# Aruba Dushi Tera

"Aruba Dushi Tera" ("Aruba Sweet Land", or "Aruba Lovely Country") is the national anthem of Aruba. It is a waltz written by Juan Chabaya Lampe and composed by Rufo Wever. The last verse was written by Hubert (Lio) Booi [nl]. It was accepted as the Aruban national anthem on 18 March 1976. It is written in Papiamento.

## History

On 16 January 1976, the Executive Council of Aruba appointed an advisory committee with the assignment to come up with an anthem that took into account "Aruba dushi tera". The song was already very popular among the population and dated from the early 1950s. The committee included Rufo Wever (chairman), Eddy Bennett, Maybeline Arends-Croes and Hubert (Lio) Booi. The committee advised not to alter the melody of the "old" "Aruba dushi tera" into a march but to increase the number of verses. The third verse was written by Hubert Booi [nl].

## Lyrics

| Papiamento | IPA transcription | English translation | Spanish translation | Portuguese translation | Dutch translation |
| Aruba patria aprecia nos cuna venera Chikito y simpel bo por ta pero si respeta. Refran: O, Aruba, dushi tera nos baranca tan stima Nos amor p’abo t’asina grandi 𝄆 cu n’tin nada pa kibr'e. 𝄇 Bo playanan tan admira cu palma tur dorna Bo escudo y bandera ta orguyo di nos tur! Refran Grandeza di bo pueblo ta su gran cordialidad Cu Dios por guia y conserva su amor pa libertad! Refran | [a.ru.ba pa.trja a.pre.sja] [nos ku.na ve.ne.ra] [t͡ʃi.ki.tu‿i sim.pəl bo por ta] [pe.ro si res.pe.ta] [re.fran] [o a.ru.ba du.ʃi te.ra] [nos ba.raŋ.ka tan sti.ma] [nos a.mor pa.bo ta.si.na gran.di] 𝄆 [ku‿n.tin na.da pa kib.re] 𝄇 [bo pla.ja.nan tan ad.mi.ra] [ku pal.ma tur dɔr.na] [bo‿es.ku.do i ban.de.ra ta] [or.gu.jo di nos tur] [re.fran] [gran.de.sa di bo pwe.blo ta] [su gran kɔr.dja.li.dat] [ku djos por gi.a‿i kon.ser.va] [su‿a.mor pa li.ber.tat] [re.fran] | Aruba appreciated native land our venerated cradle you may be small and simple but yet you are respected. Chorus: Oh Aruba sweet land our boulder so beloved our love for you is so strong 𝄆 that nothing can destroy it. 𝄇 Your beaches so much admired with palm trees all adorned your coat of arms and flag are a pride to us all! Chorus The greatness of your people is their grand cordiality that God will guide and conserve their love for liberty! Chorus | Aruba patria apreciada nuestra cuna venerada aunque pequeña y simple eres respetada. Coro: Oh Aruba tierra querida nuestro peñón tan amado nuestro amor por ti es tan grande 𝄆 que nada podrá destruirlo. 𝄇 ¡Tus playas tan admiradas con palmeras todas adornadas tu escudo y bandera son orgullo de todos nosotros! Coro Grandeza de tu pueblo es su gran cordialidad ¡Que Dios guíe y conserve su amor para la libertad! Coro | Aruba, pátria apreciada, nossa berço venerada. Pequena e simples, tu podes ser, mas és respeitada. Refrão: Oh, Aruba, doce terra, nossas colinas te amam. Nosso amor por ti é tão grande 𝄆 que nada pode quebrá-lo. 𝄇 Tuas praias são admiráveis, com palmeiras a adornar. Teu escudo e bandeira são o orgulho de todos nós! Refrão A grandeza de teu povo está em sua grande cordialidade. Com Deus para guiar e preservar, seu amor pela liberdade! Refrão | Aruba gewaardeerd inheems land Onze vereerde wieg U kunt klein en eenvoudig zijn Maar toch gerespecteerd. Refrein: Oh, Aruba, mooi land Onze rots zo geliefd Onze liefde voor u is zo sterk 𝄆 Dat niets het kan vernietigen. 𝄇 Uw stranden zo bewonderd Alle met palmbomen versierd Uw wapen en uw vlag Zijn de trots van iedereen! Refrein De grootsheid van onze mensen Is hun geweldige hartelijkheid Die God kan gidsen en bewaren Zijn liefde voor vrijheid! Refrein |