The Bottom, Saba- The celebration of Saba Day this year was made extra special by the visit of the King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima to the island.

The Royal couple paid a visit to Saba yesterday as part of a bigger trip to provide moral support to the inhabitants of the Windward islands after the passing of hurricane Irma and Maria, which caused considerable damage also to the islands of St. Eustatius and Saba.

Of course the visit to Saba on Saba Day was no coincidence, but rather a way of underscoring the special bond between the Netherlands and Saba as the smallest ‘special municipality’ in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Saba has been widely praised as the best performer in the three so-called BES-islands (Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba), for having its financial house in order, a strong focus on the principles of Good Governance and by far the most stable political situation of the three islands with direct ties to The Netherlands.

King Willem-Alexander in his speech called Saba ’the Pearl of the Kingdom’ and ’the Queen we cherish’.

“By the way, I know what it’s like to be cherished by a queen, but living here is great too”, the King added jokingly, highlighting the informal atmosphere of the Royal visit to Saba.