On September 22, 2025, the Netherlands Court of Audit organized an expert meeting for organizations from European Netherlands. These organizations are active in the Caribbean and together form the knowledge network. During the meeting, they got to know each other and discussed connection, strengthening, and combining forces to better support the islands.
Where the Netherlands Court of Audit normally checks whether the national government has spent its money sensibly, economically, and carefully, the organization had a different role during the expert meeting. It organized the meeting and is itself also part of the knowledge network. Burhan Gün, director at the Netherlands Court of Audit, explains: “We also investigate the national funds spent on the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. In recent years, we have conducted several investigations in the Caribbean. In addition, we work closely with other audit offices in the Caribbean. We maintain contact and exchange knowledge. This makes us one of the organizations in the broad field that conduct research in the Caribbean.”
The knowledge network
Besides the Netherlands Court of Audit, many more institutions from European Netherlands are active in Caribbean Netherlands, consisting of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba, and in the autonomous countries Aruba, Sint Maarten, and Curaçao. “That is precisely why it is very important that organizations collaborate and learn from each other,” says Gün. “The Kingdom Relations expert meeting was mainly intended for European Dutch knowledge holders who collect knowledge for or about the Caribbean part of the Kingdom with various goals (advising, auditing, and researching). Together they form the knowledge network. We see that more knowledge exchange and cooperation on this side of the ocean can actually help the people on the other side.” Beforehand, Gün and his colleagues also spoke with several knowledge partners in the Caribbean. This partly determined the starting points of the meeting.
Two parts
Démi van ’t Wout, account holder and senior researcher at the Netherlands Court of Audit, was involved in organizing the expert meeting. The meeting consisted of two parts: mapping the knowledge landscape and identifying challenges. “Some organizations have so much knowledge in certain domains. When knowledge holders find each other, they can exchange that knowledge. This gives them better insight into what other organizations are working on and allows them to provide more structure towards the islands.
On a large map on the wall, participants stuck post-its with the names of the organizations on the six islands they have contact with. The network map showed that most contact takes place with Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba, with Bonaire standing out especially. “Participants mainly collaborate with local governments, other public service providers, and similar institutions, such as audit offices among themselves. Foundations, non-profit organizations, NGOs, and the business community are less often found. There are opportunities to build new collaborations and relationships there.”
In the second part of the expert meeting, participants discussed the bottlenecks they experience in their work. “The capacity shortage on the islands was addressed. In addition, cultural differences and differences in laws, regulations, and standards play a role. These factors sometimes make cooperation complicated,” says Van ’t Wout.
Possible follow-up actions
Subsequently, the participants discussed possible follow-up actions. “Due to the capacity shortage, for example, we can better coordinate work visits or temporarily deploy Dutch colleagues in the Caribbean,” says Van ’t Wout. Another solution is bridging cultural differences. Co-creation is central to this, instead of a top-down approach. “That requires mutual understanding, recognizing differences, and seeking common ground. It is important to invest in relationships, build trust, communicate openly, and respect each others values and knowledge.” Better utilizing existing knowledge is also a spearhead. For this, knowledge and data must be more findable. “During the expert meeting, participants shared the idea for a portal where knowledge, expertise, and experts are easy to find.”
Positive
Van ’t Wout looks back positively on the expert meeting. “I found it incredibly interesting. All participants are very concerned about the islands. At the same time, they often face the most basic issues, such as inequality. Life on the islands is different: compared to European Netherlands, there is a more limited social safety net, wages are lower, and living costs are higher. These differences reinforce the feeling of inequality. Then the question arises whether people on the islands are considered as important as people in European Netherlands. That touches me. At the same time, I see a lot of passion and motivation. Everyone really wants to get to work here, and that gives a good feeling.”
Next expert meeting?
A next expert meeting is not yet planned, but Van ’t Wout hopes that the call of Burhan Gün will be heard: “Find each other, as part of the knowledge network, to make a lasting, positive impact in the interest of the citizens and businesses of the islands. This expert meeting has yielded useful and sometimes surprising insights. Let this be the inspiration for a next meeting!” Van ’t Wout adds: “The then (deputy) director-general Kingdom Relations Gea van Craaikamp indicated during the meeting that she would like to follow up on the meeting. I am curious whether Barbera Wolfensberger, the new director-general Kingdom Relations, will take over this enthusiasm.”