Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba (Dutch West Indies)
Country Specific Information
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August 26, 2011

COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: The three “BES” islands of Bonaire, St. Eustatius (or “Statia”) and Saba comprise the Caribbean portion of the Netherlands. These special overseas municipalities of The Netherlands are also part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The economies of the BES islands are well-developed and tourist facilities are widely available.

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SMART TRAVELER ENROLLMENT PROGRAM (STEP) / EMBASSY LOCATION: U.S. citizens living or traveling in the Dutch Caribbean are encouraged to sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate, in order to obtain updated information on local travel and security. U.S. citizens without Internet access may sign-up directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Enrollment is important because it allows the State Department to assist U.S. citizens in an emergency.

Local embassy information is available below and at the Department of State’s list of embassies and consulates.

Consulate General of the United States, Curacao  
J.B. Gorsiraweg 1
Willemstad
Curacao
Telephone: (011) (5999) 461-3066
Emergency after-hours telephone: (011) (5999) 510-6870
Facsimile: (011) (5999) 461-6489

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ENTRY / EXIT REQUIREMENTS FOR U.S. CITIZENS: U.S. citizens do not need a visa for transits or visits up to 90 days. A valid passport for the purpose of travel is required. Passports should be valid beyond the traveler’s intended stay. Birth certificates and drivers licenses are no longer accepted for entry.

For further information on entry requirements, contact the Embassy of the Netherlands at 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008, or one of the Dutch consulates in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York or Miami, in addition to various honorary Dutch consulates throughout the United States. Additional information is available on the Dutch Board of Tourism and Conventions website. Visit the Embassy of the Netherlands' website for the most current visa information. Information on work, residency, and immigration requirements in the Netherlands can be found on the website of the Dutch immigration authorities.

The Netherlands is a party to the Schengen Agreement. As such, U.S. citizens may enter the Netherlands for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes without a visa. If you are traveling for any other purpose, you may need to obtain a visa. Your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the period of stay. The 90-day period begins when you enter any of the Schengen group of countries. For further details about travel into and within Schengen countries, please see our fact sheet. Anyone intending to stay longer than 90 days must obtain the appropriate visa from the Dutch Embassy or a Dutch consulate in the United States.

The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of the Netherlands.

Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our website. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information page.

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THREATS TO SAFETY AND SECURITY: The BES islands have no indigenous extremist groups and have not experienced any terrorist incidents. Crime, including transnational crime such as drug trafficking, is common.

American citizens in the BES islands are encouraged to monitor media reports and are reminded to maintain a high level of vigilance and take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness.

 Stay up to date by:

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CRIME: Valuables, including passports, left unattended on beaches, in cars, and in hotel lobbies are easy targets for theft. Burglary and break-ins are rare at resorts, beach houses, and hotels; it is advised that visitors leave valuables and personal papers secured in their hotel safe. Armed robbery occasionally occurs. American citizens traveling by boat are urged to exercise reasonable caution in securing boats and belongings. Car theft, especially of rental vehicles, can occur. Incidents of break-ins to rental cars to steal personal items have been reported by American tourists. Vehicle leases or rentals may not be fully covered by local insurance when a vehicle is stolen. Be sure you are sufficiently insured when renting vehicles and other equipment.

In many countries around the world, counterfeit and pirated goods are widely available. Transactions involving such products may be illegal under local law. In addition, bringing them back to the United States may result in forfeitures and/or fines.

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VICTIMS OF CRIME: If you or someone you know becomes the victim of crime abroad, you should contact the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. We can:

  • Replace a stolen passport.
  • For violent crimes such as assault and rape, help you find appropriate medical care.
  • Put you in contact with the appropriate police authorities, and contact family members or friends.
  • Although the local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting the crime, consular officers can help you understand the local criminal justice process and can direct you to local attorneys.

The emergency line in the Dutch Caribbean is 911.

Please see our information on victims of crime, including possible victim compensation programs in the United States.

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CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in a foreign country, you are subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offences. Persons violating the laws of the BES islands, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in the BES islands are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. The BES islands have strict gun control laws; even a single bullet in a suitcase can trigger a fine or time in jail. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States.

Based on the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, bilateral agreements with certain countries, and customary international law, if you are arrested in the Dutch Caribbean, you have the option to request that the police, prison officials, or other authorities alert the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate of your arrest, and to have communications from you forwarded to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

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SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: In principle, Dutch law does not permit dual nationality. However, there are several exceptions to the rule. For example, American citizens who are married to Dutch citizens are exempt from the requirement to abandon their American nationality when they apply to become a Dutch citizen by naturalization. For detailed information, contact the Embassy of the Netherlands in Washington, DC, or one of the Dutch consulates in the U.S.

Travelers should be aware that both Saba and Statia are somewhat off the beaten path. Saba has supposedly the shortest commercial runway in the world, and flights are cancelled when the winds are not conducive to safe landings. As a result, travelers can be delayed in both arriving and departing by air.  If delays do occur, you should know that there is regular ferry service to the island. Supplies, in terms of variety and availability, may be limited. It is recommended that travelers make hotel reservations ahead of time to ensure availability, especially in Statia.

Accessibility: While in the Dutch Caribbean, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from what you find in the United States.

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MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: Medical care is generally good but may be limited due to the size of the islands. Hospitals have three classes of services i.e.: First Class: one patient per room, air conditioning, etc.; Second Class: two to six patients per room, no air conditioning; Third Class: 15 to 30 people in one hall. Patients are accommodated according to their level of insurance.

Bonaire: The San Francisco hospital is a medical center (35 beds) with decompression facilities. The hospital has an air ambulance service to Curacao and Aruba.

Statia: Queen Beatrix Medical Center (20 beds) is a medical facility well equipped for first aid and has 2 doctors on 24-hour call. There is one hyperbaric chamber used primarily for divers. Emergency cases are sent to either St. Maarten by plane or Guadeloupe, F.W.I., by helicopter.

Saba: A.M. Edwards Medical Center(14 beds) is a well-equipped first aid facility. Surgery cases are sent to St. Maarten. Saba has two hyperbaric chambers used primarily for divers, one located in Fort Bay and the second located at the medical school in The Bottom. Qualified staff are available to assist scuba divers suffering from decompression sickness.

Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC website. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the infectious diseases section of the World Health Organization (WHO) website. The WHO website also contains additional health information for travelers, including detailed country-specific health information.

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MEDICAL INSURANCE: You can’t assume your insurance will go with you when you travel. It’s very important to find out BEFORE you leave whether or not your medical insurance will cover you overseas. You need to ask your insurance company two questions:

  • Does my policy apply when I’m out of the United States?
  • Will it cover emergencies like a trip to a foreign hospital or a medical evacuation?

In many places, doctors and hospitals still expect payment in cash at the time of service. Your regular U.S. health insurance may not cover doctors’ and hospital visits in other countries. If your policy doesn’t go with you when you travel, it’s a very good idea to take out another one for your trip. For more information, please see our information on medical insurance overseas.

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TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning the BES islands is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Driving in the Dutch Caribbean is on the right hand side. Right turns on red are prohibited and traffic conditions require somewhat defensive driving. Local laws require drivers and passengers to wear seat belts and motorcyclists to wear helmets. Children under 4 years of age should be in child safety seats; children under 12 should ride in the back seat. Nonexistent or hidden and poorly maintained street signs are the major road hazard in the Dutch Caribbean. Therefore, drivers should proceed through intersections with caution. Roads in the Dutch Caribbean can be extremely slippery during rainfall. Night driving is reasonably safe in the Dutch Caribbean as long as drivers are familiar with the route and road conditions. Many streets are poorly lit or not lit at all. In Bonaire and Statia, drivers should be vigilant for wild donkeys or other animals crossing the road. Drivers should use caution when driving in Saba as roads tend to be steep and have many sharp turns.

Taxis are the easiest, yet most expensive, form of transportation on the islands. As there are no meters, passengers should verify the price before entering the taxi. Fares are quoted in U.S. dollars, the local currency as of January 1, 2011. In Bonaire, public minibuses are inexpensive and run non-stop during the daytime with no fixed schedule. Each minibus has a specific route displayed on the windshield. Buses, which run on the hour, have limited routes. The road conditions on the main thoroughfares are good to fair. There is no public transportation in Saba or Statia; however, hitchhiking is common in Saba.

Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information. Travelers may also wish to visit Aruba’s national tourist office website for more information.

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AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: Civil aviation operations in the Dutch Caribbean fall under the jurisdiction of authorities of the Netherlands. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Netherland’s Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of the Netherland’s air carrier operations. For more information, travelers may visit the FAA’s safety assessment page. 

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CHILDREN’S ISSUES: Please see our Office of Children’s Issues web pages on intercountry adoption and international parental child abduction.

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This serves as the Country Specific Information for the Dutch Caribbean, dated August 26, 2011 to introduce all sections.

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