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Happy birthday, Oranjestad! Episode CCXVI - 217
Every week, Etnia Nativa shares a new episode on
culture and heritage, focusing on the importance of
defending Aruba’s true identity. This episode is about
how exactly 199 years ago the name of our capital
city, Oranjestad, was first proclaimed.
In episode 29, of 2019, we shared the story of how
Oranjestad, our capital city, had been founded, ex-
plaining that in the year 1816, the area called “Horses
Bay” was perceived as having moderate prosperity
since it had a population of seven hundred people,
among whom were some merchants, a considerable
group of sailors, a few landowners, and even two
goldsmiths. A prosperous growth that, during the fol-
lowing fifteen years and after the discovery of gold
on the island, allowed more than a thousand new in-
habitants, mostly merchants, to settle in this coastal
area known as Playa. This is how the town began to
grow, which, at a certain point, needed a structure
and an official name. Zoutman, dating from the year 1796, oldest building on the island after Fort
In the year 1821, Jacob Thielen I was appointed com- whose exterior walls are the oldest Zoutman. In front of the old Protestant
mander of Aruba. He was the son of a prominent building in Aruba (episode 214). The temple there is a government building
family that had settled in Curaçao a few generations tower located in front of the current dating from 1911 and next to it was the
before. As Secretary of Justice, the Council of Cu- entrance to the fort was built in 1868 building constructed between 1887
raçao favored Jacob’s conditions to bring the nec- to meet the need for a public clock and 1888, which was initially a school
essary reforms to our island. His dedication and work and had nothing to do with the fort. before becoming a barracks during
favoring economic growth led to the implementa- Once its construction was complete, it World War II and in 1955, was destined
tion of fundamental and necessary changes, such as was conditioned as a lighthouse, and to be the public library, currently the,
the government regulations of 1823. It was on August a clock was installed in 1929. It served Algemene Rekenkamer van Aruba
3rd, 1824—a fact known due to direct family history— as a lighthouse until 1963, when the (General Audit Chamber of Aruba).
that Jacob Thielen I proposed the name Oranjestad western entrance to the port was inau- On the same street, we will find two
(Orange City) to the town located on Horse’s Bay. A gurated. As an inscription on the tow- other houses of typical construction:
name that, as soon as it was heard, was acclaimed er, we can see the initials W III, which one built in 1923 as a doctor’s resi-
by all people during that occasion, which without ex- means William III, who was the reigning dence, serving today as our town hall,
ception burst into cheers of “Long live Oranjestad!” king during its construction. and opposite the ruins of a mansion
“May it grow and prosper.” built in 1937, currently under restora-
Before 1790, the south of Savaneta was the capital of Among the oldest buildings in Oranjes- tion.
Aruba, but Oranjestad turned out to be more acces- tad, we find the old Protestant temple
sible for ships to lay anchor. built in 1846, which is located near If you are keen to explore Aruba’s
What remains of that old Oranjestad proclaimed by the Protestant church in the current deep heritage, Etnia Nativa happens
Jacob Thielen I are e few constructions known as Fort Wilhelminastraat, and is the second to be the place of choice in its cat-
egory because it is Aruba’s unique
“cabinet of curiosities” (episode 211)
for immersing oneself in the rich history
and cultural heritage of Aruba. You will
be in the hands of a first-hand connois-
seur, owner, and descendant of the
late Thielen family, older native Aruba
settlers, and other selected families.
Etnia Nativa distinguishes itself from
the rest as a hidden gem by offering a
personal native touch that adds depth
and authenticity to your destination
experience, providing visitors with an
engaging and meaningful connection
to the island’s history, valuable insights,
and a deeper understanding of Aru-
ba’s heritage.
Appointments are required for a per-
sonalized experience. E-mail at etni-
anativa03@gmail.com or WhatsApp
(messages only) at +297 592 2702.q
