After the House of Representatives, the Senate has also given the green light for the introduction of the citizen service number (BSN) and digital government services on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba. This means that the civil affairs departments of the three islands can issue the BSN to their residents, and from November 11, 2025, residents can pick up their personal BSN letter during the BSN pickup weeks. After the pickup weeks, the BSN can always be requested from the civil affairs department. Residents who already have a BSN will keep the same number and can also pick up a letter.
State Secretary Van Marum: “This is another important step towards equal service delivery for residents of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba. I find it important that citizens know what the new digital possibilities mean for them. Therefore, residents are informed about what the BSN is and how to handle it safely. All information is multilingual and can be found both online and offline. We are doing everything we can to reach as many residents as possible.”
Better government services
The introduction of the BSN is a first step that enables residents to use online government services in the future. With the BSN, all residents will have one unique personal number for the entire government. This will allow the DigiD login method to be requested. Government organizations in the Caribbean Netherlands can also transition to using the BSN and DigiD in the coming years, once their systems have been adapted. This will make it possible for residents to arrange more and more matters with the government online using a BSN and DigiD in the future.
