Bill on BSN and Digital Government for Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba sent to the House of Representatives
It must be easy and reliable for everyone on Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba to handle matters with the government, both at service counters and online. Therefore, in 2025, residents of the islands will receive a citizen service number (BSN). This is regulated by the bill that was sent to the House of Representatives today at the proposal of State Secretary Szabó (Digitalisation and Kingdom Relations BZK). With that, the introduction of the BSN is on track.
Improved Government Services
The introduction of the BSN is a first step towards better government services. In addition to in-person services at the counters, residents will increasingly be able to handle government matters online in the future. That service must also be safe and reliable. Therefore, it is necessary for everyone to have one reliable personal number and login tool for the entire government. The BSN gives the government certainty about the identity of a person. In due course, it can be used at all official authorities in the Caribbean and European Netherlands. Most residents now still have the ID number. That number remains in use temporarily after the introduction of the BSN.
Increasingly Digital
The bill also sets out requirements for the use of online login methods, such as DigiD for residents and eHerkenning (eRecognition) for entrepreneurs. A BSN can be used to apply for a DigiD to log on to websites of official authorities and organisations connected to DigiD. This is possible immediately with official authorities and organisations in the European Netherlands. In the future, this will also increasingly be possible with official authorities on Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba. Currently, governments on the islands are working on connecting services to DigiD. To do this, the systems must first be changed. Governments are therefore connecting to DigiD step by step, so that in the future, more and more government services of the islands become available online.
Opinion Council of State
The Council of State issued a positive opinion on the bill. On a number of issues, the bill was subsequently adjusted and again properly coordinated with governments on Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba. An important change is that the inclusion of the BSN on new ID cards (sédula) has been removed from the bill. This better protects the BSN, as the number is less likely to end up with, for example, commercial organizations. The Public Entity becomes responsible for the allocation of the BSN to its own residents, in the same way as it is the case for municipalities.