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local Thursday 6 March 2025
Visit the historic museum at Fort Zoutman!

(Oranjestad)—Located in the mid- including the on-and-off reception
dle of downtown Oranjestad, situ- of unwanted members of the Eng-
ated right next to the government lish military several times (The Neth-
building “Cocolishi”, is one of the erlands was at constant war with
oldest buildings of Aruba: Fort Zout- England back in the colonial era).
man. First constructed in 1796, this Over the years, both the fort and
site has been used (or left unused) the tower had functioned as dif-
in many ways and have survived ferent government center points,
eras of war and attempted dis- including a tax and stamps office.
mantling. For some time these two buildings
also housed a police precinct and
When anyone refers to Fort Zout- jail, and even experienced aban-
man, they are actually referring to donment until the Cultural Center
two separate buildings that, over Aruba Foundation (CCA) peti-
the years, have been merged: the tioned for its renovation in 1964,
fort and the tower. That’s right, the turning the site into the Historic Mu-
iconic 5-story, squared tower was seum it currently is.
not part of the original structure of
the fort, and is actually called “Wil- Despite its small size, The Historic
lem III Toren”. Constructed in 1867, Museum guards a rich depository
this tower was named after the of the commercial, military and so-
then-reigning king of The Nether- cial history of Oranjestad, offering
lands, Willem III. Willem III Toren was a glance into how the social cul-
originally a light tower, but after a ture of the town came to be. If you
request from Lieutenant Governor are interested in history and want
Jan Helenus in 1866, it also be- to learn more about Aruba, then
came a bell tower. Fort Zoutman should definitely be
The fort itself was originally con- included into your itinerary.
structed to protect the commerce The museum is open Monday to Fri-
bay of Paardenbaai from pirates day from 9am-6pm, and Saturday
and other disreputable characters from 10am-2pm.q
roaming the Caribbean Sea. Un-
like the Willem III Toren, Fort Zout- Source: The Old Fort of Aruba by Jan
man had a more tumultuous past, Hartog.

Lessons from our elders:

Plants and fruits for medicinal use (part 2)

(Oranjestad)—In last week’s to eat sweet potato 2 to 3 the end of a sweet potato let
edition, we shared with our times a week. However, if it sit in shallow water until it
readers some medicinal use you have high blood pres- starts to sprout. Then you may
for plants and fruits, passed sure, it is best not to eat too plant it in the ground. Sweet
down from our elders through much sweet potato, as this potatoes need plenty of wa-
generations. This week, we raises blood pressure. Sweet ter to grow, especially in the
present two more uses of potatoes are also great for first week in the ground. It
fruits and plants for medici- people who work hard labor was said that once you start
nal use. jobs, and it’s been said to be to notice the ground crack
aid blood circulation in the underneath the flowers, it is
Sweet potato body, as well as help those time to harvest. This should
According to our elders, with hemorrhoids or diarrhea. happen around month 3.
sweet potato is mostly use- Many of our elders opted to
ful for low blood pressure. plant sweet potatoes them- Pomegranate
People who suffer from low selves, mostly because of Pomegranates are also one
blood pressure were advised how easy it was to do so. Cut of the easier fruits to plant
and harvest. Originated from
Persia, this plant can grow
almost everywhere. In Aruba, fully ripen before harvesting, from diarrhea. Dried pome-
there are many homes that otherwise you might end up granate skin tea is also good
have a tiny or big pomegran- with bitter seeds. Pomegran- for people who have worms.
ate tree. You may be won- ate trees are also very easy Pomegranate flowers can be
dering what the difference to plant. In essence, if you boiled to make a drink and
is between a small and big just throw the seeds on the this can be used for irritated
pomegranate tree, for which ground, they could grow into gums; just take a swig and let
the answer is based on har- a tree. the tea sit in your mouth for
vest time. Tiny trees produce In terms of medicinal use, a couple minutes.q
tinier pomegranates that pomegranate skins are said
can be harvested early on. to have a few benefits for Source: Remedi i Kustumber
Contrarily, big trees produce our health. According to di nos Bieunan (Medicine and
bigger pomegranates, but customs, pomegranate skin Customs of our Elderly) by Di-
they need enough time to tea can help those that suffer nah Veeris