| Named in honor of the
Dutch Royal House of Orange, Oranjestad has been Aruba's capital
since 1797 and has served as the island's main port ever since.
Today, the small harbor continues to attract schooners, fishing
boats and cruise ships from all over the world. The tiny capital on
the southwest shore bustles with activity as thousands of visitors
descend upon it each day to shop, dine or try their luck at one of
the many casinos.
The streets that make up the downtown core are
lined with modern imitations of pastel-colored Dutch colonial
houses adorned with ornate gabled roofs; a good number of them have
been renovated into shopping complexes, administrative buildings,
museums and restaurants. A handful of older buildings, including
Fort Zoutman and the lofty King Willem III Tower, offer reminders of
Aruba's past. Just a hop and a skip away from the city is the
island's main beach strip and resort area.
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| Small harbor in
Oranjestad |
Shopping in
Oranjestad |
Downtown
Oranjestad |
In this town architecture reminds of the colonial
Dutch history, although the Dutch probably never used the colors in
which a lot of the buildings are painted now. During the past ten
years people are working very hard to renew and upgrade the town. A
lot of hotels and shopping malls were build. For shopping Oranjestad
is the place to be, with its covered malls and lots of small shops
just behind the boulevard. This boulevard (L.G. Smith boulevard) is
the main road from the east to the west of the island.
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| The mainstreet |
Dutch architecture |
Seaport shopping
mall |
For many tourists, the first glimpse of Oranjestad
is along the busy palm-fringed thoroughfare of L.G. Smith Boulevard
, the island's main artery connecting the capital with the hotel
district and the northwest and with
San Nicolas in the southeast. Running
parallel to the harbor, the downtown stretch of the road is lined
with shopping malls, boutiques, casinos, government offices and
parliament buildings. Unless you plan to shop 'til you drop or while
away the hours gambling, the city's sights won't occupy too much of
your time. There are, however, a number of interesting cultural
attractions, best explored, like the city itself, on foot, as
everything you'll want to see is concentrated in a small area.
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Wandering in Oranjestad |
 The
picturesque harbor is a good place to begin your wanderings.
Starting from the white tourist information booth adjacent to
the Atlantis Pier, head east on L.G. Smith Boulevard. Turning
left onto Oranjestraat, you'll reach the beautifully preserved
Fort Zoutman , the oldest building on the island and perhaps the
town's most important landmark. The fort was built in 1796 and
played a vital role in securing Dutch interests on the island.
Armed with four cannons, it was originally sited along the
coast; centuries of shifting currents have changed the coastline
so that today the fort now sits some 300m away from the water.
The adjoining Willem III Tower was added in 1868 to serve as a
lighthouse and the town's first public clock. The fort houses a
small historical museum (Mon-Fri 9am-noon & 1.30-4.30pm;
US$1.15) displaying an interesting collection of artifacts that
trace Aruba's history. Its open-air courtyard also hosts the
weekly folkloric Bon Bini Festival (Tues 6.30-8.30pm; US$3),
which features traditional music and dance, and is the best
place to try local dishes.
One block east of the fort, on Zuidstraat 27,
is the fascinating Numismatic Museum (Mon-Fri 7.30am-noon &
1-4pm; free), home to over 30,000 historical coins from Aruba
and around the world dating back to 220 BC. Some of the many
highlights include a display of Aruban Indian shells used for
barter, beads used as money by North American Indians and bills
made of silk and linen.
Oranjestad
has three museums. The first is the archeological museum. Its a
small one and hard to find (at the left hand side of the church
at Bernhard square is a small parking lot. Cross the parking
lot, enter the small gate and walk to the right side of the
inner square , J.E. Irausquin Blvd 2-A (Mon-Fri 8am-noon &
1-4pm; free), has an impressive array of local artifacts and
pottery. The most important exhibits include stone tools from
2000 BC, pottery from the ceramic period (500 AD) and the
skeletal remains excavated from an Indian burial site. If the
first door of the museum is closed, try the second one). Once
you're inside you can see how the native Indians of Aruba lived
and how the were buried (in pots). The historical museum, about
Aruba's history and culture, is situated in Fort Zoutman, near
the boulevard. Fort Zoutman, a fortification tower, is the
oldest remaining building on the island.
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| Wilhelmina
Park |
Queen
Wilhelmina |
Sightseeing in
Oranjestad |
Back near the harbor, around the corner from
the Seaport Casino, is the quiet Wilhelmina Park , honoring the
1955 visit of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, a white marble
statue of whom dominates the plaza. The park is especially
striking when tropical plants are in bloom between June and
October. Benches set amongst the shady grove of trees makes this
an ideal place to rest after sightseeing or a long day of
shopping.
One block east of the fort, on Zuidstraat 27,
is the fascinating Numismatic Museum (Mon-Fri 7.30am-noon &
1-4pm; free), home to over 30,000 historical coins from Aruba
and around the world dating back to 220 BC. Some of the many
highlights include a display of Aruban Indian shells used for
barter, beads used as money by North American Indians and bills
made of silk and linen. |
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