Curaçao at 15: A Nation and a Dream

Curaçao at 15: A Nation and a Dream

30 September 2025

October is here. On October 10th, Curaçao celebrates its 15th anniversary as an independent country. It is a milestone, marked not only by a conference but also by more profound reflections. A book is being prepared, and more initiatives may follow.

Yet one reality weighs on us: there is a growing sense that we are not better off than we were 15 years ago. The promise of 10-10-10 remains unfulfilled for many.

Still, history has a way of offering moments of hope. On that same day, our national football team, the Blues, will face Jamaica. A victory could bring Curaçao closer to qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making it the smallest nation ever to achieve this feat. Such an achievement would not erase our challenges, but it would remind us of what is possible.

If Chong scores, it may echo Churandy Martina’s sprint in Beijing—a symbol of pride, resilience, and belonging. Sport, at its best, gives us a glimpse of our collective strength. It does not solve our structural problems, but it demonstrates that Curaçao has the talent, spirit, and will to stand tall on the world stage.

Fifteen years on, perhaps the actual task is this: to channel those moments of unity into lasting progress. To prove that we are capable of more—not only in sport, but in building the nation we dreamed of in 2010.

Wouldn’t that be the real celebration?

Miguel Goede