From 11 November, residents of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba receive a BSN
Following the House of Representatives, the Senate has also given the green light for the introduction of the citizen service number (BSN) and digital government services on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. This means that the Civil Affairs Departments of the three islands are able to issue the BSN to their residents, and the residents can collect their personal BSN letter during the BSN collection weeks starting on 11 November 2025. After the collection weeks, the BSN can always be requested from the Civil Affairs Department. Residents who already have a BSN will keep the same number and can also collect a letter.
State Secretary Van Marum: "This is another important step towards providing equal services to the residents of Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba. I believe it is important that residents are well informed about what the new digital possibilities mean for them. That is why residents are being informed about what the BSN is and how to use it safely. All information is available in multiple languages and can be found both online and offline. We are doing everything we can to reach as many residents as possible."
Better government services
The introduction of the BSN is a first step that will enable residents to use online government services in the future. With the BSN, all residents soon have a single unique personal identification number for all government agencies. It can be used to apply for the DigiD login tool. Government organisations in the Caribbean Netherlands can also switch to the use of the BSN and DigiD in the coming years, as soon as their systems have been adapted. This enables residents to use their BSN and DigiD to conduct more and more business with government agencies online in the future.
