The Representation of the Netherlands in Aruba (VNO) organized a special Prinsjesdag program for over 180 students from Colegio Arubano in Oranjestad and Colegio Nigel Matthew in San Nicolas. The event took place at the Paseo Herencia Ballroom, the temporary venue of Cas di Cultura.
While King Willem-Alexander delivered the Throne Speech at the Koninklijke Schouwburg in The Hague, Aruba’s students spent the day exploring the meaning of Prinsjesdag in the Netherlands, its relevance for the Kingdom, and especially for Aruba.
The program opened with a presentation by Vincent Storimans, Deputy Representative of the Netherlands in Aruba, covering the Throne Speech, the Miljoenennota (Budget Memorandum), and the Kingdom’s budget. Former Governor of Aruba, Fredis Refunjol, followed with a talk on Aruba’s budget process and the Staatsregeling (Constitution), helping students better understand the country’s political structure and the Parliament’s role in budgeting.
Students from Colegio Arubano then took part in group debates on current social and political topics. They defended differing viewpoints and even had the chance to earn extra credit toward their Staatsinrichting (Civics) course. The jury for the debates included Fredis Refunjol, Vincent Storimans, and Matthijs van Beusekom, Senior Policy Officer at VNO.
VNO expressed pride in the students’ enthusiasm and engagement throughout the day.
