ARUBA
History | Food & Drink | Sports & Recreation | Sightseeing

Aruba's History
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Assessment of Aruba's worth have varied since 1499 when the Spanish claimed the island. Because the Spaniards considered Aruba worthless, the native Arawak Indians were spared the annihilation their kinfolk faced on islands thought more valuable. The Dutch, who hardly considered the island prime real estate, took over in 1636.

During the Napoleonic Wars the British settled Aruba for a few years, but by 1816 the Dutch had returned to stay. Aruba has a quiet history, but in 1824, gold attracted considerable investment until the mine was exhausted. In 1924, a different kind of gold was found when Lago Oil and Transport Co. built a large refinery that brought one of the highest standards of living in the Caribbean. This prosperity was furthered by the development of tourism, which became Aruba's primary industry when the refinery closed in 1985. Because of the focus on tourism and the number of resorts on the island, Arubans enjoy a very low unemployment rate.

Aruba became a separate entity within the Kingdom of the Netherlands on January 1, 1986; prior to that date it was a member of the Netherlands Antilles.

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Aruba's Food & Drink
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A sampling of Dutch food might include a thick pea soup cooked with pork, ham and sausage. Local specialties include a cornmeal combination served with meat or fish; a fish stew that includes salted meats and coconut milk; and pan bati, an Aruban pancake with local dishes.

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Aruba's Sports & Recreation
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Seven miles of uninterrupted beach stretch from Druif Beach to Eagle Beach and from Palm Beach to Malmok. The best swimming spots are Eagle and Palm beaches, due to the fact that the water is the calmest off the island's southwest coast.

North of Fisherman's Hut, the Malmok Beach area is a great place to learn how to windsurf since water is only between 2 and 3 feet deep. Bachelor's Beach, north of Colorado Point, is an area famous for professional windsurfers.

Visibility in Aruba's clear waters can extend as far as 90 feet and the water temperature is never under 70 F, making the area very desirable for snorkeling and scuba diving. A vessel often explored by divers is the Antillia, the wreckage of a WWII German freighter off the coast midway between Arahi and Molmok.

Fishing for blue and white marlin, kingfish, tuna, and other game fish is best July through October. Boats for deep sea fishing can be chartered for this excursion.

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Aruba's Sightseeing
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Oranjestad

Oranjestad - which translates to "Orange City," derived its name from the House of Orange, the ruling family of the Netherlands. Dutch architecture in Oranjestad blends nicely with Caribbean colors. Many shops sell fine products of cyrstal, jewelry, china, linens, and fashionable clothing. Caya Gilberto Francois Croes Street is the heart of the shopping district.

San Nicholas

Aruba's second largest city is on the sunrise side of Aruba. San Nicholas was once a bustling company town when Lago Oil operated in 1924-85. Charlie's bar, in operation since 1941, once had a colorful reputation as a hangout for rowdy sailors and oil refinery workers. The establishment is known for its amazing variety of bric-a-brac.

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