Fort Zoutman Fort Zoutman is a military fortification at Oranjestad , Aruba . Built in 1798 by the Dutch army , it is the oldest structure on the island of Aruba . The Willem III Tower was added to the west side of the fort in 1868 . The fort and tower were restored and re - opened in 1983 as the Historical Museum of Aruba . History . The Dutch first settled " Paardenbaai " ( English : Bay of Horses ) on the island of Aruba as an intermediate harbor between Curaçao and Venezuela . In 1796 , a " Comité Militaire " ( English : Army Committee ) was established in Curaçao under acting governor Johan Rudolf Lauffer to build fortifications on the islands of Aruba , Curaçao and Bonaire to defend against pirates and other enemies . The fort on Aruba was named after Dutch Rear Admiral Johan Arnold Zoutman who fought in the Fourth Anglo - Dutch War and the American Revolutionary War , though he had never been to the island . It was completed in 1798 at what was then the shore line of the island , and was initially armed with four cannon s . The surrounding area developed through economic growth into the capital city of Oranjestad . Renovation of the fort began in 1826 under Commander Simon Plats who found it to be in poor shape . The fort was not garrison ed from 1830 to 1834 . While occupied by a small colonial constabulary brigade in 1859 , prison cell s were constructed against the eastern and western walls , eliminating some of the embrasure s and gun ports . The eastern cells were replaced with concrete units in 1936 . The present day walls date back to 1936 , and 31 of as many as 35 gun ports were counted in the walls prior to the fort ' s most recent restoration in 1974 . Willem III Tower . At the request of lieutenant governor J . H . Ferguson in 1866 , construction began on a lighthouse at the fort which could also house the town bell to be rung on the hour . The completed Willem III Tower ( Dutch : " Willem III Toren " ) was named after King William III of the Netherlands and lighted on his birthday , February 19 , 1868 . Arch ways at its base were designed to serve as the west entrance to the fort . The original kerosene lamp was replaced by a petrol lamp and then an acetylene lamp in 1930 . Electrical lighting was added in 1935 . The tower ceased to function as a lighthouse in 1963 with the removal of its lamp . Over the years , it has also functioned as a clock tower , courtroom , library , post office , tax office , watchtower and a station for the Aruba Police Force . Historical Museum of Aruba . The fort and tower underwent restoration work from 1974 to 1980 . On September 15 , 1983 , the facility was re - opened as the Historical Museum of Aruba . The " Fundacion Museo Arubano " ( English : Aruban Museum Foundation ) has administered the museum since March 16 , 1992 . It is open to the public from 8 : 30 a . m . to 4 : 00 p . m . on weekdays . Exhibits cover the early history and development of Aruba through the arrival of the Lago Oil and Transport Company in the 1920s . Group visits and walking city tours are accommodated by multilingual guides . The Bon Bini Festival is held at the fort every Tuesday at 6 : 30 p . m . to 8 : 30 p . m .