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LOCAL Wednesday 29 OctOber 2025

Enjoy one of the best views on Aruba at the top of the Hooiberg Hill

(Oranjestad)—If you are of the best views you can built in 1951, when Mr. Edu-
a regular hiker, or may- get on Aruba. ardo Tromp constructed it.
be want to spice up your At that time, the staircase
morning work out session, located at the center dis- consisted of 900 steps.
then you might enjoy one trict of the island, Santa Over time, as the steps
of the most popular climb- Cruz, the Hooiberg Hill is faced erosion, the govern-
ing sites on the island: The the second highest point ment decided to renovate
Hooiberg Hill. Accompa- on the island at 165 meters these stairs in 1991. This
nied with a 600-step stair- above sea level (or about new project delivered the
case, this hill overlooks a 540 feet above sea level). newer staircase with only
great part of the island, the The highest point is Ja- 587 steps. However, don’t
Caribbean sea, and some- manota Hill at 189 meters be fooled—it may still be view at this resting stop is morning or right before
times even the Santa Anna (620 feet), located in the a work out to get on top. also a sight to see. sunset, as it may not be as
mountain located in the Arikok National Park. In addition, there is now a hot. However, the hill is of
coastal state of Falcon in The staircase that run on gazebo placed halfway up The best time to climb the course open all day, every
Venezuela, providing one the side of the hill was first the stair for a little rest. The hill would be early in the day.q

Create museum memories

Museums are an integral The Museum of Industry is museum of Industry is open buildings in downtown Oran- Aruban Government and
part of conserving and hon- situated in the Water Tower daily from 9 am till 1 pm. jestad. the Union of Cultural Orga-
oring cultures, and Aruba is in San Nicolas and narrates nizations (UNOCA), opened
no exception. Our Island has Aruba’s industrial history For more information check These historical buildings in July 2009.
a wide selection of various which began in the 19th out their Facebook page were formerly the property of
museums for our locals and century. The Water Tower Museum of Industry Aruba. the Ecury family. The “Ecury At the new location the
visitors to see. Take this op- was built in 1939 and con- Complex”, is a cluster of National Archaeological
portunity to learn about our sists of three sections: the Archaeological Museum of single and two-story historic Museum Aruba disposes of
island and experience a substructure, the high-rising Aruba buildings, mainly Dutch co- approximately 500 m2 for
different day beyond the vertical shaft, and the tank The Archaeological Muse- lonial architecture from the its permanent exhibit. This
beach. Let us introduce to at the top. The Water Tow- um of Aruba is located at late 19th and 20th century exhibit conveys through ar-
you the these locations. er was purchased by the Schelpstraat 42 in downtown on a plot of approximately chaeological objects and
Monuments fund in 2003 Oranjestad. The renovated 1.700 m2. modern exhibition tech-
Museum of Industry Aruba so it could be restored and historic Ecury complex in niques information on the
Museum of Industry in San preserved as one of Aruba’s downtown Oranjestad has In 1997 the Aruban Govern- origin and culture of the
Nicolas, better known as monuments. The Museum been transformed from a ment bought the complex first inhabitants of the island.
the art capital of Aruba. This of Industry is part of Funda- family home to a modern for the National Archaeolog- The new permanent exhibit
museum presents the history cion Museo Arubano (FMA), museum that preserves ical Museum project. In 2004 gives the visitor an insight into
of gold, aloe, phosphate, oil which is a foundation set to Aruba’s Amerindian cul- a financial agreement was the cultures that inhabited
and tourism through elabo- maintain, preserve, and pro- tural heritage. This 21st cen- signed with the European the island in Pre-Historical
rated displays and multime- tect the Aruban culture sec- tury museum is especially Development Fund and in and Early Historical times.
dia installations. tor, history, and nature. The designed to preserve valu- 2006 restauration and con- The museum also hosts an
able artifacts dating back struction work began on attractive public program
to the Pre-Ceramic period the monumental buildings including lectures, educa-
of 2500 BC. and the new to build exhi- tional projects, temporary
bition space. In December exhibits and workshops.
In the late 1980’s AMA iden- 2007 the key to the complex
tified its need for an ad- was delivered and the mu- The museum is open daily
equate housing for its col- seum’s employees moved to from 9:30 am till 4:30 pm.
lection and activities. After the new location. The final
studying various options, a design for the exhibit was For more information check
project proposal was drawn completed in November out the Facebook page
up, including the acquisition 2007 and the permanent Museo Arqueologico Na-
and restoration of historical exhibit, financed by the cional Aruba.q