Venezuela Frees 3 Dutch Citizens After 7-Month Detention

After seven months of uncertainty, three Dutch citizens walked free from Venezuelan detention this week and are now on their way home to the Netherlands.

Among them are a Dutch ship captain and his wife, who were arrested last year while on an expedition to locate a World War II wreck believed to contain valuable copper. Venezuelan authorities detained them and their international crew off the coast, suspecting espionage. What was meant to be a historical exploration turned into months of separation from family and home.

Foreign Minister David van Weel personally advocated for their release after they were excluded from earlier prisoner releases. His persistence paid off when Venezuelan officials agreed to hand all three Dutch nationals over to the Dutch embassy in Caracas on Friday.

The couple and a third Dutch citizen, whose identity remains private, were the only known Dutch nationals detained in Venezuela. Their families received the news they'd been waiting months to hear.

The Ripple Effect

This release extends far beyond the Netherlands. Venezuela freed dozens of foreign nationals overnight as part of a broader diplomatic shift, responding to pressure from the United States and international partners. Prisoners from the Czech Republic, Ireland, Romania, and Germany also returned to their home countries during this wave of releases.

The coordinated effort demonstrates how sustained diplomatic work and international cooperation can bring people home. Multiple governments worked behind the scenes, refusing to let their citizens be forgotten.

Van Weel called the news "very good" for the families and for the Netherlands, expressing relief that no Dutch nationals remain in Venezuelan custody. For the families who've spent months wondering when their loved ones would return, the answer finally came.

The captain and his wife can now resume their lives, though their archaeological expedition remains unfinished. What matters most is that three people who set out seeking history are now making their own journey home.