.E. Yrausquin Boulevard 250
Oranjestad, Aruba
Telephone 297-8-79000
 The
island was originally inhabited by a tribe of Arawak Indians who
migrated here from Venezuela. Many sites on Aruba still bear the
original Indian names, and many of today's Arubans still reflect the
faces of their native ancestors.
Spanish explorers arrived in Aruba in the 15th century and
eventually colonized the island. But in 1636 the Dutch took over,
and Aruba has remained Dutch ever since. In 1986,
Aruba became a separate entity within the
Kingdom of the
Netherlands,
while prior to 1986, Aruba was a member of the Netherland Antilles.
Oranjestad, named after the Dutch Royal House of Orange,
has been the island's charming capital since 1797. Dutch and Spanish
architecture co-mingle in Oranjestad, as did the town's early
settlers. While in Oranjestad, don't miss Fort Zoutman, which was
once a lighthouse and is now a historical museum offering centuries'
worth of Aruban artifacts. It was built in 1796, and its Willem III
Tower was added in 1868 in honor of the Dutch monarch at that time.
The fort's courtyard is the setting for the Bonbini Festival each
Tuesday starting at 6:30. This "Welcome" party features local food,
crafts, music and folkloric entertainment.
On Oranjestad's waterfront, across the boulevard from the Tourist
Board, is the Schooner Market, a colorful bazaar featuring exotic
fish, fruits and vegetables from neighboring
Venezuela.
If you've had enough of town, head out to the countryside where you
will find the traditional, wild beauty of
Aruba - including locals' colorful
houses, tropical plants and the famous divi-divi tree. In the center
of the island, the impressive peak of 541-foot-high Hooiberg
(Haystack Hill) offers a great view of the city if you have the
energy for the 562-step climb. Ayo and Casibari, northeast of
Hooiberg, are rocks weighing several tons where you can view ancient
drawing and climb around the boulders' natural carvings.
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