Interest among investors

grows

Dutch investors' interest in Curaçao real estate is rising sharply. According to real estate trade medium Property Market the island has rapidly grown from a second-home market to a mature holiday property investment market, driven in part by growing tourism and the tax and legal environment.

Curaçao brokers are seeing more and more Dutch investors selling their real estate in the Netherlands and setting their sights on the Caribbean. Joost Houtsma, co-owner of Re/max Bonbini Curaçao, explains in Property Market:

“Our legislation is similar and service providers literally speak the same language. For investors, that is much more approachable than Spain or Dubai.”

Tax and legal attractiveness

A major reason for the increased interest is the tax regime between the Netherlands and Curaçao. In many cases, real estate in Curaçao falls outside box 3 in the Netherlands, so there is little or no wealth tax on it. This can also be attractive for investments via a Dutch BV or a Curaçao structure.

Houtsma said:

“You only have to pay the tax in Curaçao, which is lower than in the Netherlands. Curaçao has no wealth tax and the sale is not taxed in most cases.”

Growing market, rising prices

According to Property Market real estate prices in Curaçao have been rising for several years, especially in the holiday homes and resorts segment. Price increases of 20 to 40 per cent are mentioned for this type of real estate over the past period. Commercial real estate is also on the rise, partly due to the growth of hotels, resorts and related facilities.

Tjarda Fuijkschot of Real Estate Caribe notes:

“It feels like the market is now more about quality and location than quick profits. Prices are likely to keep rising, but at a calmer pace.”

Tourism as an engine of the economy

Tourism is now Curaçao's main economic pillar. In 2025, the island will receive more than 1.7 million tourists, of which about 800,000 will be residential tourists. According to Houtsma, precisely this group is relevant to the real estate market:

“Growth in lodging tourism leads directly to increasing demand for real estate.”

International interest, including from the United States and Canada, further contributes to Curaçao's positioning as a stable and internationally oriented real estate market.

Balanced development

At the same time, market parties point to the importance of a good balance between growth, infrastructure and affordable housing for the local population. According to the brokers involved, this is where the government has an important role to play, so that economic development continues to go hand in hand with liveability.

Source
Property market - “Real estate Curaçao popular among Dutch investors ‘due to exemption in box 3’” (article behind login)

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