Page 11 - AHATA

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local Wednesday 26 november 2025

Visit the historic museum at Fort Zoutman!

(Oranjestad)—Located in ernor Jan Helenus in 1866, it (CCA) petitioned for its ren-
the middle of downtown also became a bell tower. ovation in 1964, turning the
Oranjestad, situated right site into the Historic Museum
next to the government The fort itself was originally it currently is.
building “Cocolishi”, is one constructed to protect the
of the oldest buildings of commerce bay of Paarden- Despite its small size, The His-
Aruba: Fort Zoutman. First baai from pirates and other toric Museum guards a rich
constructed in 1796, this disreputable characters depository of the commer-
site has been used (or left roaming the Caribbean Sea. cial, military and social his-
unused) in many ways and Unlike the Willem III Toren, tory of Oranjestad, offering
have survived eras of war Fort Zoutman had a more a glance into how the social
and attempted dismantling. tumultuous past, including culture of the town came to Zoutman should definitely be and Saturday from 10am-
the on-and-off reception of be. If you are interested in included into your itinerary. 2pm.q
When anyone refers to Fort unwanted members of the history and want to learn
Zoutman, they are actually English military several times more about Aruba, then Fort The museum is open Mon- Source: The Old Fort of Aruba
by Jan Hartog.
referring to two separate (The Netherlands was at day to Friday from 9am-6pm,
buildings that, over the years, constant war with England
have been merged: the fort back in the colonial era).
and the tower. That’s right,
the iconic 5-story, squared Over the years, both the
tower was not part of the fort and the tower had
original structure of the fort, functioned as different
and is actually called “Wil- government center points,
lem III Toren”. Constructed in including a tax and stamps
1867, this tower was named office. For some time these
after the then-reigning king two buildings also housed a
of The Netherlands, Willem III. police precinct and jail, and
Willem III Toren was originally even experienced aban-
a light tower, but after a re- donment until the Cultural
quest from Lieutenant Gov- Center Aruba Foundation

Prohibited by law:
leaving the island with

seashells, white sand or corals

(Oranjestad)—Often times, Upon confiscation at the
the customs department at airport, you can also face
the airport intercepts many a fine that you have to pay
tourists leaving the island before leaving. This would
with seashells, white sand surely not be a pleasant ex-
and/or corals as souvenirs. perience. Though we love
to accommodate our visi-
Conforming to the inter- tors, let’s all give nature the
national treaty of CITES respect it deserves by pro-
and our local law which tecting our environment.
protects our Flora & Fau- Stop collecting seashells,
na, it is absolutely prohib- white sand and corals from
ited to take any seashell, our shores and stop buying
sand and coral outside or accepting these from lo-
of Aruba. This is to protect cal sellers or companies.
our environment. The high
number of seashells, coral We want our future gener-
and amount of sand con- ations and visitors to enjoy
fiscated is very strange and the beauty of our beach-
it is suspected that our own es, shells and corals in a
locals are the ones selling sustainable way, without
these to the tourists, which destroying or disrupting the
is unacceptable. Aruban ecosystem. Help us
protect what is ours!q