help create more opportunities for citizens and contribute to more balanced development throughout the Kingdom.
As part of the visit, Eman presented Buma with a copy of Volk van Veerkracht – 40 jaar Land Aruba (A Resilient People: 40 Years of Aruba as a Country), a commemorative book compiled by Rene Zwart and historian Luc Alofs to mark the 40th anniversary of Aruba’s Status Aparte.
The publication features contributions from 35 members of the Aruban community, reflecting on the country’s political, economic, and social development since gaining autonomous status within the Kingdom in 1986.
It also includes personal memories from 15 authors about Aruba’s first Prime Minister, Henny Eman, who played an important role in the process leading to Status Aparte. The book looks back on Aruba’s achievements over the past four decades while also addressing the challenges that lie ahead.
The Aruban delegation also included Minister Plenipotentiary Mildred Schwengle, Director of the Office of the Minister Plenipotentiary Shandra John, Secretary-General of the Ministry of General Affairs Robert Candelaria, and Secretary to the Council of Ministers Indra Hassell-Duarte.
