Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrix, Patroness of the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA), has completed her visit to Bonaire and St. Eustatius, visiting nature and community initiatives from November 18th to 21st, 2025. The visit celebrated the islands’ dedication to nature conservation and community initiatives, with a special focus on environmental restoration and social projects that connect people with nature across the Dutch Caribbean.
“This visit gave us the chance to highlight the importance of nature across the Dutch Caribbean and to take a closer look at the critical habitats that support our islands. It comes at a meaningful moment, as we have just launched our new Key Habitats Program, which brings all six islands together to strengthen and restore the ecosystems we all depend on.” Arno Verhoeven, Director, DCNA
Bonaire: Connecting Youth, Nature, and Restoration
Princess Beatrix began her visit on Bonaire with STINAPA Bonaire in Washington Slagbaai National Park, a rugged protected area of cactus forests, salt flats, and limestone terraces that shelter some of the island’s most iconic species. Her visit coincided with Festival di Planta Palu, an annual tree-planting event for primary school children that celebrates a love for nature.
Together with local students, the Princess planted a tree, symbolizing long-term commitment to reforestation and environmental stewardship. She then toured the park with STINAPA staff to learn more about its history, ecological significance, and ongoing conservation and restoration work.
“It was a privilege for us to welcome Her Royal Highness to Washington Slagbaai National Park, one of the living symbols of STINAPA’s commitment to preserving the unique landscapes and species of Bonaire. Her visit brings renewed attention and energy to our mission. It reminds us that every tree we plant, every child we educate, and every habitat we protect aids in preserving Bonaire’s nature for generations to come.” Melissa van Hoorn, Director of STINAPA
Later that afternoon, Princess Beatrix visited Tera Barra, Bonaire’s native plant nursery, where volunteers cultivate trees and shrubs for reforestation projects island-wide. Walking through the greenhouse and garden, she heard how restoring native vegetation supports freshwater storage, soil stabilization, and biodiversity recovery across Bonaire.
“We are honoured by the visit of Princess Beatrix and she was very impressed by what we have accomplished with all our volunteers these past few years. It was a joy and a privilege to show her our work and guide her through our nurseries and native garden.” Tera Barra.
On Wednesday, November 19th, the Princess joined the Mangrove Maniacs on Bonaire’s south coast to see how they are restoring mangrove forests that protect coastlines and provide critical nursery habitat for many species. Together with STINAPA’s Junior Rangers, she planted red mangrove trees and spoke with the youth about their experiences protecting the island’s natural environment.
“Having Princess Beatrix visit the southern wetlands meant a great deal to our team. The newly planted mangroves she saw are already taking root, and they play a key role in protecting our coastline from extreme weather and rising seas. Her visit brought well-deserved attention to the hard work of local volunteers and the importance of these young mangroves for the future of our coast.” Sabine Engel, Mangrove Maniacs.
“The STINAPA Junior Rangers are Bonaire’s future and guardians of our planet. Every mangrove they plant today strengthens the island’s resilience for generations to come. Princess Beatrix’s visit brings greater awareness to their efforts, inspiring others to protect Bonaire’s nature for future generations.” Allie Constantine, STINAPA Education Assistant,
The visit continued with a stop at Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire (RRFB), where staff demonstrated how active coral restoration contributes to reef resilience amid growing climate pressures. Princess Beatrix toured the RRFB office and lab facilities to see young corals from their breeding program and discussed with the team how community-led restoration is building hope for the future of coral reefs.
“RRFB was so proud to welcome Princess Beatrix to see our coral restoration work up close. This visit was an important opportunity for us to highlight the value of Bonaire’s coral reefs and the vital role that active restoration plays in securing their future!” Ernst Noyons, Chief Operating Officer RRFB
St. Eustatius: Reforestation, Endangered Species, and Youth Engagement
On Friday, November 21st, Princess Beatrix visited St. Eustatius, where her program focused on reforestation, biodiversity, and youth engagement.
She started the day at the ReforeStatia nursery, operated by the St. Eustatius National Parks Foundation (STENAPA), which grows native trees and shrubs to restore the island’s dry forests and reduce erosion. Terrestrial Rangers guided the Princess through the nursery, explaining how native species strengthen climate resilience, stabilize soils, and support local wildlife.
During her visit, Her Royal Highness also received a briefing on the protection of the Antillean iguana (Iguana delicatissima), a native species now critically endangered. In a powerful moment, a STENAPA staff member released an iguana into the wild in her presence, symbolizing ongoing efforts to safeguard the island’s unique wildlife.
In the afternoon, Princess Beatrix visited the Government Guest House, where STENAPA highlighted the importance of collaboration in environmental management and the deep connection between culture and nature. She spoke with various representatives on this topic and, together with STENAPA and community members, planted a tree to symbolize the bond between the organization and the people of St. Eustatius.
The visit concluded with the official opening of the Kings Well National Parks Center, STENAPA’s new headquarters. This modern facility will serve as a hub for research, conservation, and education, featuring a marine laboratory to support coral restoration and monitoring. Princess Beatrix toured the lab and spoke with Junior Rangers about their experiences and the importance of nature conservation for future generations.
“We are grateful to Princess Beatrix for officially opening the King’s Well National Parks Center. Her presence highlights the importance of this new facility for the future of conservation on St.
Eustatius and its benefit to the community, marking an important step in strengthening our long-term capacity for nature management.” Erik Boman, Director of STENAPA
A Regional Approach: The Key Habitats Program
The Royal Visit underscored the Dutch Caribbean’s growing cooperation in conservation. DCNA recently launched its Conservation and Restoration of Key Habitats Program, a long-term initiative that unites all six islands, Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten, under a shared strategy to protect and restore five crucial ecosystems: coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves, tropical dry forests, and tropical wet forests.
The Princess’s visit shines an important light on the work happening across the islands and shows clear support for the people dedicating their time to protecting nature. Her presence helps draw wider attention to these efforts, reinforcing how vital these ecosystems are for the future of the Dutch Caribbean.
