Monuments Act BES
Evaluating the Monuments Act BES
The islands of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba are home to a unique cultural heritage. Historic buildings, archaeological sites and cultural landscapes tell stories of migration, trade, resilience and everyday life in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Yet much of this heritage is under pressure.
The evaluation, initiated by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and carried out by Ecorys, examined how the legislation has functioned since its introduction in 2010. The research was conducted in 2025. In 2026, the results were shared with the Ministry and subsequently presented to the Dutch House of Representatives. Since June, the findings have also been publicly available online.
Social Design Foundation considers it important to be involved in research such as this because it concerns vulnerable territories where heritage is closely linked to identity, history and community resilience. In contexts where institutional capacity and long-term resources are limited, evidence-based insights are essential to make structural challenges visible and to support more informed and equitable decision-making within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Approach
To evaluate the impact and practical execution of the Monuments Act BES, this study combined rigorous policy analysis with qualitative field research across Bonaire, Saba, and St. Eustatius between May and October 2025. The evaluation spanned the entire period from the law’s introduction in 2010 through 2024, providing a vital comparison between official policy intentions and on-the-ground realities.
Central to our methodology were 58 in-depth interviews with heritage professionals, policymakers, local authorities, and community stakeholders. To capture a comprehensive, kingdom-wide perspective, the team conducted 33 island-specific interviews across Bonaire (12), Saba (10), and St. Eustatius (11), complemented by 11 interviews in the European Netherlands and several across Aruba, Curaçao, and St. Maarten.
The dialogues with the stakeholders focused on a broad range of themes centered around the Structure-Conduct-Performance framework. Researchers specifically questioned participants about how the 50-year definition of a monument impacts local listings, the urgent need to protect modern or unconventional heritage domains—such as maritime heritage, funerary sites, and intangible cultural traditions—and the ongoing operational bottlenecks, including a critical shortage of local heritage inspectors and structural maintenance funding.
Social Design Foundation commissioned heritage expert Lyongo Juliana to conduct theinterviews o, together with the Ecorys research team. To ensure data reliability, transcripts were verified by the participants before being systematically coded and analyzed.
Crucially, the field research relied heavily on the institutional knowledge of established local institutions and experts on the islands. On Bonaire, the team conducted interviews with key cultural bodies such as Fundashon Historiko Kultural Boneiru (FuHiKuBo), Stichting Cocari II, and the Bonaire Archaeological Institute (BONAI) to capture a deep understanding of Bonerian identity and landscape history. On Saba, conversations with the Saba Heritage Center and the Harry L. Johnson Museum shed light on the challenges of preserving the island’s unique architectural style and historical artifacts. Meanwhile, on St. Eustatius, vital insights were gathered from the St. Eustatius Historical Foundation, the St. Eustatius Monument Foundation, and the archaeological research institute SECAR regarding the complexities of safeguarding colonial townscapes and underground archaeological heritage. By integrating these diverse local experts, the evaluation successfully grounded legal and policy frameworks into the lived realities and rich histories of the three islands.
Three islands, different problems
Bonaire has 25 protected monuments and two protected townscapes, many of which are in poor condition. Around 800 additional sites may also have heritage value. Rapid population growth and development have increased pressure on the island’s historic environment.
The evaluation found that heritage protection has largely stalled due to limited capacity, a lack of structural funding and insufficient political priority. Without an active monuments council, heritage responsibilities have become dispersed across government departments with limited specialised expertise. Strengthening awareness of the importance of heritage preservation among both policymakers and residents was identified as a key priority.
Saba currently has no officially protected monuments, although ten buildings have been identified as potential heritage sites. Over the past thirty years, the island has lost an estimated half of its heritage-worthy buildings.
While there is strong community support for preservation, the implementation of the Monuments Act is still in its early stages. Efforts are underway to establish a monuments council and continue heritage inventories, but structural funding and specialised expertise remain limited. Questions also persist about how broader forms of heritage, such as landscapes, burial sites and maritime heritage, should be protected.
St. Eustatius has 11 protected monuments, one protected townscape and an archaeological value map. However, limited awareness, expertise and institutional capacity continue to hinder effective heritage protection.
The evaluation highlighted the need to restart the implementation of the Monuments Act through renewed investment in knowledge and governance, including the establishment of an active monuments council. Particular attention was drawn to archaeological heritage and historic burial sites, which play an important role in understanding the island’s complex past.
Results
The evaluation shows that, across the BES islands, heritage protection is constrained by limited capacity, structural funding and weak institutional continuity. While legal frameworks exist, implementation in practice is often incomplete or stalled.
Across all three islands, there is uncertainty about what is formally protected and what qualifies as heritage. This is reinforced by limited access to specialized expertise and the absence or fragility of dedicated monuments councils. As a result, responsibilities are often dispersed across broader administrative domains such as spatial planning, where heritage expertise is not always sufficiently embedded.
At the same time, the research highlights strong local engagement and concern for heritage preservation. Community interest is present, but is not yet matched by the institutional structures needed to support long-term protection and maintenance. Finally, the evaluation points to a structural imbalance within the Kingdom: unlike in the European Netherlands, the BES islands have limited access to stable financing mechanisms for heritage conservation. This makes sustainable preservation dependent on ad hoc resources and external partnerships, rather than a consistent policy framework.
This research was published in English and a Dutch version with Papiamentu translations. Browse through the English version below or download one of the researches via the buttons below.
Evaluating the Monuments Act BES
The islands of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba are home to a unique cultural heritage. Historic buildings, archaeological sites and cultural landscapes tell stories of migration, trade, resilience and everyday life in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Yet much of this heritage is under pressure.
The evaluation, initiated by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and carried out by Ecorys, examined how the legislation has functioned since its introduction in 2010. The research was conducted in 2025. In 2026, the results were shared with the Ministry and subsequently presented to the Dutch House of Representatives. Since June, the findings have also been publicly available online.
Social Design Foundation considers it important to be involved in research such as this because it concerns vulnerable territories where heritage is closely linked to identity, history and community resilience. In contexts where institutional capacity and long-term resources are limited, evidence-based insights are essential to make structural challenges visible and to support more informed and equitable decision-making within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Approach
The study combined policy analysis with qualitative field research across Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius. It examined both the legal framework of the Monuments Act BES and its practical implementation since 2010, allowing for a comparison between policy intentions and on-the-ground realities.
Central to the approach were in-depth interviews with heritage professionals, policymakers, local authorities and community stakeholders. These conversations focused on how heritage protection is currently organized, where bottlenecks occur, and how different actors experience the implementation of the law in practice.
Social Design Foundation commissioned heritage expert Lyongo Juliana to conduct these interviews on the ground, together with the Ecorys research team. This collaboration allowed for a grounded perspective that connected legal and policy frameworks with lived realities on the islands, ensuring that local knowledge and experiences were an integral part of the evaluation.
Three islands, different problems
Bonaire has 25 protected monuments and two protected townscapes, many of which are in poor condition. Around 800 additional sites may also have heritage value. Rapid population growth and development have increased pressure on the island’s historic environment.
The evaluation found that heritage protection has largely stalled due to limited capacity, a lack of structural funding and insufficient political priority. Without an active monuments council, heritage responsibilities have become dispersed across government departments with limited specialised expertise. Strengthening awareness of the importance of heritage preservation among both policymakers and residents was identified as a key priority.
Saba currently has no officially protected monuments, although ten buildings have been identified as potential heritage sites. Over the past thirty years, the island has lost an estimated half of its heritage-worthy buildings.
While there is strong community support for preservation, the implementation of the Monuments Act is still in its early stages. Efforts are underway to establish a monuments council and continue heritage inventories, but structural funding and specialised expertise remain limited. Questions also persist about how broader forms of heritage, such as landscapes, burial sites and maritime heritage, should be protected.
St. Eustatius has 11 protected monuments, one protected townscape and an archaeological value map. However, limited awareness, expertise and institutional capacity continue to hinder effective heritage protection.
The evaluation highlighted the need to restart the implementation of the Monuments Act through renewed investment in knowledge and governance, including the establishment of an active monuments council. Particular attention was drawn to archaeological heritage and historic burial sites, which play an important role in understanding the island’s complex past.
Results
The evaluation shows that, across the BES islands, heritage protection is constrained by limited capacity, structural funding and weak institutional continuity. While legal frameworks exist, implementation in practice is often incomplete or stalled.
Across all three islands, there is uncertainty about what is formally protected and what qualifies as heritage. This is reinforced by limited access to specialized expertise and the absence or fragility of dedicated monuments councils. As a result, responsibilities are often dispersed across broader administrative domains such as spatial planning, where heritage expertise is not always sufficiently embedded.
At the same time, the research highlights strong local engagement and concern for heritage preservation. Community interest is present, but is not yet matched by the institutional structures needed to support long-term protection and maintenance. Finally, the evaluation points to a structural imbalance within the Kingdom: unlike in the European Netherlands, the BES islands have limited access to stable financing mechanisms for heritage conservation. This makes sustainable preservation dependent on ad hoc resources and external partnerships, rather than a consistent policy framework.
This research was published in English and a Dutch version with Papiamentu translations. Browse through the English version below or download one of the researches via the buttons below.
Monuments Act BES
Evaluating the Monuments Act BES
The islands of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba are home to a unique cultural heritage. Historic buildings, archaeological sites and cultural landscapes tell stories of migration, trade, resilience and everyday life in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Yet much of this heritage is under pressure.
The evaluation, initiated by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and carried out by Ecorys, examined how the legislation has functioned since its introduction in 2010. The research was conducted in 2025. In 2026, the results were shared with the Ministry and subsequently presented to the Dutch House of Representatives. Since June, the findings have also been publicly available online.
Social Design Foundation considers it important to be involved in research such as this because it concerns vulnerable territories where heritage is closely linked to identity, history and community resilience. In contexts where institutional capacity and long-term resources are limited, evidence-based insights are essential to make structural challenges visible and to support more informed and equitable decision-making within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Approach
The study combined policy analysis with qualitative field research across Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius. It examined both the legal framework of the Monuments Act BES and its practical implementation since 2010, allowing for a comparison between policy intentions and on-the-ground realities.
Central to the approach were in-depth interviews with heritage professionals, policymakers, local authorities and community stakeholders. These conversations focused on how heritage protection is currently organized, where bottlenecks occur, and how different actors experience the implementation of the law in practice.
Social Design Foundation commissioned heritage expert Lyongo Juliana to conduct these interviews on the ground, together with the Ecorys research team. This collaboration allowed for a grounded perspective that connected legal and policy frameworks with lived realities on the islands, ensuring that local knowledge and experiences were an integral part of the evaluation.
Three islands, different problems
Bonaire has 25 protected monuments and two protected townscapes, many of which are in poor condition. Around 800 additional sites may also have heritage value. Rapid population growth and development have increased pressure on the island’s historic environment.
The evaluation found that heritage protection has largely stalled due to limited capacity, a lack of structural funding and insufficient political priority. Without an active monuments council, heritage responsibilities have become dispersed across government departments with limited specialised expertise. Strengthening awareness of the importance of heritage preservation among both policymakers and residents was identified as a key priority.
Saba currently has no officially protected monuments, although ten buildings have been identified as potential heritage sites. Over the past thirty years, the island has lost an estimated half of its heritage-worthy buildings.
While there is strong community support for preservation, the implementation of the Monuments Act is still in its early stages. Efforts are underway to establish a monuments council and continue heritage inventories, but structural funding and specialised expertise remain limited. Questions also persist about how broader forms of heritage, such as landscapes, burial sites and maritime heritage, should be protected.
St. Eustatius has 11 protected monuments, one protected townscape and an archaeological value map. However, limited awareness, expertise and institutional capacity continue to hinder effective heritage protection.
The evaluation highlighted the need to restart the implementation of the Monuments Act through renewed investment in knowledge and governance, including the establishment of an active monuments council. Particular attention was drawn to archaeological heritage and historic burial sites, which play an important role in understanding the island’s complex past.
Results
The evaluation shows that, across the BES islands, heritage protection is constrained by limited capacity, structural funding and weak institutional continuity. While legal frameworks exist, implementation in practice is often incomplete or stalled.
Across all three islands, there is uncertainty about what is formally protected and what qualifies as heritage. This is reinforced by limited access to specialized expertise and the absence or fragility of dedicated monuments councils. As a result, responsibilities are often dispersed across broader administrative domains such as spatial planning, where heritage expertise is not always sufficiently embedded.
At the same time, the research highlights strong local engagement and concern for heritage preservation. Community interest is present, but is not yet matched by the institutional structures needed to support long-term protection and maintenance. Finally, the evaluation points to a structural imbalance within the Kingdom: unlike in the European Netherlands, the BES islands have limited access to stable financing mechanisms for heritage conservation. This makes sustainable preservation dependent on ad hoc resources and external partnerships, rather than a consistent policy framework.
This research was published in English and a Dutch version with Papiamentu translations. Browse through the English version below or download one of the researches via the buttons below.
