On 22 September 2025, the Netherlands Court of Audit organised an expert meeting for organisations from the European Netherlands that are active in the Caribbean and together form a knowledge network. During the meeting they got to know each other and discussed how they could connect with and strengthen each other and join forces to better support the Caribbean islands.
The Court of Audit normally checks central government’s sensible, economic and prudent use of public money but it had a different role during the expert meeting. As a member of the knowledge network, it was responsible for organising the meeting. Burhan Gün, director at the Court of Audit explains: “We also investigate the state’s funding of the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. In recent years, we have conducted several audits in the Caribbean. We also work closely with other supreme audit institutions in the region. We are in regular contact contact and share our knowledge. We are one of the organisations in a broad field that carry out audits and investigations in the Caribbean.”
The Knowledge Network
Apart from the Court of Audit, many more institutions from the European Netherlands are active in the Caribbean Netherlands, consisting of Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba, and in the autonomous countries of Aruba, St Maarten and Curaçao. "This is precisely why it is so important that we work together and learn from each other," says Gün. “The Kingdom Relations expert meeting was intended mainly for European experts who gather knowledge for or about the Caribbean part of the kingdom for various purposes (advising, auditing and investigating). Together they form the knowledge network. Knowledge sharing and cooperation on this side of the ocean can help people on the other side.” Beforehand, Gün and his colleagues had already consulted several knowledge partners in the Caribbean. This helped to define the meeting’s objectives.
Two parts
Démi van ’t Wout, account holder and senior auditor at the Court of Audit, helped organise the expert meeting. It consisted of two parts: mapping the knowledge landscape and identifying challenges. “Some organisations have a wealth of knowledge in certain areas. If they can find each other, sharing their knowledge improves their insight into what other organisations are doing and they can offer more structure to the islands.”
On a large map on the wall, participants posted sticky notes with the names of the organisations they were in contact with on the six islands. The network map showed that most contact was with Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba, with Bonaire in particular standing out. “The participants cooperate mainly with local authorities, other public service providers and similar institutions, such as supreme audit institutions. They are less likely to be in contact with foundations, non-profit organisations, NGOs and industrial companies. There are opportunities there to build new collaborations and relationships.”
In the second part of the expert meeting, participants discussed the bottlenecks they faced in their work. “The capacity gap on the islands was addressed. Cultural differences and differences in laws, regulations and standards also play a role. These factors sometimes make cooperation harder,” says Van ’t Wout.
Possible follow-up actions
Participants then discussed possible follow-up actions. “We can overcome the lack of capacity by better coordinating working visits and temporarily deploying Dutch experts in the Caribbean,” says Van ’t Wout. Another approach is to recognise cultural differences. The focus is on co-creation, rather than a top-down approach. “This requires mutual understanding, recognition of differences and the search for common ground. We have to invest in relationships, build trust, communicate openly and respect each other’s values and knowhow.” To make better use of existing knowhow, knowledge and data need to be more accessible. “During the expert meeting, participants shared the idea of a portal for quick access to knowledge, expertise and experts.”
Positive
Van ’t Wout looks back positively on the expert meeting. “It was very interesting. All participants are very committed to the islands. They are often faced with the most basic issues, such as inequality. Life on the islands is different: the social safety net is tighter than in the European Netherlands, wages are lower and the cost of living is higher. These differences increase the sense of inequality. The question then arises of whether people on the islands are considered as important as people in the European Netherlands. That is a sore point. But there is a lot of passion and motivation. Everyone really wants to make a success of this and that feels good.”
The next expert meeting?
Another expert meeting has not yet been planned but Van ’t Wout hopes Burhan Gün’s plea will be heard: “Know how to find each other and, as part of the knowledge network, make a lasting, positive change for the benefit of the islands’ citizens and businesses. 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 of Kingdom Relations, Gea van Craaikamp, said during the meeting that she would like to follow up on the meeting. I wonder if Barbera Wolfensberger, the new Director-General for Kingdom Relations, will be just as enthusiastic.”