HARBOUR VIEW, PHILIPSBURG:--- On Tuesday, April 14, 2026, the second naturalization ceremony of 2026 was held at the Cabinet of the Governor of Sint Maarten. During two separate ceremonies, a total of 70 individuals took the declaration of allegiance before the Governor of Sint Maarten, His Excellency Mr. Ajamu G. Baly, thereby formally obtaining their Dutch citizenship.
The newly declared Dutch citizens represent 15 different nationalities across the community of Sint Maarten. The youngest was 1 year and the oldest was 73 years. In his address to the attendees, Governor Baly emphasized the significance of Dutch nationality and highlighted the core values of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in general and of Sint Maarten in particular. He also pointed out the rights and responsibilities that accompany citizenship, as well as the connection to the Sint Maarten community and the Kingdom. He emphasized the importance of embodying the Friendly Island spirit and urged individuals who had obtained Dutch nationality to do so in their daily lives.
Dutch nationality can be acquired in several ways: automatically at birth if at least one parent is Dutch, through adoption or acknowledgment, or through formal procedures such as the option or naturalization process. These procedures are governed by stringent requirements set out in the Kingdom Act on Dutch Nationality. To honor the completion of this milestone, the Governor’s Cabinet organizes naturalization ceremonies for all individuals who obtain Dutch nationality through the option or naturalization procedure. Attendance at the naturalization ceremony is mandatory and must be done within one year of the decision being rendered.
These ceremonies take place across the Dutch Kingdom. By publicly marking this milestone, the Cabinet wishes to promote awareness and understanding of the process of acquiring Dutch citizenship.
