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local Thursday 13 June 2024

Visit the historic museum at Fort Zoutman!

(Oranjestad)—Located in years, have been merged:
the middle of downtown the fort and the tower.
Oranjestad, situated right That’s right, the iconic
next to the government 5-story, squared tower was
building “Cocolishi”, is one not part of the original
of the oldest buildings of structure of the fort, and
Aruba: Fort Zoutman. First is actually called “Willem
constructed in 1796, this III Toren”. Constructed in
site has been used (or left 1867, this tower was named
unused) in many ways and after the then-reigning king
have survived eras of war of The Netherlands, Willem
and attempted disman- III. Willem III Toren was origi-
tling. nally a light tower, but after
a request from Lieutenant
When anyone refers to Fort Governor Jan Helenus in
Zoutman, they are actu- 1866, it also became a bell
ally referring to two sepa- tower.
rate buildings that, over the

The fort itself was originally fort and the tower had mercial, military and social
constructed to protect functioned as different history of Oranjestad, offer-
the commerce bay of government center points, ing a glance into how the
Paardenbaai from pirates including a tax and stamps social culture of the town
and other disreputable office. For some time these came to be. If you are in-
characters roaming the two buildings also housed terested in history and want
Caribbean Sea. Unlike the a police precinct and jail, to learn more about Aruba,
Willem III Toren, Fort Zout- and even experienced then Fort Zoutman should
man had a more tumul- abandonment until the Cul- definitely be included into
tuous past, including the tural Center Aruba Founda- your itinerary.
on-and-off reception of tion (CCA) petitioned for its The museum is open Mon-
unwanted members of the renovation in 1964, turning day to Friday from 9am-
English military several times the site into the Historic Mu- 6pm, and Saturday from
(The Netherlands was at seum it currently is. 10am-2pm.q
constant war with England Despite its small size, The
back in the colonial era). Historic Museum guards a Source: The Old Fort of Aruba
Over the years, both the rich depository of the com- by Jan Hartog.

How Aruban beaches came to be!

(Oranjestad)—We’ve talk- veloped over the span of sand starts to accumulate
ed about the best beaches thousands of years. Waves around the area. Howev-
to visit on the island before, crashing on the rocky for- er, whether the sand stays
but have you ever won- mations along our coast there is another question
dered how Aruba got its line (which consists mainly to be answered, and this is
white, sandy beaches, and of coral reefs) have start- where we highlight the big-
why there’s a clear differ- ed to wear and tear the gest difference between
ence between the northern reefs over time, resulting the northern and southern
and southern shores? Here in its gradual breakdown. coast of the island.
are some fun facts about Fish that feed off corals
the development of Aru- also contribute to this, one The sand that accumulates
ban beaches. small bite at a time. Over around a torn coral reef
the course of thousands is swept away along with stream is weaker, the sand interesting phrasing.
How did Aruba get its of years, as waves contin- the debris by the ocean tends to sick to the bot-
white, sandy beaches? ue to crash and fish con- stream. However, in areas tom faster. This is why the Aruba is a continental
Aruba’s beaches have de- tinue to eat off the corals, where it’s shallow and the beaches in the south—the island. The island actu-
areas with weaker stream ally forms part of South
and shallower ocean America, and the space
floors—has sand that between Aruba and the
stretches for miles. In con- South American continent
trast, the northern area, is simply referred to as land
where the stream is much that runs under the ocean.
stronger and the ocean This is why it gets gradu-
floor is much deeper, there ally deeper in the south,
is no sand present—they whereas the ocean floor in
were swept away with the the north runs steeply to the
current! bottom.

Why north deep, but south Source: archival document
shallow? provided by the National
Ah! Good question…and Archive of Aruba (ANA).q