This audit is a pre-publication from the Netherlands Court of Audit’s Accountability Audit 2025, which will be published on 20 May 2026. The theme of the Accountability Audit 2025 is ‘Security of the Netherlands’. 

In compliance with EU regulations, the Netherlands is obliged to hold certain strategic stocks. We understand strategic stocks to be additional reserves of essential materials kept on hand to ensure continuity of operations. The stocks are not held for day-to-day use but are drawn down only when supplies are interrupted by a crisis. The Caribbean islands of Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba (the Caribbean Netherlands), however, are exempt from these regulations. The Netherlands Court of Audit has found that no strategic stocks of drinking water, food, medicines and fuel have been established for the residents of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. Despite the Caribbean Netherlands’ vulnerability to natural threats such as hurricanes and volcanic explosions and the tense situation in Venezuela, just 70 kilometres from Bonaire, the government has not set goals for strategic stocks. In a crisis, drinking water on the islands would run out in a matter of days. 

Limited regular stocks of drinking water and food in the Caribbean Netherlands

The figure shows the number of days of regular stocks of drinking water and food on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. These regular stocks are limited. • Bonaire’s stock of drinking water at the drinking water producer will last 3 to 4 days. Its food stock will last between 14 and 21 days. • Sint Eustatius’ stock of drinking water at the drinking water producer will last 7 days. Its food stock will last 7 days. • Saba has 1 day’s drinking water at the drinking water producer and 7 days’ food in stock.

Regular stocks

The Court of Audit concludes that there are no strategic stocks in the Caribbean Netherlands. It has therefore analysed the islands’ regular stocks of drinking water, food, medicines and fuel. The islands have relatively large regular stocks of medicines and fuel. Regular stocks of medicines on Saba and Sint Eustatius will last for 1 or 2 months and on Bonaire for 3 to 6 weeks. The situation with drinking water and food is very different. Sint Eustatius has enough drinking water for 7 days and Bonaire for just 3 to 4 days. Saba would experience a shortage of drinking water if the supply were disrupted for more than 1 day. 

Why did we carry out this audit?

The Caribbean Netherlands faces a wide range of security threats, including natural disasters such as hurricanes and volcanic explosions on Saba and St Eustatius. The situation in and around Venezuela (70 kilometres from Bonaire) is also fragile. The islands are nearly entirely reliant on imports of most goods. A disruption in the international logistics chain could quickly lead to shortages of drinking water, fuel and other basic goods.

Recommendation: make clear agreements

No goals have been set for strategic stocks in the Caribbean Netherlands. Central government, private parties, vital sectors and public bodies have accordingly not made firm agreements about who is responsible for what. Where formal agreements have been made, as in the case of fuel, there is uncertainty about the practical allocation of responsibilities. The absence of sufficient strategic stocks could have significant social repercussions, with shortages immediately impacting day-to-day life. The government should therefore determine and document what amount of strategic stocks must be held in the Caribbean Netherlands and decide who is responsible for what.