Page 16 - AHATA

Wednesday 24 January 2024 LOCAL
A10

The district of Savaneta

A quick history guide to the island’s first capital

( O r a n j e s t a d ) — B e f o r e
Oranjestad became the
island nation’s capital,
Aruba’s first capital was the
district of Savaneta. Here
is where the cultural iden-
tity of Aruba was born, and
from where the rest of the
island developed into what
it is today.

Savaneta is said to have
been the first place where
the Caquetio inhabitants
first stepped foot on the Ojeda first took notice of lands. Once they landed in mander at the time, J.R. er culture on Aruba was
island. Though there isn’t
hard evidence to back this Aruba off the coast of Ven- Aruba, they deported the Lauffer, moved his office to born. Before the Aruban
ezuela, during his explora-
what is now “Horse Bay” in Gold Rush and the con-
small Arawakan and Span-
up, but considering the leg-
end of the Cacique Arua, it tion of the Latin American ish community that was liv- Oranjestad. Because the struction of the Refinery in
country. This was on Au-
ing on the island. This was highest office on the island San Nicolas, most residents
is believed that there were
already movements on gust 9th, 1499. However, the beginning of coloniza- moved away from Sava- were farmers, and Sava-
de Ojeda didn’t actually tion of the ABC islands by neta, the capital lost its title neta had many inhabit-
Aruba—and Savaneta—
around 88 AD. sail to the island till 4 days the Dutch empire. Around to what was called then ants that farmed fruits and
later, on August 23rd, 1499. the same, the West Indian Playa. vegetables. They also con-
This was the beginning of Company (WIC) was born. tinued the tradition of rais-
The Caquetios probably the Spanish era on Aruba Bonaire and Curacao were How Savaneta got its name ing cattle, like goat, sheep,
made their way to the is-
land either from Venezuela, (1499-1636). mostly used for plantations, The name Savaneta prob- pigs and horses. Savaneta
was one of the first places
where the Dutch had trans-
ably has a Spanish ori-
Colombia or other Carib-
bean islands in the region, Alonso usually didn’t stop ported slaves from Africa. gin. It was said that when on the island to have a
at every island or land he Aruba, on the other hand, the Spanish climbed a hill general farming culture.
but with good weather it
was relatively easy for them saw, especially not in the was mostly used to raise called Yara, they saw that From this culture, many oth-
Caribbean. He would often cattle and to house the the area was mostly open er traditions were born, like
to travel back and forth in
their canoes. So, since the take notice of land from haring factory. The Dutch and had no big trees. In the Dera Gay Holiday that
afar and continue sailing. had often forced the indig-
Spanish, such a land area is we celebrate every year
Caquetios discovered the
island, Aruba found her first However, Aruba was an ex- enous community to work called a “sabana”. on June 24th.
ception. He had heard that for them.
form of civilization.
there were “quebracho” In 1636, when the Nether- Because of its land surface, Source: Historia di Savane-
trees on the island, which lands won the war against Savaneta was a great ta (History of Savaneta) by
It wasn’t until 1499 when
Aruba met another group were commonly used to Spain, the country surren- place to construct cattle Adolf “Dufi” Kock.
produce dye or paint. But dered the islands to the farms. From here, the farm-
of people who set foot on
the island: the Spanish ex- since these trees could not Dutch.
be found in Savaneta, he
plorer Alonso de Ojeda. De
continued to search in the The Dutch administration
area of what is now known appointed the island’s
as Santa Cruz. The best first commander, an Irish
way to transport the tree man named N. Williams.
barks was via a route pass- Because the Dutch were
ing through Savaneta, and interested in other Carib-
so the first road between bean islands and countries
Savaneta and Santa Cruz in South America, they im-
was made. ported Dutch merchants
and business men, all of
The Dutch colonial era whom resided in Savaneta.
(1636-1805) This way, Savaneta official-
During the 80-year war ly became the island’s first
between The Netherlands capital.
and Spain, Dutch explor-
ers and merchants began However, at the end of
to travel to the ABC is- the 18th century, the com-