Thank you for joining me on this exciting adventure! Combining my passions for history, exploration, and discovery, I invite you to uncover the “real” and unknown history of a small but fascinating island: Aruba. Even to this day, we are considered an “unconventional” Caribbean Island. Therefore, a deep dive into our Aruba history can clarify and explain this status.
Born and raised in Aruba, I have always loved history in General. And now, at a later stage in my life, I have regained an interest to do some more investigation into the past of my island. Although our education system back in the 80’s was quite good in providing local history, there is still a lot I don’t know. As an amateur (hobby) historian, I love the research, the scrolling in second hand bookshops for Aruba related content, going over online archives, rich with stories and information on large and small things that happened on Aruba. As I try to be as open as possible, and constantly learning, I welcome any feedback, pointers or support the readers of this website might have. Recently a reader sent me a document of the Lago Oil refinery dating back to 1944, during the second World War. It indicated an order for jet fuel and other wartime products needed. These findings are what makes the whole process and journey so exciting. And it provides a richer experience to the readers, because it allows more proof and back up to verify the content.
Aruba is a small Island in the southern region of the Caribbean, less than 40 km north of the coast of Venezuela. Home to the local Arawak tribes, discovered by the Spaniards and now part of the Dutch Kingdom. It has changed ownership a couple of times, and was even considered property instead of a colony at some point. All this was influenced by Its location and how the Dutch managed it, and that is what sets it apart from the traditional Spanish, British and French Caribbean history.
Contrary to popular belief, Aruba’s history is unconventional because it did not experience the traditional occurrences of the Caribbean. For example, Aruba did not have plantations housing a large number of slaves to work on them. Therefore the African heritage you can still see on other Islands is not very prominent on Aruba (in comparison). Another key influence has been the relatively late start of European immigration to the Island. This really started in large numbers in the mid 1700’s, therefore it can be argued that the current culture of Aruba is only about 300 years old. Nevertheless, a lot has happened which gives Aruba its rich and unique stories that make up a large part of its heritage.
Lately there is a rising interest in our history and culture by locals. There are more restauration projects being executed, and the younger generation is asking more about heritage and the will to preserve this. I will do my best to link some of the stories on this website to local places and businesses where one can actually experience this. One such example is the
The upcoming chapters are based on carefully researched information from various sources, including history books, websites, documentaries, and any credible materials I can find. My goal is to provide an honest, in-depth look into what truly happened in Aruba’s past—beyond the typical stories you’ve heard. Every now and again I will throw in some anecdotal or word of mouth stories as well. These have their place in the history and folklore of Aruba. Even though they are not 100% verifiable and accurate, they do have their place in this journey.
As I continue my research, I’ll be updating these chapters with newly discovered facts and insights. So be sure to check back to stay updated on this evolving journey through Aruba’s rich history, particularly the intriguing Aruba history that shapes its identity!
