Three new deputy judges appointed to Caribbean-Dutch Joint Court of Justice
Three experienced Dutch judges have been appointed as deputy members of the Joint Court of Justice, serving Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and the Caribbean Netherlands. Their deployment ensures continued access to justice for residents in civil, criminal, and administrative cases across the islands.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Appointees | Mr. Th. (Thomas) Veling, Mr. M.J.M. (Maarten) van der Weijden, Mr. M.W. (Menno) Zandbergen |
| Role | Deputy members of the Joint Court of Justice |
| Effective Date | Upon signing of the Royal Decree |
| Jurisdiction | Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba |
| Previous Positions | Judges and advocates-general in Dutch courts (Rotterdam, The Hague, Arnhem-Leeuwarden) |
| Court Responsibilities | Civil, criminal, administrative law (including tax), and disciplinary tribunals |
The Joint Court of Justice is a crucial judicial body for the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, ensuring legal oversight and access to justice. The Dutch government, through the Ministry of Justice and Security, appoints judges to maintain the court’s capacity and expertise.
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Appointments at the Joint Court of Justice
News item | 03-27-2026 | 15:30
Mr. mr. Th. (Thomas) Veling, Mr. mr. M.J.M. (Maarten) van der Weijden and Mr. mr. M.W. (Menno) Zandbergen have been appointed as deputy members at the Joint Court of Justice. The Council of Ministers has approved the proposed appointments on the recommendation of State Secretary Van Bruggen of Justice and Security. The appointments will take effect on the day the Royal Decree is signed. The deputy members do not have a fixed place of work but will be deployed where needed.
Mr. Veling is a judge at the Rotterdam District Court and a deputy advocate-general at the Arnhem-Leeuwarden Court of Appeal. He previously served as a judge at the Joint Court of Justice based in Curaçao. Before that, he worked as a deputy advocate-general at the Amsterdam Court of Appeal.
Mr. van der Weijden is an advocate-general at the The Hague Court of Appeal. Prior to this, he worked as a lawyer.
Mr. Zandbergen is an advocate-general at the Arnhem-Leeuwarden Court of Appeal. He also previously served as a member of the Joint Court of Justice, based in Curaçao. Before that, he worked as a judge at the North Holland District Court and as a corporate legal counsel at the Joint Administrative Office.
The Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba is responsible for administering justice in the islands. The judges at the Joint Court of Justice handle civil, criminal and administrative law cases (including tax matters), both at first instance and on appeal. The Court is also involved in special judicial panels (such as those for civil service matters) and in disciplinary tribunals. The Court consists of locally based judges and seconded judges.