About HaVen

Quality prevails while time
is of the essence.

HaVen distinguishes itself from other firms in the Dutch Caribbean by choosing highly skilled people with a lot of experience, working in small teams with profound director involvement, and offering short lines of communication. In building our workforce, we always maintain a certain amount of additional capacity. This provides room for growth for our staff and flexibility in servicing our clients timely throughout the year.

HaVen is the first local Sint Maarten audit, accounting, and consultancy firm, specializing in governance, risk, and compliance. Next to mainstream audits and accounting services, clients seek our advice for e.g. quick scans of their compliance with corporate governance, evaluation of policy procedures, and forensic audits or reviews. Our business philosophy is straightforward: quality prevails while time is of the essence.
 
HaVen is an acronym of Hassink (Martin) and Van Engelen (Erik), the founders. Both worked for PwC, and when Martin was the Minister of Finance, he collaborated with Erik as a financial supervisor. Both Erik and Martin have run the Baker Tilly office in St. Maarten. In 2020, they decided to officially team up as HaVen, the first local auditing firm on the island of St. Maarten.

Our team

Erik van Engelen

director

Erik Spek

director

Lettitia Peterson

manager

Marco Aalbers

senior tax advisor

Ton van den Borg

Tax advisor

Junior Toussaint

accountant

Jean Bernard Juillet

ACCOUNTANT

Alexis Duzong

Office Assistant

Kim Bandjar

senior accountant

Jennifer Newton

accountant

Amy Somoredjo

accountant

Therése Gotschin

Accountant

Barbara van der Woude

communication officer

Fleur Lugtig

assistant accountant

Joleen Zijlstra

trainee

Daniel Ramsamoedj

senior accountant

Maria York

manager compilation

Daryll Medar

senior accountant

Sabrina Stienstra

accountant

Daniel Ramsamoedj

senior accountant

Bernice Pawirotaroeno

Accountant

Sharief Kromodihardjo

Accountant

Anna Kasim

tax compliance officer

Chelsea Kasim

ACCOUNTANT

Stephanie Gentle

Accountant

Jurgen Kloppenburg

accountant

Ruby Aalse

tax compliance officer

Rohan Jialal

Accountant

Contact

Location

Welfare Rd 68,
Commercial Center 2
Cole Bay, St. Maarten

Our hours

8:00 AM – 5.00 PM
Monday – Friday

Contact us

Phone: +599 790 2833
Whatsapp: +1721 524 2833
Email: vanengelen@havensxm.com

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Erik van Engelen

Founder

Erik van Engelen (1979) started his career with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Curaçao in 2003. After obtaining his audit certification degree (‘Register Accountant’) in 2008, he moved back to the Netherlands and continued working for PwC in Amsterdam. After seven years of auditing, he decided to move back to the Dutch Caribbean and started working for the Financial Supervisory Board (Cft), then based in Curaçao. Erik opened Cft offices in both St. Maarten and Aruba and lived in St. Maarten from 2012-2014. In 2016 he moved back to the Netherlands and started working as a Compliance Officer for Flynth, the sixth’ largest accounting firm in the Netherlands. He moved back to St. Maarten in 2018, just after Irma hit the Island and worked for Baker Tilly up to 2020.

Erik Spek

director

Erik Spek (1973) began his career at Arthur Andersen in Rotterdam and continued at PwC in St. Maarten and Curaçao. There, he gained extensive experience in accountancy and in advising businesses in the region and Suriname.

 

After gaining 11 years of experience at major accounting firms in the Netherlands, St. Maarten, and Curaçao, Erik transitioned to the banking sector, where he held several management positions. He served as Team Head in the back office of DVB Bank in Curaçao, leading an accounting team. Following his years as Team Head in the back office, he took on various other roles within DVB, where he developed expertise in lending, portfolio management, and financial analysis. He then worked as Financial Controller at COUNT Energy Trading in Rotterdam.

 

Since October 2025, Erik has been affiliated with HaVen as Director. With his broad background in accountancy, controlling, and international finance, he applies his knowledge and experience to support HaVen’s continued growth in Bonaire, St. Maarten, Suriname, and the Netherlands. His return to the Caribbean part of the Kingdom underscores his strong connection to the region.

Lettitia Peterson

accountant

Born and raised on the beautiful isle of Sint Maarten, Lettitia Peterson has always been immersed in a vibrant and dynamic environment. Her professional journey began in the hospitality industry, where she developed strong administrative and service skills that are foundational to her career.

In 2020, seeking a new challenge and a fresh direction, Lettitia transitioned into the accounting sector. Joining a small accounting firm, she immersed herself in the intricacies of the industry, gaining valuable insights and upgrading her skillset significantly.

Lettitia’s expertise extends to local labor laws and tax procedures, areas where she is particularly well-versed. As she continues to build on her experience, Lettitia is eager to further expand her knowledge and skills, contributing to the success of her team and the satisfaction of their clients.Dedicated to continuous learning and professional growth, Lettitia strives to enhance her capabilities and deliver exceptional results consistently.

Marco Aalbers

senior tax advisor

Marco Aalbers is an experienced tax advisor and former tax inspector with over ten years of experience in St. Maarten. He has worked in both the public and private sectors, including with PwC Dutch Caribbean, advising businesses and individuals on local and international tax matters.

His areas of expertise include tax optimization, international tax law, cross-border structures, and cryptocurrency taxation. In addition to his advisory work, Marco lectures at the University of Curaçao Dr. Moises da Costa Gomez and is committed to making tax knowledge more accessible.

Marco is co-author of Capita Selecta; Caribisch Fiscaal Recht and contributed to Vakstudie Belastingrecht Deel 16 – Caribisch Fiscaal Recht (Wolters Kluwer). He is also the initiator of the annual English-language publication St. Maarten Tax Legislation.

Ton van den Borg

Tax advisor

Ton van der Borg is an accomplished tax consultant with over two decades of experience in tax compliance and consultancy, specializing in individual and expatriate taxation, cross-border labor, and corporate tax.

Junior Toussaint

accountant

Junior Toussaint is a driven professional from St. Maarten who began his career in 2022 as an Office Clerk at SOL Antilles N.V. He later gained accounting and payroll experience at Grant Thornton and Simpson Bay Resort, handling payroll processing and supporting various financial tasks.
Before that, he volunteered with the Department of Statistics at the Sint Maarten Government and the international organization IRMA, and completed internships at Henderson Insurances and Kooyman B.V.
Currently pursuing a degree in Business Administration with a focus on Accounting, Junior aspires to become a qualified ACCA member. He is known for his dedication, work ethic, and faith-based values.

Jean Bernard

INtern

Jean-Bernard is a dedicated professional with a passion for accounting and finance, continually seeking to advance his educational and professional development. He earned a Level 5 Diploma in Business and Accounting before completing his Level 6 Graduate Diploma (EQF level 6) in Accounting and Finance from Oxford Graduate College in 2024. Currently serving as an Accounting Intern at HaVen, Jean Bernard brings fresh knowledge in recording, analyzing financial transactions, and financial reporting , supported by his achievement of the CAPM® certification. His commitment to ongoing learning is evident in his pursuit of further educational and professional opportunities to enhance his expertise and contribute effectively to clients’ financial success.

Alexis Duzong

Office Assistant

Alexis Duzong is an Office Assistant at HaVen, where she is gaining hands-on experience in a professional accounting and advisory environment. Curious, motivated, and eager to learn, she enjoys developing new skills, taking on new challenges, and supporting the team in its day-to-day activities.

Alexis attended St. Dominic High School and plans to pursue a college education in Accounting, with the ambition of further developing her knowledge and building a career in the field.

Outside of work, Alexis is focused on personal growth and continuous learning. She is always looking for opportunities to broaden her skills, gain new experiences, and develop both personally and professionally.

Kim Bandjar

senior accountant

Kim is experienced in financial and administrative services and specializes in QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop. With her broad background in bookkeeping and business administration, she helps entrepreneurs organize their financial administration in a clear, reliable, and practical way.

From setting up and structuring accounting systems to invoicing, accounts receivable and accounts payable management, and financial reporting, Kim ensures that financial records are accurate and provide practical support for day-to-day business operations. She also assists entrepreneurs with the transition from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online, provides QuickBooks training, and helps review, clean up, and improve existing accounting records.

With her structured approach, practical accounting knowledge, and extensive QuickBooks expertise, Kim makes financial administration clear and manageable for entrepreneurs.

Jennifer Newton

accountant

Jennifer Newton was born in Calgary, Canada and raised on St. Maarten. She brings a broad international background and, after thirteen years in the Netherlands, has lived in Curaçao since 2021. With over fifteen years of experience as a financial professional and additional expertise in HR and payroll, she supports clients with clear and practical solutions. Jennifer places the client at the center of her work and strives to create clarity, structure, and peace of mind. She continues to develop her expertise through a four-year program and additional courses to keep her professional knowledge up to date.

Amy Somoredjo

accountant

Amy Somoredjo is an ambitious and driven professional with an Associate Degree in Human Resource Management and extensive hands-on experience in finance, accounting, and payroll administration. She is known for her attention to detail, accuracy, and eagerness to learn. With her strong sense of responsibility and goal-oriented mindset, she continuously strives to develop herself professionally and add value to her work environment.

Outside of work, Amy enjoys an active lifestyle, including sports such as padel and Pilates. She also loves spending time in the kitchen, where she can express her passion for cooking.

Therése Gotschin

accountant

Therése Gotschin is born and raised in Suriname.
She studied economics at high school, English at college and several Computer, Financial and Human Resources courses.
She has a passion for accounting with over 11 years of experience in Bookkeeping , Human Resources and Customer Services. Besides bookkeeping and payroll, she is our go to person for drafting legal agreements and she assists HaVen with the revenue and receivables cycle.

Barbara van der Woude

communication officer

Barbara van der Woude supports HaVen with various communication activities. She has extensive experience as a communications advisor in Sint Maarten, Curaçao and the Netherlands, where she assisted organizations in developing clear and accessible communication for both internal and external audiences. For example, she supported the World Bank Trust Fund Team on Sint Maarten after Hurricane Irma and was responsible for the marketing and communication of the General Pension Fund of Sint Maarten for several years. Barbara is currently working as a communications advisor for the Caribbean Netherlands Government Service on Bonaire.

Within HaVen, Barbara focuses on corporate communication, content creation and positioning, using her strengths to make complex topics understandable and to build connections between professionals, clients and partners.

Fleur Lugtig

assistant accountant

Fleur Lugtig started her career at HaVen as an intern at our Bonaire office, combining her Accountancy studies with hands-on experience in the field. After completing her internship, she returned to the Netherlands to finish her studies in Amsterdam.

Fleur has remained part of the HaVen team and continues to support our accounting practice remotely, assisting with bookkeeping and the preparation of financial statements. Based in the Netherlands, she also serves our Dutch clients, allowing her to gain practical experience with Dutch tax laws and regulations.

By working across both our Dutch and Caribbean practices, Fleur continues to expand her knowledge and develop her skills while gaining valuable international experience in accounting.

Joleen Zijlstra

trainee

Joleen is pursuing a Master’s degree in Tax Law at the University of Amsterdam and is part of HaVen’s team in Bonaire. With her academic background in tax law, she combines up-to-date tax knowledge with practical experience.

At HaVen, Joleen works on tax-related matters and assists with preparing tax returns, conducting tax research, and preparing advice for entrepreneurs and organizations. As part of her work, she focuses on the tax laws and regulations applicable to Bonaire and the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

With her meticulous approach, analytical mindset, and strong interest in taxation, Joleen makes a valuable contribution to HaVen’s tax services.

Daniel Ramsamoedj

senior accountant

Daniel Ramsamoedj grew up and studied in Suriname. He studied at the Anton de Kom University of Suriname where he obtained his Bachelor degree in Business Economics, which is soon to be followed by a Master’s Degree.

Over the past 10 years, Daniel worked as a corporate sales representative in the telecommunication industry, as account manager at IT company ClearIT Solutions, and as junior accountant at Finabank. His latest professional experience is that of Deputy Director Finance of Surinam’s Wanica Hospital.

Maria York

manager compilation

Maria York started her career in Trinidad and Tobago gaining over ten years’ experience in accounting within diverse business sectors. She worked for a non-profit organization as a Senior Finance Officer She worked for a non-profit organization functioning as a Senior Finance Officer, she was a Senior Accounts Clerk at an insurance company and an Assistant Accountant at an investment bank. She moved to Sint Maarten in 2017 after receiving the opportunity to work at Baker Tilly, where she was able to expand her professional career in auditing, financial reporting, and corporate governance. She spent four years at Baker Tilly where she started as an Assistant Accountant and grew to a Senior Assistant Accountant. Maria has her BSc (Hons) in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes University along with being an ACCA student affiliate. She is working towards obtaining full ACCA membership.  She is result oriented, strives towards quality professional service and is an all-round team player.

Daryll Medar

senior accountant

Daryll Medar was born in Suirnam. He has experience in customer care, quality management, finance, and accounting. Following his career at Telenamic Suriname, he worked for several consulting firms, where he assisted companies in obtaining the ISO 9001 certification, implemented financial software, and trained the employees in the area of quality management, customer care, Microsoft Excel, QuickBooks, AccountView and bookkeeping.

In the past years, Daryll served as Finance Manager in the automotive industry and healthcare. In addition, he continues to implement financial software for several small companies as well as assisting these companies with their bookkeeping, annual financial reports and tax preparation.

Daryll has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Economics from the Anton de Kom University and has completed several modules from the Master of Research methods and Master of Business Administration.

Sabrina Stienstra

accountant

Sabrina Stienstra was born and raised in Suriname. She moved to Sint Maarten in 2016. She has worked in administration in mostly retail environments. Sabrina has an affinity for numbers, and she is eager to expand her knowledge of accounting, payroll and tax administration. She has been working as a freelance Spanish translator since obtaining her Bachelor’s degree in Communication from Leidse Onderwijs Instellingen (LOI).

Bernice Pawirotaroeno

accountant

Bernice Pawirotaroeno, born in Suriname, started her career at the largest insurance company Assuria N.V. in Suriname. She has gained knowledge and experience for 23 years as a financial accountant in mortgages, agencies and cash monitoring. As a policy administrator, she has also implemented medical insurance policies in accordance with acceptance policy in accordance with the authorization matrix. Furthermore, she wants to continue to provide good service to all her future customers and takes up any challenge as long as there is the potential to do so.

Sharief Kromodihardjo

accountant

Sharief Kromodihardjo is a motivated professional with a background in finance and passion for precision. He is Currently studying to become an accountant assistant to further deepen his knowledge and skills. Alongside his studies, he holds the position of finance manager, in which he is responsible for managing financial processes and monitoring budgets. 

Sharief is known for his analytical mindset and attention to detail. His strong affinity with numbers enables him to interpret complex financial data effectively. He is result-oriented, reliable, and possesses strong problem solving abilities. His ambition is to grow into a well-rounded financial specialist capable of supporting organizations strategically. 

Anna Kasim

accountant

Anna Kasim was born in Suriname and brings over 30 years of experience from her time at Medlab, where she became a trusted and key figure within the organization. With educational backgrounds in Office Management, Tax Advising, and Accountancy, she has built up broad expertise in financial administration and tax-related matters. Her knowledge of logistics, inventory management, and customer-oriented service played a vital role in the company’s growth and development. Anna approaches her work with dedication, precision, and enthusiasm — qualities she also brings to serve our clients. 

Chelsea Kasim

accountant

Chelsea Kasim is a driven professional with a background in International Business Management from the FHR School of Business. She has gained experience in financial administration, HR, and inventory management at various organizations, including N.V. Brotherhood Security and Alegria Suriname N.V. 

At HaVen, Chelsea contributes her expertise in payroll, communication, and process optimization. Her multilingual skills (Dutch, English, Spanish) and client-focused approach align seamlessly with HaVen’s values of commitment and efficiency. 

Stephanie Gentle

accountant

Stephanie Gentle is an experienced and motivated finance administrator and manager from Paramaribo, Suriname. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and has gained valuable experience in both retail management and financial administration. 

In recent years, she has contributed in the role of Market Center Administrator within the real estate sector, focusing on streamlining financial processes, providing administrative support, and coordinating strategic activities in a dynamic work environment. 

With her creative and solution-oriented mindset, strong communication skills, and passion for teamwork, Stephanie consistently strives to bring out the best in herself and her team. She is known for her perseverance and ability to perform under pressure. 

Jurgen Kloppenburg

accountant

Jurgen Kloppenburg lives in Suriname and has extensive experience in the financial sector, including a background at the Surinamese Airline Company, where he worked in the Finance Department, Cash and Bank section. He also serves on the executive board of the staff union as treasurer, responsible for managing finances and preparing annual reports. Jurgen is reliable, detail-oriented, and committed — qualities he now brings to his role at HaVen. 

Ruby Aalse

tax compliance officer

Ruby was born in Suriname. After completing high school, she started her career in the hospitality industry. Later, she gained extensive experience as an administrative employee in areas including financial administration, payroll administration, customer service, and taxation.

Her work in the field of taxation further stimulated her interest in tax consultancy. Therefore, she has recently started the higher professional education program for Tax Consultant. Additionally, she is about to complete the Practical Diploma in Accounting.

Rohan Jialal

accountant

Rohan Jialal is a motivated Business Administration student at the FHR School of Business in Suriname, with a planned specialization in Management/Financial Accounting. He has a strong interest in the business world, with a particular focus on how organizations develop, grow, and create value for their customers. Rohan aspires to deepen his expertise in accountancy and pursue certification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the future. 

Despite his young age, he has already gained valuable work experience in both administrative and commercial roles. Rohan possesses strong leadership skills and organizational insight, enabling him to contribute effectively to well-structured business operations, both independently and as part of a team.