Page 20 - AHATA

Thursday 20 March 2025 locAl
A10

Visit the natural bridges of Aruba!

many years, this site was also
a frequently visited beach,
as the bridge had a small
opening through which the
water would flow into the tiny
beach.

Unfortunately in 2005, the
bridge collapsed, and the
little beach dried up. De-
spite this, this site remained
a tourist attraction, with
many visitors walking along
the coral cliffs of the bridge
to see the spectacular view
(Oranjestad)—After you’ve of the northern coastline and
visited the Alto Vista Church, The bridge was formed dur- the Caribbean Sea. Visitors
the Bushiribana Gold Mill Ru- ing thousands of years, cut can also still visit the souvenir
ins and the mini natural pool and crafted by the wild shop on the left of the bridge
that is located right next to waves that crash into the entrance.
it, you’re next up around the coral stone walls of the
northern coast line must be coast. Before its collapse, While the natural bridge no
the Natural Bridge. Once the this bridge measured 30 longer is functional, there is
largest natural bridge in the meters in length and 7 me- now a smaller natural bridge
Caribbean, this bridge has ters in height, making it the very close. This bridge is often
been a tourist attraction for biggest natural bridge in the called the “Baby Bridge” or
many years. Caribbean at the time. For “Daughter Bridge”. q

Visit the historic museum at Fort Zoutman!

(Oranjestad)—Located in years, have been merged: The fort itself was originally
the middle of downtown the fort and the tower. constructed to protect
Oranjestad, situated right That’s right, the iconic the commerce bay of
next to the government 5-story, squared tower was Paardenbaai from pirates
building “Cocolishi”, is one not part of the original and other disreputable
of the oldest buildings of structure of the fort, and characters roaming the
Aruba: Fort Zoutman. First is actually called “Willem Caribbean Sea. Unlike the
constructed in 1796, this III Toren”. Constructed in Willem III Toren, Fort Zout-
site has been used (or left 1867, this tower was named man had a more tumul-
unused) in many ways and after the then-reigning king tuous past, including the
have survived eras of war of The Netherlands, Willem on-and-off reception of
and attempted disman- III. Willem III Toren was origi- unwanted members of the
tling. nally a light tower, but after English military several times
a request from Lieutenant (The Netherlands was at
When anyone refers to Fort Governor Jan Helenus in constant war with England tioned as different govern- buildings also housed a po-
Zoutman, they are actu- 1866, it also became a bell back in the colonial era). ment center points, includ- lice precinct and jail, and
ally referring to two sepa- tower. Over the years, both the fort ing a tax and stamps office. even experienced aban-
rate buildings that, over the and the tower had func- For some time these two donment until the Cultural
Center Aruba Foundation
(CCA) petitioned for its
renovation in 1964, turning
the site into the Historic Mu-
seum it currently is.
Despite its small size, The
Historic Museum guards a
rich depository of the com-
mercial, military and social
history of Oranjestad, offer-
ing a glance into how the
social culture of the town
came to be. If you are in-
terested in history and want
to learn more about Aruba,
then Fort Zoutman should
definitely be included into
your itinerary.
The museum is open Mon-
day to Friday from 9am-
6pm, and Saturday from
10am-2pm.

Source: The Old Fort of Aruba
by Jan Hartog.