Police officer Ferry Bakx commemorated on Bonaire ten years after his death
KRALENDIJK - On Monday, 17 August 2026, the Caribbean Netherlands Police Corps (KPCN) commemorated the death of police officer Ferry Bakx. It has been exactly ten years since Bakx lost his life in the line of duty.
During a memorial ceremony at the police station, acting chief of police Rob Meijer spoke about the significance of the loss for the corps, his colleagues, and Bakx’s next of kin.
On 17 August 2016, Bakx responded to a call during his shift. As a police officer, he was committed to helping others and keeping Bonaire safe. That evening, he never came home.
"Today we do not only commemorate what happened that evening. We remember Ferry above all as a colleague and as a person. Someone with whom colleagues worked, laughed, shared shifts and experiences", said Meijer.
During the ceremony, a new commemorative plaque was unveiled at the police station. The plaque has been given a central location where staff pass by every day. In this way, the corps aims to keep the memory of Bakx visible and alive.
After the unveiling, a minute of silence was observed. Colleagues were also given the opportunity to lay a rose in memory of their late colleague.
In his speech, Meijer also paid tribute to the family and loved ones of Bakx. "For them, 17 August is not just a date in the history of our corps. The loss of Ferry will forever be part of their lives."
Ten years after his death, Bakx is not personally known to many of the current police officers. Nevertheless, the corps leadership emphasises that his name and story will remain part of the history of the KPCN.
