Minister Plenipotentiary of Sint Maarten H.E. Drs. Gracita R. Arrindell, attended a reception in The Hague hosted by the Embassy of Chile in the Kingdom of the Netherlands to commemorate Chile’s National Day and celebrate the country’s culture, identity, and traditions.
The gathering brought together members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of international organizations and international courts, entrepreneurs, academics, and members of the Chilean community residing in the Netherlands.
The participation of Minister Plenipotentiary Arrindell reflects Sint Maarten’s continued engagement with diplomatic missions and international partners in the Netherlands. It also creates space for future dialogue between Sint Maarten and Chile in areas of mutual interest, including tourism, trade and investment, culture, education, sustainable development, maritime affairs, and cooperation within multilateral institutions based in The Hague.
Maintaining a visible presence broadens our international relationship, raises awareness of the country’s priorities, and identify opportunities for practical cooperation. While the reception itself does not constitute a formal agreement, such engagements serve as an important starting point for future contacts between officials, businesses, cultural organizations, and academic institutions.
The reception was hosted by H.E. Hernán Bascuñán Jiménez, Ambassador of Chile to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, who assumed his post in June 2026 after presenting his Letters of Credence to King Willem-Alexander at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague.
Ambassador Bascuñán is a career diplomat and lawyer educated at the University of Chile. He is a graduate of the Andrés Bello Diplomatic Academy and has specialized in public international law and international relations. He previously served as Director of the Andrés Bello Diplomatic Academy and held diplomatic assignments as Chile’s ambassador to Sweden, Latvia, and the Czech Republic, as well as Consul General in São Paulo, Brazil.
The National Day reception highlighted Chile’s enduring commitment to international cooperation and its longstanding connections with the Netherlands and the wider diplomatic community in The Hague.
¡Viva Chile!
