Willemstad, Feb. 2022. The Netherlands the royal family was transported from Aruba to Curacao aboard the Holland-class offshore patrol vessel HNLMS Holland (P-84).

Geopolitical Monitor discusses the six islands of the Dutch Caribbean, part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The Netherlands has been a good partner in drug interdiction operations in the Caribbean. The four ships of the Holland class are in many ways similar in size and characteristics to the Offshore Patrol Cutters. The Netherlands Navy tends to keep one of these ships in the Caribbean, and they frequently host US Coast Guard Law Enforcement teams. At least once they also hosted a Coast Guard H-65 airborne use of force helicopter.

The post talks about the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard (DCCG, or Kustwacht Caribisch Gebied: KCG),

“…which has facilities in Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Marteen. This agency carries out missions involving search and rescue, law enforcement, and maritime interdiction. The DCCG’s fleet includes three Damen Stan Patrol 4100 cutters (slightly smaller but similar to the Webber class–Chuck), Jaguar, Panther, and Puma, five Boston Whaler Justice 20 craft, and 12 Metal Shark Defiant interceptor vessels. In addition, in April 2022, the Dutch organization for defense equipment (Defensie Materieel Organisatie) announced that two helicopters were acquired from Bristow Helicopters and will be delivered in 2023. The DCCG currently operates two DHC-8 aircraft and two AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters.”

They even have had long range, medium altitude unmanned search aircraft assigned, something the US Coast Guard still does not have,

“The DCCG’s surveillance capabilities were expanded in late March 2022, with the arrival to Curaçao of three General Atomics MQ-9A Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles and two ground stations. The Reapers assist Dutch Caribbean military personnel in combating organized crime and illegal fishing, among other activities. They will remain in Curacao until 1 July 2023.”

The post alludes to Venezuelan’ threats to Dutch Caribbean islands that lay off the Venezuelan coast (Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire). While the Venezuelan military is far more powerful than the forces the Netherlands keeps in the Caribbean, it is hard to take these threats seriously since, an attack on even one of the islands, would be an attack on NATO.

On a personal note, really enjoyed a stopover in Aruba in the early 80s while it was snowing back in our Portland, Maine homeport–my wife will never let me forget.

Thanks to Lee for bringing this to my attention.