- 19-02-2026
- 10:00 - 14:00
- Amersfoort + Oranjestad (St. Eustatius) + online
Location St. Eustatius: The Barrel House, Lower Town, Orangebay Road 38, Oranjestad | Location Amersfoort: Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, Smallepad 5
Saba and St. Eustatius are two small islands in the Caribbean. Within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, they share the status of “special municipality” together with Bonaire. The history of Saba and St. Eustatius goes back thousands of years, and much of this past can still be seen in the landscape. Experts from Saba and St. Eustatius, from the wider Caribbean, and from the European Netherlands have researched and documented this cultural heritage. On 19 February 2026, they will present their findings at a symposium organized by the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE) and the Public Entities of Saba and St. Eustatius.
On Saba, The Unspoiled Queen of the Caribbean, people have continually adapted to changing circumstances. Its nature is pristine, and the island is renowned for its cloud forest on the volcano and the coral reef of the Saba Bank. St. Eustatius, The Historical Gem of the Caribbean, has a very different history. It was once the center of Caribbean trade. Goods from all over the world were traded here, and it was also an important port in the trade of enslaved people. Today, both islands have their own distinctive architecture, landscapes, celebrations, and traditions.
For the first time, the landscapes and heritage of Saba and St. Eustatius have been brought together in two books and in digitally accessible maps. This is necessary, as the spatial challenges are significant. Tourism, housing development, demographic changes, and climate change threaten the character of both islands.
A live connection will be established on this day between St. Eustatius and Amersfoort, allowing residents of both the Caribbean Netherlands and the European Netherlands to learn about the shared histories of Saba and St. Eustatius.
Registration
The event will take place simultaneously in Amersfoort (3:00–7:00 p.m.) and on St. Eustatius (10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.). It is also possible to follow the event online via a livestream.
Participation is free of charge. However, registration is required for attendance in Amersfoort and for online participation. You can register via the button below. For questions about the symposium, you can contact Gertjan de Boer (g.de.boer@cultureelerfgoed.nl).
For participation on St. Eustatius, registration via this page is not necessary. Please send an email to Shandra Rouse at getit@duobrandits.com.
Program (St. Eustatius time)
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 09.45 | Walk-in |
| 09.50 | Digital walk-in |
| 10.00 | Welcome by moderators Raimie Richardson (Public Entity St. Eustatius) on St. Eustatius and Henk Baas (Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands) in Amersfoort |
| 10.15 | Presentation on the concept ‘landscape biography’ and European-Caribbean cooperation in the field of heritage Gertjan de Boer (Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands) |
| 10.30 | Interactive moment between the Caribbean and European Netherlands |
| 10.45 | Break with photo compilation of St. Eustatius |
| 11.00 | Introduction to the Landscape Biography of St. Eustatius and conversation with islanders and authors Raimie Richardson (Public Entity of St. Eustatius) |
| 11.45 | Introduction to the Landscape Biography of Saba and conversation with islanders and authors Sharifa Balfour (Saba Heritage Center) |
| 12.30 | Break with photo compilation of Saba |
| 12.45 |
Presenting landscape biographies and launch of heritage atlases, followed by closing remarks |
| 13.15 |
Shared lunch |