Dutch civil law under the Caribbean sun. Whether you are investing, incorporating, buying property or recovering a debt across borders, here is how the law works — and how we help.
Aruba is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It runs its own civil-law system, closely modelled on Dutch law, while sharing an appellate court and a Supreme Court with the wider Dutch Caribbean. For international clients that combination is rare and valuable: the legal certainty and codified predictability of continental European law, delivered in a stable, English-friendly Caribbean business environment.
In practice this means contracts are read through the familiar Dutch lens of reasonableness and fairness, company structures resemble those investors already know from the Netherlands, and court decisions can ultimately be tested before the Supreme Court of the Netherlands in The Hague. It is a framework built for cross-border business — and Glas & Glas works within it in English, Dutch, Spanish and Papiamento.
Where civil, commercial, labour and administrative cases begin — including summary proceedings (kort geding) for urgent relief.
The shared appellate court for Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and the BES Islands hears appeals from the first-instance courts.
Final cassation in The Hague — the same apex court as the European Netherlands, anchoring Aruba's case law in Dutch legal tradition.
Aruba's legal framework is a gateway, not a barrier. These are the areas where international clients most often ask for our help.
Set up a VBA or NV, obtain your licences and meet AML/LWTF compliance — with modern minority-shareholder protection since the 2021 reform.
Corporate law →No nationality restrictions apply. We handle title verification, full ownership vs. long-lease land (erfpacht), the notarial transfer and the tax picture.
Real estate →Relocating, retiring or investing in Aruba? We guide you through residence permits, investor routes and work-permit requirements.
Ask about residency →A Caribbean debtor or a dispute spanning jurisdictions? We recover cross-border debts throughout the region — including on contingency for Netherlands-based clients.
International collections →
Moving to the island, structuring an investment or protecting family capital — we set out the options in plain language, so you know where you stand before you commit.
On 1 September 2021 Aruba brought its Civil Code into line with the current Dutch and Curaçao systems — a real advantage for anyone taking a minority position in an Aruban company. The reformed Book 2 gives shareholders a codified right to exit (uittreding) that forces the company to buy out a shareholder in cash when relations have irreparably broken down; any clause that tries to block that exit is void by law.
It also provides the right of inquiry (enquête) before the Joint Court of Justice, with far-reaching immediate measures — suspending resolutions or directors, appointing an interim director, or transferring shares into administration while the conduct of the company is investigated. Glas & Glas litigates exactly these proceedings, turning the protection the 2021 reform put on paper into real leverage for our clients.
Aruba has its own autonomous civil-law system built on Dutch principles. Its Civil Code closely mirrors the Dutch Burgerlijk Wetboek, and the highest court of appeal is the Supreme Court of the Netherlands.
Yes — there is no nationality restriction on owning real estate. Foreign buyers can hold full ownership (eigendom) or long-lease land (erfpacht). A civil-law notary executes the transfer; legal due diligence on title is strongly recommended.
Foreign investors typically incorporate a VBA or NV before a notary, register with the Chamber of Commerce, and obtain a business/directors' licence plus any sector permits. AML (LWTF) client-due-diligence steps apply to certain services.
English, Dutch, Spanish and Papiamento — so you can deal with your lawyer in the language you are most comfortable in.
Tell us what you are planning in Aruba. We will tell you plainly where the law stands and what to do next.
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