Aruba

Caribbean constituent country of the Kingdom of the NetherlandsTemplate:SHORTDESC:Caribbean constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
This article is about the island country. For other uses, see Aruba (disambiguation).

Constituent country in the Kingdom of the NetherlandsTemplate:SHORTDESC:Constituent country in the Kingdom of the Netherlands<templatestyles src="Module:Infobox/styles.css"></templatestyles>

**Aruba** (English pronunciation: **Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character "[".** *ə-ROO-bə*, Dutch: [aːˈrubaː, -ryb-] (**Audio file "nl-Aruba.ogg " not found**), Template:IPA-pap), officially the **Country of Aruba** (Dutch: *Land Aruba*; Template:Lang-pap), is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands physically located in the mid-south of the Caribbean Sea, about 29 kilometres (18 mi) north of the Venezuela peninsula of Paraguaná and 80 kilometres (50 mi) northwest of Curaçao. It measures 32 kilometres (20 mi) long from its northwestern to its southeastern end and 10 kilometres (6 mi) across at its widest point. Together with Bonaire and Curaçao, Aruba forms a group referred to as the ABC islands. Collectively, these and the other three Dutch substantial islands in the Caribbean are often called the Dutch Caribbean, of which Aruba has about one-third of the population. In 1986, it became a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and acquired the formal name the Country of Aruba.

Aruba is one of the four countries that form the Kingdom of the Netherlands, along with the Netherlands, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten; the citizens of these countries are all Dutch nationals. Aruba has no administrative subdivisions, but, for census purposes, is divided into eight regions. Its capital is Oranjestad.

Unlike much of the Caribbean region, Aruba has a dry climate and an arid, cactus-strewn landscape. The relatively warm and sunny weather, and the climate allow for related tourism activities all year round. Its area is 179 km2 (69.1 sq mi) and it is quite densely populated, with 108,166 inhabitants per the 2020 census.

## Etymology

Template:Main articles
The name Aruba most likely came from the Caiquetio *Oruba* which means "Well situated island", seeing as it was the Caiquetio who were present on the island when it was first set foot upon by Alonso de Ojeda. Between 1529 and the signing of the Treaty of Westphalia (1648), the name "Isla de Oruba" was used for the island by the Spanish. After the signing, the island was ceded to the Dutch and gradually its name changed to Aruba.

There were many different names for Aruba used by other Amerindian groups, all of which could have contributed to the present-day name Aruba. Another Caiquetio name for the island was *Oibubia* which means "Guided island". The Taino name for the island was *Arubeira*. The Kalinago also had two names for the island *Ora Oubao* which means "Shell island" and *Oirubae* which means "Companion of Curaçao".

A common misconception is that the name "Aruba" came from *Oro hubo,* (Spanish for "There was gold once"). However, the Spanish declared these islands *islas inútiles*, meaning "useless islands", due to their lack of mineral wealth. It was not until, a century later, in 1824, that gold was discovered on Aruba by a twelve year-old herder named Willem Rasmijn; leading to the Aruban Gold Rush.

### Pre-colonial era

 File:ARAWAK INDIAN PAINTINGS IN THE AYO ROCKS ON ARUBA.JPG
There has been a human presence on Aruba from as early as circa 2000 BC. The first identifiable group are the Arawak Caiquetio Amerindians who migrated from South America about 1000 AD. Archaeological evidence suggests continuing links between these native Arubans and Amerindian peoples of mainland South America.

### Spanish colonization

The first Europeans to invade Aruba were Amerigo Vespucci and Alonso de Ojeda in 1499, who claimed the island for Spain. Both men described Aruba as an "island of giants", remarking on the comparatively large stature of the native Caiquetio. Vespucci returned to Spain with stocks of cotton and brazilwood from the island and described houses built into the ocean. Vespucci and Ojeda's tales spurred interest in Aruba, and the Spanish began colonising the island. Alonso de Ojeda was appointed the island's first governor in 1508. From 1513 the Spanish began enslaving the Caiquetio, sending many to a life of forced labour in the mines of Hispaniola. The island's low rainfall and arid landscape meant that it was not considered profitable for a slave-based plantation system, so the type of large-scale slavery so common on other Caribbean islands never became established on Aruba.

### Early Dutch period

See also: Cas di torto
 File:Bushiribana gold mine.jpg
The Netherlands seized Aruba from Spain in 1636 in the course of the Thirty Years' War. Peter Stuyvesant of the Dutch West India Company, later appointed to New Amsterdam (New York), was the first Dutch governor. Those Arawak who had survived the depredations of the Spanish were allowed to farm and graze livestock, with the Dutch using the island as a source of meat for their other possessions in the Caribbean. Aruba's proximity to South America resulted in interactions with the cultures of the coastal areas; for example, architectural similarities can be seen between the 19th-century parts of Oranjestad and the nearby Venezuelan city of Coro in Falcón State.[*citation needed*] Historically, Dutch was not widely spoken on the island outside of colonial administration; its use increased in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Students on Curaçao, Aruba, and Bonaire were taught predominantly in Spanish until the late 18th century.

During the Napoleonic Wars, the British Empire took control of the island, occupying it between 1806 and 1816, before handing it back to the Dutch as per the terms of the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1814. Aruba subsequently became part of the Colony of Curaçao and Dependencies along with Bonaire. During the 19th century, an economy based on gold mining, phosphate production and aloe vera plantations developed, but the island remained a relatively poor backwater.

### 20th and 21st centuries

Template:Main articles
The first oil refinery in Aruba was built in 1928 by Royal Dutch Shell. The facility was built just to the west of the capital city, Oranjestad, and was commonly called the Eagle. Immediately following that, another refinery was built by Lago Oil and Transport Company, in an area now known as San Nicolas on the east end of Aruba. The refineries processed crude oil from the vast Venezuelan oil fields, bringing greater prosperity to the island. The refinery on Aruba grew to become one of the largest in the world.

During World War II, the Netherlands was occupied by Nazi Germany. In 1940, the oil facilities in Aruba came under the administration of the Dutch government-in-exile in London, causing them to be attacked by the German navy in 1942.

In August 1947, Aruba formulated its first *Staatsreglement* (constitution) for Aruba's *status aparte* as an autonomous state within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, prompted by the efforts of Henny Eman, a noted Aruban politician. By 1954, the Charter of the Kingdom of the Netherlands was established, providing a framework for relations between Aruba and the rest of the Kingdom. That created the Netherlands Antilles, which united all of the Dutch colonies in the Caribbean into one administrative structure. Many Arubans were unhappy with the arrangement, however, as the new polity was perceived as being dominated by Curaçao.

 File:Betico Croes 1982cr.jpg
In 1972, at a conference in Suriname, Betico Croes, a politician from Aruba, proposed the creation of a Dutch Commonwealth of four states: Aruba, the Netherlands, Suriname, and the Netherlands Antilles, each to have its own nationality. Backed by his newly created party, the Movimiento Electoral di Pueblo, Croes sought greater autonomy for Aruba, with the long-term goal of independence, adopting the trappings of an independent state in 1976 with the creation of a flag and national anthem. In March 1977, a referendum was held with the support of the United Nations. 82% of the participants voted for complete independence from the Netherlands. Tensions mounted as Croes stepped up the pressure on the Dutch government by organising a general strike in 1977. Croes later met with Dutch Prime Minister Joop den Uyl, with the two sides agreeing to assign the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague to prepare a study for independence, entitled *Aruba en Onafhankelijkheid, achtergronden, modaliteiten, en mogelijkheden; een rapport in eerste aanleg* (Aruba and independence, backgrounds, modalities, and opportunities; a preliminary report) (1978).

### Autonomy

In March 1983, Aruba reached an official agreement within the Kingdom for its independence, to be developed in a series of steps as the Crown granted increasing autonomy. In August 1985, Aruba drafted a constitution that was unanimously approved. On 1 January 1986, after elections were held for its first parliament, Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles, officially becoming a country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with full independence planned for 1996. However, Croes was seriously injured in a traffic accident in 1985, slipping into a coma. He died in 1986, never seeing the enacting of *status aparte* for Aruba for which he had worked over many years.

After his death, Croes was proclaimed *Libertador di Aruba*. Croes' successor, Henny Eman, of the Aruban People's Party (AVP), became the first Prime Minister of Aruba. In 1985, Aruba's oil refinery had closed. It had provided Aruba with 30 percent of its real income and 50 percent of government revenue. The significant blow to the economy led to a push for a dramatic increase in tourism, and that sector has expanded to become the island's largest industry. At a convention in The Hague in 1990, at the request of Aruba's Prime Minister Nelson Oduber, the governments of Aruba, the Netherlands, and the Netherlands Antilles postponed indefinitely Aruba's transition to full independence. The article scheduling Aruba's complete independence was rescinded in 1995, although it was decided that the process could be revived after another referendum.

## Geography

Main articles: Geography of Aruba and Geology of Aruba
 File:Aruba - Encyclopaedie van Nederlandsch West-Indië-Antilles part 1, right.gif
Aruba is a generally flat, riverless island in the Leeward Antilles island arc of the Lesser Antilles in the southern part of the Caribbean. It lies 77 km (48 mi) west of Curaçao and 29 km (18 mi) north of Venezuela's Paraguaná Peninsula. Aruba has white sandy beaches on the western and southern coasts of the island, relatively sheltered from fierce ocean currents. This is where the bulk of the population live and where most tourist development has occurred. The northern and eastern coasts, lacking this protection, are considerably more battered by the sea and have been left largely untouched. As of 2022, Aruba only has 2.3% of forest-covered land area and only 0.5% of protected natural area.

The hinterland of the island features some rolling hills, such as Hooiberg at 165 meters (541 ft) and Jamanota, the highest on the island at 188 meters (617 ft) above sea level. Oranjestad, the capital, is located at 12°31′01″N 70°02′04″W﻿ / ﻿12.51694°N 70.03444°W﻿ / 12.51694; -70.03444

Fatal error: The format of the coordinate could not be determined. Parsing failed.

.

The Natural Bridge was a large, naturally formed limestone bridge on the island's north shore. It was a popular tourist destination until its collapse in 2005.

### Cities and towns

Main article: List of cities in Aruba
The island, with a population of about 116,600 people (1 January 2019 estimate) does not have major cities. It is divided into six districts. Most of the island's population resides in or around the two major city-like districts of Oranjestad (the capital) and San Nicolaas. Oranjestad and San Nicolaas are both divided into two districts for census purposes only.

 File:View from above of colorful buildings in Oranjestad on the island of Aruba in the morning sun.jpg
The districts are as follows:

* Noord
* Oranjestad (East and West)
* Paradera
* San Nicolaas (North and South)
* Santa Cruz
* Savaneta

### Fauna

The isolation of Aruba from the mainland of South America has fostered the evolution of multiple endemic animals. The island provides a habitat for the endemic Aruban Whiptail and Aruba Rattlesnake, as well as an endemic subspecies of Aruban Burrowing Owl and Brown-throated Parakeet.

 File:Natural Pool in Aruba-July 4, 2018.jpg
### Flora

 File:Arikok NP.jpg
The flora of Aruba differs from the typical tropical island vegetation. Xeric scrublands are common, with various forms of cacti, thorny shrubs, and evergreens. Aloe vera is also present, its economic importance earning it a place on the coat of arms of Aruba.

Cacti like *Melocactus* and *Opuntia* are represented on Aruba by species like *Opuntia stricta*.
Trees like *Caesalpinia coriaria* and *Vachellia tortuosa* are drought tolerant.

### Climate and natural hazards

Main article: Climate of Aruba
By the Köppen climate classification, Aruba has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen *BSh*). Rainfall is scarce, only 500 millimetres or 20 inches per year; in particular, rainy season is drier than it normally is in tropical climates; during the dry season, it almost never rains. Owing to the scarcity of rainfall, the landscape of Aruba is arid. Mean monthly temperature in Oranjestad varies little from 27.0 °C (80.6 °F) to 29.6 °C (85.3 °F), moderated by constant trade winds from the Atlantic Ocean, which come from the north-east. Yearly rainfall barely exceeds 450 millimetres or 18 inches in Oranjestad, although it is extremely variable and can range from as little as 150 millimetres or 6 inches during strong El Niño years (e.g. 1911/1912, 1930/1931, 1982/1983, 1997/1998) to over 1,000 millimetres or 39 inches in La Niña years like 1933/1934, 1970/1971 or 1988/1989.

Aruba is south of the typical latitudes of hurricanes but was affected by two in their early stages in late 2020.

## Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Aruba
 File:Aruba-demography.png

Template:Clear-left

 File:Oranjestad.jpg
In terms of country of birth, the population is estimated to be 66% Aruban, 9.1% Colombian, 4.3% Dutch, 4.1% Dominican, 3.2% Venezuelan, 2.2% Curaçaoan, 1.5% Haitian, 1.2% Surinamese, 1.1% Peruvian, 1.1% Chinese, 6.2% other.

In terms of ethnic composition, the population is estimated to be 75% mestizo, 15% black and 10% other ethnicities.[*citation needed*] Arawak heritage is stronger on Aruba than on most Caribbean islands; although no full-blooded Aboriginals remain, the features of the islanders clearly indicate their genetic Arawak heritage. Most of the population is descended from Caquetio Indians, African slaves, and Dutch settlers, and to a lesser extent the various other groups that have settled on the island over time, such as the Spanish, Portuguese, English, French, and Sephardic Jews.

Recently, there has been substantial immigration to the island from neighbouring South American and Caribbean nations, attracted by the higher paid jobs. In 2007, new immigration laws were introduced to help control the growth of the population by restricting foreign workers to a maximum of three years residency on the island. Most notable are those from Venezuela, which lies just 29 km (18 mi) to the south.

In 2019, recently arrived Venezuelan refugees were estimated to number around 17,000, accounting for some 15% of the island's population.

### Language

Main article: Languages of Aruba
Aruba's official languages are Dutch and Papiamento. While Dutch is the sole language for all administration and legal matters, Papiamento is the predominant language used on Aruba. Papiamento is a Portuguese- and Spanish-based creole language, spoken on Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao, that also incorporates words from Dutch and various West African languages. English and Spanish are also spoken, their usage having grown due to tourism. Other common languages spoken, based on the size of their community, are Portuguese, Cantonese, French and German.

In recent years, the government of Aruba has shown an increased interest in acknowledging the cultural and historical importance of Papiamento. Although spoken Papiamento is fairly similar among the several Papiamento-speaking islands, there is a big difference in written Papiamento:[*citation needed*] The orthography differs per island, with Aruba using etymological spelling, and Curaçao and Bonaire a phonetic spelling.

The book *Buccaneers of America*, first published in 1678, states through eyewitness account that the natives on Aruba spoke Spanish already. Spanish became an important language in the 18th century due to the close economic ties with Spanish colonies in what are now Venezuela and Colombia. Venezuelan TV networks are received on the island, and Aruba also has significant Venezuelan and Colombian communities. Around 13% of the population today speaks Spanish natively. Use of English dates to the early 19th century, when the British took Curaçao, Aruba, and Bonaire. When Dutch rule resumed in 1815, officials already noted wide use of the language.

Aruba has newspapers published in Papiamento: *Diario*, *Bon Dia*, *Solo di Pueblo*, and *Awe Mainta*; English: *Aruba Daily*, *Aruba Today*, and *The News*; and Dutch: *Amigoe*. Aruba has 18 radio stations (two AM and 16 FM) and two television stations (Telearuba and Channel 22).

### Religion

Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion, practised by about 75% of the population. Various Protestant denominations are also present on the island.

## Regions

 File:St.Ann's Catholic church1.jpg
Aruba is cartographically split into eight for censuses; these regions have no administrative function; some allude to parishes which include a few charitable community facilities:

## Government

Main article: Politics of Aruba
 File:EU OCT and OMR map en.png
 File:Parliament of Aruba.jpg
Along with the Netherlands, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten, Aruba is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with internal autonomy. Matters such as foreign affairs and defense are handled by the Netherlands. Aruba's politics take place within a framework of a 21-member Staten (Parliament) and an eight-member Cabinet; the Staten's 21 members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve a four-year term. The governor of Aruba is appointed for a six-year term by the monarch, and the prime minister and deputy prime minister are indirectly elected by the Staten for four-year terms.

Aruba was formerly a part of the (now-defunct) Netherlands Antilles; however, it separated from that entity in 1986, gaining its own constitution.

Aruba is designated as a member of the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) and is thus officially not a part of the European Union, though Aruba can and does receive support from the European Development Fund.

### Politics

The Aruban legal system is based on the Dutch model. In Aruba, legal jurisdiction lies with the *Gerecht in Eerste Aanleg* (Court of First Instance) on Aruba, the *Gemeenschappelijk Hof van Justitie van Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, en van Bonaire, Sint Eustatius en Saba* (Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba) and the *Hoge Raad der Nederlanden* (Supreme Court of Justice of the Netherlands). The *Korps Politie Aruba* (Aruba Police Force) is the island's law enforcement agency and operates district precincts in Oranjestad, Noord, San Nicolaas, and Santa Cruz, where it is headquartered.

Divergent Legal Protections from the rest of the Kingdom of the Netherlands include:
Not being part of the Law Enforcement Council (Raad van de Rechtshandhaving), which is a legal entity based on the Kingdom Act of the July 7, 2010 the Kingdom Act on the Law Enforcement Council.
Being the only country in the Kingdom of the Netherlands that does not have an ombudsman.

Deficit spending has been a staple in Aruba's history, and modestly high inflation has been present as well. By 2006, the government's debt had grown to 1.883 billion Aruban florins. In 2006, the Aruban government changed several tax laws to reduce the deficit. Direct taxes have been converted to indirect taxes as proposed by the IMF.

### Foreign relations

Aruba is one of the overseas countries and territories (OCT) of the European Union and maintains economic and cultural relations with the European Union and the United States. Aruba is also a member of several international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund and Interpol.

### Military

See also: Military of Aruba
Defence on Aruba is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Dutch Armed Forces that protect the island include the Navy, Marine Corps, and the Coastguard including a platoon sized national guard.

 File:University Aruba (front) 21 04 09 400000.jpeg
All forces are stationed at Marines base in Savaneta. Furthermore, in 1999, the U.S. Department of Defense established a Forward Operating Location (FOL) at the airport.

## Education

Aruba's educational system is structured after the Dutch system of education. The government of Aruba finances the public national education system.

Schools are a mixture of public and private, including the International School of Aruba, the Schakel College and mostly the Colegio Arubano.

There are three medical schools, American University School of Medicine Aruba (AUSOMA), Aureus University School of Medicine and Xavier University School of Medicine, as well as its own national university, the University of Aruba.

## Economy

Main article: Economy of Aruba
 File:Aruba Product Exports (2019).svg
The island's economy is dominated by four main industries: tourism, aloe export, petroleum refining, and offshore banking. Aruba has one of the highest standards of living in the Caribbean region. The GDP per capita (PPP) for Aruba was estimated to be $37,500 in 2017. Its main trading partners are Colombia, the United States, Venezuela, and the Netherlands.

The agriculture and manufacturing sectors are fairly minimal. Gold mining was important in the 19th century. Aloe was introduced to Aruba in 1840 but did not become a big export until 1890. Cornelius Eman founded Aruba Aloe Balm, and over time the industry became very important to the economy. At one point, two-thirds of the island was covered in Aloe Vera fields, and Aruba became the largest exporter of aloe in the world. The industry continues today, though on a smaller scale.

Access to biocapacity in Aruba is much lower than world average. In 2016, Aruba had 0.57 global hectares of biocapacity per person within its territory, much less than the world average of 1.6 global hectares per person. In 2016, Aruba used 6.5 global hectares of biocapacity per person - their ecological footprint of consumption. This means they use almost 12 times the biocapacity that Aruba contains. This is the extent of Aruba's biocapacity deficit.

The official exchange rate of the Aruban florin is pegged to the US dollar at 1.80 florins to US$1. This fact, and the majority of tourists being US, means businesses of hotel and resort districts prefer to bank and trade with the consumer in US dollars.

Aruba is a prosperous country. Unemployment is low (although the government has not published statistics since 2013) and per capita income is one of the highest in the Caribbean (approximately $24,087). At the end of 2018, the labor force participation rate was 56.6% for women.

Until the mid-1980s, Aruba's main industry was oil refining. Then the refinery was shut down and the island's economy shifted towards tourism. Currently, Aruba receives about 1,235,673 (2007) guests per year, of which three-quarters are Americans. Tourism is mainly focused on the beaches and the sea. The refinery has been closed and restarted repeatedly during the last decades. In recent years a letter of intent was signed with CITGO (the US subsidiary of the Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA) to explore the possibility of reopening the refinery again.

Until 2009, the Netherlands granted development aid to Aruba. This aid was mainly for law enforcement, education, administrative development, health care and sustainable economic development. This aid was discontinued at Aruba's request in 2009. Since 2015, however, a form of financial supervision has been reintroduced because Aruba's debt has risen sharply to over 80% of GDP.

Aruba also has two free trade zones (Barcadera and Bushiri), where import and export and the movement of services are tax-free.

 File:VISTA DESDE INTERIOR DE SUBMARINO.jpg
### Tourism

 File:RIU Palace Antillas - Aruba.jpg
Aruba has a large and well-developed tourism industry, receiving 1,082,000 tourists who stayed overnight in its territory in 2018. About ​3⁄4 of the Aruban gross national product is earned through tourism and related activities. Most tourists are from North America, with a market-share of 73.3%, followed by Latin America with 15.2% and Europe with 8.3%. In 2018, there were 40,231 visitors from the Netherlands.

For private aircraft passengers bound for the United States, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has a full pre-clearance facility since 1 February 2001 when Queen Beatrix Airport expanded. Since 2008, Aruba has been the only island to have this service for private flights.

There are many luxury and lesser luxury hotels, concentrated mainly on the west coast beaches. In Palm Beach are the luxury hotels aimed at American tourists. This area is also called "Highrise-area", because most of the hotels are located in (by Aruban standards) high-rise buildings. Eagle Beach, a short distance from Palm Beach in the direction of Oranjestad, offers hotels on a somewhat smaller and more intimate scale in low-rise buildings, hence the name "lowrise-area".

Oranjestad is the port for the many cruise ships that visit Aruba. The cruise industry is a very important pillar of tourism in Aruba, since during a cruise a large part of the passengers go ashore to visit the island. With 334 cruise calls, Aruba received 815,161 cruise tourists in 2018. The 2017/2018 cruise season brought $102.8 million to Aruba's economy.[*citation needed*] Oranjestad is also home to several luxury hotels, upscale shopping malls, tourist-oriented shopping streets, and hospitality facilities. The main street, called Caya G.F. (Betico) Croes, has been redesigned in recent years, including new paving, new palm trees and a streetcar line for tourists.

## Culture

Main article: Culture of Aruba
See also: Music of Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles, Sports in Aruba, and Cucui
 File:Plaza Daniel Leo, Oranjestad, Aruba - February 2020.jpg
Aruba has a varied culture. According to the *Bureau Burgelijke Stand en Bevolkingsregister* (BBSB), in 2005 there were ninety-two different nationalities living on the island. Dutch influence can still be seen, as in the celebration of "Sinterklaas" on 5 and 6 December and other national holidays like 27 April, when in Aruba and the rest of the Kingdom of the Netherlands the King's birthday or "Dia di Rey" (Koningsdag) is celebrated.[*citation needed*]

On 18 March, Aruba celebrates its National Day. Christmas and New Year's Eve are celebrated with the typical music and songs for gaitas for Christmas and the Dande[*clarification needed*] for New Year, and *ayaca*, *ponche crema*, ham, and other typical foods and drinks. On 25 January, Betico Croes' birthday is celebrated. Dia di San Juan is celebrated on 24 June. Besides Christmas, the religious holy days of the Feast of the Ascension and Good Friday are also holidays on the island.

The festival of Carnaval is also an important one in Aruba, as it is in many Caribbean and Latin American countries. Its celebration in Aruba started in the 1950s, influenced by the inhabitants from Venezuela and the nearby islands (Curaçao, St. Vincent, Trinidad, Barbados, St. Maarten, and Anguilla) who came to work for the oil refinery. Over the years, the Carnival Celebration has changed and now starts from the beginning of January until the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, with a large parade on the last Sunday of the festivities (the Sunday before Ash Wednesday).

Tourism from the United States has recently increased the visibility of American culture on the island, with such celebrations as Halloween in October and Thanksgiving Day in November.

### Architecture

From the beginning of the colonization of the Netherlands until the beginning of the 20th century, the architecture in the most inhabited areas of Aruba was influenced by the Dutch colonial style and also some Spanish elements from the Catholic missionaries present in Aruba who later settled in Venezuela as well. After the boom of the oil industry and the tourist sector in the 20th century the architectural style of the island incorporated a more American and international influence. In addition, elements of the Art Deco style can still be seen in several buildings in San Nicolas. Therefore, it can be said that the island's architecture is a mixture of Spanish, Dutch, American and Caribbean influences.

## Infrastructure

 File:Aruba electricity production.svg
 File:AUA Arrivals building.JPG
Aruba's Queen Beatrix International Airport is near Oranjestad.

Aruba has four ports: Barcadera, the main cargo port, Paardenbaai, the cruise ship terminal in Oranjestad/Taratata, Commandeurs Baai (Commander's Bay) in Savaneta, and Sint Nicolaas Baai in San Nicolaas. Paardenbaai services all the cruise-ship lines such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival, NCL, Holland America, MSC Cruises, Costa Cruises, P&O Cruises and Disney. Nearly one million tourists enter this port per year. Aruba Ports Authority, owned and operated by the Aruban government, runs these seaports.

*Arubus* is a government-owned bus company. Its buses operate from 3:30 a.m. until 12:30 a.m., 365 days a year. Private minibuses/people movers service zones such as the Hotel Area, San Nicolaas, Santa Cruz and Noord.

A streetcar service runs on rails on the Mainstreet of Oranjestad.

### Utilities

Water- en Energiebedrijf Aruba, N.V. (W.E.B.) produces potable water and power. Average daily consumption in Aruba is about 35600 m3/day., and average power generation is 104 MW. Besides production, WEB also takes care of the water distribution on the island. Elektriciteits Maatschappij Aruba, N.V. (N.V. Elmar) is the sole distributor of electricity on the island of Aruba. N.V. Elmar also offers its customers the opportunity to add solar panel or wind turbines. Together with W.E.B. Aruba N.V., both companies share the same parent holding which is Utilities Aruba N.V.

### Waste management

Sewage plant: there are three around the island; Zeewijk, Parkietenbos and Bubali. The one in Bubali (near the bird sanctuary) is 4 decades old and is processing over 8000 m3/day. Around double its original capacity of 4500 m3/day (due to Aruba's growth).

Solid waste landfill: the major one (16 ha) is at Parkietenbos since the 1950. The capacity is between 130 and 150 kilotons per year. Sometimes there are huge spontaneous combustion creating pollution.

### Communications

There are two telecommunications providers: government-based Setar, and privately owned Digicel. Digicel is Setar's competitor in wireless technology using the GSM platform.

## Places of interest

 File:Aruba-Hooiberg-2013.JPG

* Alto Vista Chapel
* Arikok National Park
* Ayo and Casibari Rock Formations
* Bushiribana and Balashi
* California Lighthouse
* Frenchman's Pass
* Hooiberg
* Jamanota
* Natural Pool
* Quadiriki Caves
* Sint Nicolaas
* Lago Colony

Beaches See also: Beaches of Aruba

* Arashi Beach
* Baby Beach
* Caves of Aruba
* Eagle Beach
* Palm Beach
* Palm Island
* Rodgers Beach

## Notable people

* Dave Benton, Aruban-Estonian musician
* Alfonso Boekhoudt, 4th Governor of Aruba
* Xander Bogaerts, shortstop in MLB
* Betico Croes, political activist
* Denzel Dumfries, footballer (or soccer player) in Aruba, Netherlands national team and FIFA World Cup
* Nydia Ecury, writer
* Henny Eman, first Prime Minister of Aruba
* Mike Eman, 3rd Prime Minister of Aruba
* Bobby Farrell, musician, former and male member of Boney M.
* Frans Figaroa, Lieutenant Governor of Aruba 1979–1982
* Henry Habibe, poet
* Andrew Holleran, novelist
* Maria Irausquin-Wajcberg, first elected female politician in Aruba
* Olindo Koolman, 2nd Governor of Aruba
* Juan Lampe, musician
* Macuarima, first Aruban Amerindian Chief killed by colonist
* Calvin Maduro, pitcher in MLB
* Hedwiges Maduro, footballer (or soccer player) in UEFA, La Liga and FIFA World Cup
* Jossy Mansur, editor of the Papiamento language newspaper, *Diario*
* Diederick Charles Mathew, politician
* John Merryweather (1932–2019), first Minister Plenipotentiary of Aruba
* Nelson Oduber, 2nd Prime Minister of Aruba
* Sarah-Quita Offringa, world champion windsurfer
* Olga Orman, writer and poet
* Sidney Ponson, pitcher in MLB
* Fredis Refunjol, 3rd Governor of Aruba
* Julia Renfro, newspaper editor and photographer
* Jeannette Richardson-Baars, Director of the Police Academy of Aruba
* Xiomara Ruiz-Maduro, Minister for Finance, Economic Affairs & Culture
* Chadwick Tromp, catcher in MLB
* Felipe Tromp, first Governor of Aruba
* Laura Wernet-Paskel, first female political candidate in Aruba
* Evelyn Wever-Croes, 4th Prime Minister of Aruba, first female Prime Minister

## See also

**Lua error: bad argument #2 to 'title.new' (unrecognized namespace name 'Portal').**

* Central Bank of Aruba
* Index of Aruba-related articles
* List of monuments of Aruba
* Military of Aruba
* Outline of Aruba

## References

1. ↑ Migge, Bettina; Léglise, Isabelle; Bartens, Angela (2010). *Creoles in Education: An Appraisal of Current Programs and Projects*. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company. p. 268. ISBN 978-90-272-5258-6. Archived from the original on 3 May 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Template:Cite CIA World Factbook
3. ↑ "Waaruit bestaat het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden? - Rijksoverheid.nl". *onderwerpen* (in Dutch). Ministerie van Algemene. 19 May 2015.
4. ↑ "Aruba". *City Population*. 1 October 2020. Aruba. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
5. ↑ "Quarterly Demographic Bulletin 2022 (QDB0922)". *Central Bureau of Statistics Aruba*. September 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Report for Selected Countries and Subjects". imf.org.
7. ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 7.16 7.17 7.18 "Aruba". *Encyclopædia Britannica*. Archived from the original on 15 May 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
8. ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 8.12 8.13 8.14 8.15 Template:Cite CIA World Factbook
9. ↑ "Mapping Census 2020: Social Demographic Diversity in Aruba – Central Bureau of Statistics". Retrieved 30 October 2022.
10. ↑ Dick, Kenneth. "Aboriginal and early Spanish names for some Caribbean, Circum-Caribbean islands and cays" (PDF). *stcroixarchaeology*. The St, Croix Archeological Society. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022.
11. ↑ Brushaber, Susan; Greenberg, Arnold (2001). *Aruba, Bonaire & Curacao Alive!*. Hunter Publishing, Inc. p. 38. ISBN 978-1-58843-259-9.
12. ↑ Hartog, Johan (1961). *Aruba: Past and Present: from the time of the indians until today*. Translated by Verleun, J.A. Oranjestad, Aruba: D.J. De Wit.
13. ↑ Teenstra, M. (1837). De Nederlandsche West-Indische eilanden in derzelver tegenwoordigen toestand, Aflevering 2. In L. U. (KIT), *www.colonial.library.leiden.edu* (p. 381). AMSTERDAM: C.G.Sulpke.
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 "Aruba History". Archived from the original on 28 July 2019. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
15. ↑ "Rock Formations". Aruba.com. Archived from the original on 10 January 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
16. ↑ 16.00 16.01 16.02 16.03 16.04 16.05 16.06 16.07 16.08 16.09 16.10 16.11 16.12 16.13 16.14 16.15 16.16 "Historia di Aruba". Archived from the original on 21 June 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
17. ↑ Sauer; Sauer, Carl Ortwin (30 October 2008). *The Early Spanish Main*. ISBN 9780521088480.
18. ↑ Sullivan, Lynne M. (2006). *Adventure Guide to Aruba, Bonaire & Curaçao*. Edison, NJ: Hunter Publishing, Inc. pp. 57–58. ISBN 9781588435729. Archived from the original on 14 May 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
19. ↑ Sauer, Carl Ortwin (1966). *The Early Spanish Main*. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 112. ISBN 9780521088480. Archived from the original on 3 May 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
20. ↑ "Sitios de Memoria de la Ruta del Esclavo en el Caribe Latino". UNESCO. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 *Dede pikiña ku su bisiña: Papiamentu-Nederlands en de onverwerkt verleden tijd*. van Putte, Florimon., 1999. Zutphen: de Walburg Pers
22. ↑ Van Putte 1999.
23. ↑ "British Empire: Caribbean: Aruba". Archived from the original on 8 May 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
24. ↑ Albert Gastmann, "Suriname and the Dutch in the Caribbean" in *Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture*, vol. 5, p. 189. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons 1996.
25. ↑ *Central American and Caribbean Air Forces*, Daniel Hagedorn, Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., Tonbridge, 1993, p.135, ISBN: 0 85130 210 6
26. ↑ Robbers, Gerhard (2007). *Encyclopedia of World Constitutions*. **1**. New York City: Facts on File, Inc. p. 649. ISBN 978-0-8160-6078-8. Archived from the original on 23 April 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
27. ↑ "Status change means Dutch Antilles no longer exists". *BBC News*. BBC. 10 October 2010. Archived from the original on 11 October 2010. Retrieved 11 October 2010.
28. ↑ "BBC News — Aruba profile — Timeline". BBC. 5 November 2013. Archived from the original on 30 August 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
29. ↑ de Cordoba, Jose (23 December 1984). "Aruba Braces for Loss of Refinery". *The Washington Post*. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Canoe inc. (22 June 2011). "Aruba: the happy island". Slam.canoe.ca. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
31. ↑ Eppinga, Maarten B.; Mijts, Eric N.; Santos, Maria J. (1 July 2022). "Ranking the sustainable development goals: perceived sustainability priorities in small island states". *Sustainability Science*. **17** (4): 1537–1556. doi:10.1007/s11625-022-01100-7. ISSN 1862-4057. S2CID 246683341 Check `|s2cid=` value (help).
32. ↑ "Cities in Aruba - Guide to Aruba's Biggest Cities". Archived from the original on 23 December 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
33. ↑ Aruba Central Bureau of Statistics (29 September 2010). Fifth Population and Housing Census, 2010: Selected Tables (PDF) (Report). pp. 75–76. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
34. ↑ "Climate Data Aruba". Departamento Meteorologico Aruba. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
35. ↑ Dewar, Robert E. and Wallis, James R; 'Geographical patterning in interannual rainfall variability in the tropics and near tropics: An L-moments approach'; in *Journal of Climate*, 12; pp. 3457–3466
36. ↑ "Summary Climatological Normals Period 1991–2020" (PDF). Departamento Meteorologico Aruba. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 February 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
37. ↑ "Summary Climatological Normals Period 1951–1980" (PDF). Departamento Meteorologico Aruba. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
38. ↑ "Summary Climatological Normals Period 1971–2000" (PDF). Departamento Meteorologico Aruba. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
39. ↑ "Summary Climatological Normals Period 1981–2010" (PDF). Departamento Meteorologico Aruba. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
40. ↑ "Mitochondrial DNA Analysis in Aruba".
41. ↑ "A Situational Analysis of Aruba's Response to Human Trafficking" (PDF). *International Organization for Migration*. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 January 2017.
42. ↑ "HIAS in Aruba". *HIAS*.
43. ↑ "About Us". *DutchCaribbeanLegalPortal.com*. Archived from the original on 20 June 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
44. ↑ "History of Aruba in Timeline - Popular Timelines". *populartimelines.com*. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
45. ↑ Dede pikiña ku su bisiña: Papiamentu-Nederlands en de onverwerkt verleden tijd. van Putte, Florimon., 1999. Zutphen: de Walburg Pers
46. ↑ CIA.gov (2022). "Aruba-People and Society". *www.CIA.gov/the-world-factbook*. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
47. ↑ Template:Cite CIA World Factbook
48. ↑ "Aruba - arubanoasis". *arubanoasis.com*. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
49. ↑ "Political Stability". Aruba Department of Foreign Affairs. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
50. ↑ "EU Relations with Aruba". European Union. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
51. ↑ "Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT)". European Union. Archived from the original on 13 August 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
52. ↑ "Best Things to do in Aruba". *aruba.com*. Archived from the original on 15 February 2013.
53. ↑ "Korps Politie Aruba: district precincts". Aruba Police Force. Archived from the original on 26 February 2010. Retrieved 11 September 2010.
54. ↑ Central Bureau of Statistics. "Key Indicators General Government, 1997–2006". Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
55. ↑ Kingdom of the Netherlands - Aruba: 2019 Article IV Consultation Discussions - Press Release and Staff Report (Report). International Monetary Fund. 2019. p. 9.
56. ↑ "Office of the EU and Kingdom Relations". *OFFICE OF THE EU AND KINGDOM RELATIONS*. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
57. ↑ Thaivalappil, Maureen. "U.S. Relations With Aruba". *United States Department of State*. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
58. ↑ "Aruba Foreign Affairs". *arubaforeignaffairs.com*. Archived from the original on 27 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
59. ↑ "Bogaerts: USA TODAY Sports' Minor League Player of Year". *USA Today*. 3 September 2013. Archived from the original on 2 April 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
60. ↑ "Aruba Education - Schools and Universities". *VisitAruba.com*. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
61. ↑ "Hands for Ziti: Teacher & Students from International School of Aruba Team Up to 3D Print e-NABLE Prosthetics". *3dprint.com*. 25 November 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
62. ↑ "Schakel College in Tilburg • Tilburgers.nl - Nieuws uit Tilburg". *Tilburgers.nl - Nieuws uit Tilburg* (in Dutch). Retrieved 15 September 2018.
63. ↑ "Aureus University School of Medicine". *Aureusuniversity.com*. Archived from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
64. ↑ "Caribbean Medical School - Xavier University". *Caribbean Medical School - Xavier University*. Archived from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
65. ↑ Template:Cite CIA World Factbook
66. ↑ 66.0 66.1 "Country Trends". Global Footprint Network. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
67. ↑ Lin, David; Hanscom, Laurel; Murthy, Adeline; Galli, Alessandro; Evans, Mikel; Neill, Evan; Mancini, MariaSerena; Martindill, Jon; Medouar, FatimeZahra; Huang, Shiyu; Wackernagel, Mathis (2018). "Ecological Footprint Accounting for Countries: Updates and Results of the National Footprint Accounts, 2012-2018". *Resources*. **7** (3): 58. doi:10.3390/resources7030058.
68. ↑ "Convert Dollars to Aruba Florin | USD to AWG Currency Converter". Currency.me.uk. Archived from the original on 3 July 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
69. ↑ "Convert United States Dollar to Aruban Florin | USD to AWG Currency Converter". Themoneyconverter.com. Archived from the original on 31 July 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
70. ↑ "Barcadera Free Zone". *Free Zone Aruba*. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
71. ↑ Template:Cite CIA World Factbook
72. ↑ "Toerisme Aruba naar recordhoogte" (in Dutch). Antilliaans Dagblad. 5 May 2019. Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
73. ↑ "Aruba". *HighEnd-traveller.com*. 31 May 2016. Archived from the original on 8 December 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
74. ↑ "History of Aruba in Timeline - Popular Timelines". *populartimelines.com*. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
75. ↑ 75.0 75.1 "Aruba". *Aruba Beach House*. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
76. ↑ "Taratata map (historic)". Retrieved 5 February 2022.
77. ↑ "Taratata map (updated)". Retrieved 5 February 2022.
78. ↑ "Naar een duurzame inrichting van Aruba" (in Dutch). Ministerie Ruimtelijke Onderwikkeling, Infrastructuur en Milieu. 2019. p. 10. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
79. ↑ Street car is up and running Archived 5 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine The Morning News, 27 February 2013
80. ↑ "W.E.B. Water Consumption". Retrieved 11 May 2022.
81. ↑ "W.E.B. Power Generation". Retrieved 11 May 2022.
82. ↑ "W.E.B. Water Distribution". Retrieved 11 May 2022.
83. ↑ "ELMAR Solar and Wind". Retrieved 11 May 2022.
84. ↑ "ELMAR and WEB corporate structure". Retrieved 11 May 2022.
85. ↑ "Utilities Aruba". Retrieved 22 August 2022.
86. ↑ "Bubali RWZI". 20 October 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
87. ↑ "Parkietenbos RFI1". 8 February 2018. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
88. ↑ "Parkietenbos RFI2". 8 February 2018. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
89. ↑ "Dump on fire again". 7 April 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
90. ↑ "Mio Wireless". Archived from the original on 19 June 2014.
91. ↑ Dick Drayer (24 September 2019). "Merryweather, Aruba's eerste gevolmachtigde minister overleden". *Curacao.nu* (in Dutch). Retrieved 15 February 2022.
92. ↑ Quito Nicolaas. "Olga Orman; 1943 – 2021". *Werkgroep Caraibische Letteren* (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 May 2021.

## Further reading

* Aymer, Paula L. - *Uprooted Women: Migrant Domestics in the Caribbean.*
* Conway, Dennis (Spring 1999). "Uprooted Women: Migrant Domestics in the Caribbean". *The International Migration Review*. **33** (1): 210–212. doi:10.2307/2547337. JSTOR 40166484.
* Burgess, Norma J. (September 1998). "Uprooted Women: Migrant Domestics in the Caribbean". *Contemporary Sociology*. **27** (5): 511–512. doi:10.2307/2654520. JSTOR 34889616.
* Brown, Enid - *Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles: An Annotated English-Language Bibliography.*
* Hoefte, Rosemarijn (October 1993). "Review: Hartert on Birds from Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao". *The Hispanic American Historical Review*. **73** (4): 677. JSTOR 6114727.
* Gerber, Stanford N. - *The Family in the Caribbean: Proceedings of the 2nd Conference on the Family in the Caribbean, Aruba, 1969.*
* Craig, Susan (1979). "Review: Millstones or Milestones?". *Latin American Research Review*. The Latin American Studies Association. **14** (3): 256–263. doi:10.1017/S0023879100032453. JSTOR 2502983. S2CID 253149403 Check `|s2cid=` value (help).
* Green, Vera M. - *Migrants in Aruba: Interethnic Integration.*
* Green, James W. (September 1975). "Review". *American Anthropologist*. New. Blackwell Publishing on behalf of the American Anthropological Association. **77** (3): 648–649. doi:10.1525/aa.1975.77.3.02a00490. JSTOR 673439.
* Hartert, Ernst - *On the Birds of the Islands of Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire.*
* F. M. C. (October 1893). "Review: Hartert on Birds from Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao". *The Auk*. University of California Press on behalf of the American Ornithologists' Union. **10** (4): 355–357. JSTOR 4067829.
* Coutts, B. E. (September 1994). "Reference: Netherlands Antilles and Aruba (World bibliographical series, 168) compiled by Kai Schoenhals". *Choice*. **32** (1): 78. JSTOR 7258919.

## External links

<templatestyles src="Module:Spoken Wikipedia/styles.css"></templatestyles>

Listen to this article (0 minutes)noicon
Spoken WikipediaThis audio file was created from a revision of this article dated 16 August 2005 (2005-08-16), and does not reflect subsequent edits.(Audio help · More spoken articles)
* Template:Oweb of the Government of Aruba

Template:Aruba topics