Top of the World
The bustling capital of this popular Caribbean destination is packed with casinos and wonderfully decorative, colourful buildings. The cheery city centre fits with Aruba’s oft-marketed slogan “One Happy Island.” Since Aruba is a Dutch territory, the architecture mimics a classic Dutch-style while putting its own Aruban, pastel-coloured spin on it. Lively, full of stores and restaurants, it is a tourist-friendly city that lets you visit through its many monuments and historic buildings that tell its story.
From the waterfront promenade, which provides unique images of the waters of the Caribbean Sea, to the center where its major historic buildings (and more) are enshrined, Oranjestad is a continual discovery. The oldest building, dating back to the period of its founding, is Fort Zoutman, which was built in 1798 to protect the city from pirate assaults, while other monuments such as the Willem III Tower was built almost a century later as a clock tower and lighthouse.
Also of great scenic impact is the stadhuis, a historic building that now houses the town hall and has recently been restored to its former glory. Also in the city center, not to be missed is the Historical Museum all dedicated to the history of Aruba, which in addition to housing local historical material organizes temporary exhibitions and events. Inside the historic house of the Ecury family, on the other hand, you can visit the Archaeological Museum of Aruba, which collects valuable evidence about the Amerindians, the city's ancient inhabitants.
Wandering around the city, one can come across a series of monuments erected in honor of a number of local politicians, most of them concentrated in the area around the Parliament. Another key cultural and gathering center is the House of Culture, the national theater with a rich and varied program of events featuring both local and international artists.
