On Tuesday, October 7, 2025, the Senate approved the implementation of equal treatment legislation for Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba. This means that the Protection Against Discrimination Act on these islands has been definitively adopted.
Based on Article 1 of the Constitution, various laws ensuring equal treatment apply in European Netherlands. Until now, these laws did not apply to Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba. With the new law, this difference is eliminated: legislation that provides protection against discrimination will soon apply throughout the Netherlands.
Earlier research showed that equal treatment legislation is important for the residents of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba. Now that the law has been adopted, residents will soon be able to invoke the law if they feel discriminated against, for example, due to their origin, religion, gender, or sexual preference. For this, they will gain access to an anti-discrimination facility (ADV), which will be placed under the office for free legal aid that is being prepared on each island. There, people knowledgeable about the law will register reports from citizens about experienced discrimination, provide a listening ear, and determine the possible follow-up together with the reporter.
Additionally, the College for Human Rights will receive a new adjudicative task under this legislation on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba. This means that citizens can submit a request to the College to assess whether there is discrimination in their situation.
Minister Rijkaart of the Interior and Kingdom Relations: “With this law, all residents of our country receive the same protection against discrimination. And not just on paper, because thanks to the offices that will be opened, people on the islands will receive immediate help and support. This is important: no one should be excluded or treated unequally.”
The official entry into force of the law is aimed for January 1, 2026.
