Go to content

Governance of Aruba, Curaçao and St Maarten

Each country within the Kingdom has its own government. Aruba, Curaçao and St Maarten each have their own Governor, who is the head of the government.

In the Netherlands, the head of the government is the King. The governors of Aruba, Curaçao and St Maarten represent the King in their respective governments.

For more information about the governments of Aruba, Curaçao and St Maarten, please visit the following websites:

  • Government of Aruba
  • Government of Curaçao
  • Government of St Maarten

The Governor

The Governor’s role consists of two components:

  1. representing the interests of the Kingdom;
  2. heading the government (of Aruba, St Maarten or Curaçao, respectively).

Despite being the head of the government, the Governor has no ministerial responsibility and does not participate in the day-to-day business of the government. The Governor is appointed by the King for six years, after which he or she may be reappointed for one more term. This means that a Governor can serve for a maximum of 12 years.

The Governors' websites contain detailed information about their work.

  • Governor of Aruba
  • Governor of Curaçao
  • Governor of St Maarten

Another of the Governor’s tasks is appointing an Advisory Council. This body has 5 members. The Council advises the Governor on a range of different topics.

Ministers Plenipotentiary in The Hague and Washington, DC

Aruba, Curaçao and St Maarten also each have a Minister Plenipotentiary in The Hague, who represents their country’s government in the Netherlands and Europe. Together, the Ministers Plenipotentiary and the ministers of the Dutch government make up the Council of Ministers for the Kingdom.

For more information on the tasks of the Ministers Plenipotentiary please visit the website of the minister concerned.

  • Office of the Minister Plenipotentiary for Aruba
  • Office of the Minister Plenipotentiary for Curaçao
  • Office of the Minister Plenipotentiary for St Maarten

Aruba and Curaçao also have a Minister Plenipotentiary based at the Kingdom’s embassy in Washington, DC, where they represent their respective countries. St Maarten does not have a Minister Plenipotentiary in Washington, DC.