How did the Dutch acquire Aruba?

Because of Arubas strategic location, the Dutch occupied the island in 1636 in order to protect their salt supply from the South American mainland while also ensuring a naval base in the Caribbean during their Eighty Years War with Spain. Aruba officially became part of the Netherlands Antilles in 1845.

Where did the slaves in Aruba come from?

They are often of Arawak ancestry in combination with Dutch, Spanish, and African ancestry. Unlike most Caribbean islands, however, Aruba had few slave-based plantations and thus people of predominantly African descent form a small part of the population.

Is there still gold in Aruba?

This Aruba Island Gold Mining Company, Ltd stopped its operations in 1899, and another company took over, named Aruba Gold Concessions, Ltd. There are also remains of gold mines at Miralamar, within our Arikok National Park. Balashi Gold Mill. The Aruba Gold Concessions ceased its operations in 1908.