Oranjestad, Aruba

View of the main street in Oranjestad, capital of Aruba
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aruba_Oranjestad_MainStreet.jpg
Author: Set1536
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Oranjestad is the capital and largest city in Aruba. The city is located on the western part of the island. It has a population of 35,000 people and is the main town in Aruba.

Oranjestad traces its history to Fort Zoutman, which was built in 1796. Oranjestad developed as the settlement around the fort. In the beginning, the area was known after the surrounding bay, which was Paardenbaai, meaning "bay of horses" in Dutch. It was only later that the town was named Oranjestad, after William of Orange-Nassau.

Today Oranjestad has grown into another cruise ship destination. Fort Zoutman is still around, and has been represerved as a local attraction. The town itself has pretty, colorfully painted Dutch colonial-era buildings. The main road, Lloyd G. Smith Boulevard, skirts the waterfront.

Royal Plaza Shopping Mall in Oranjestad
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mauna_Kea_from_Mauna_Loa_Observatory,_Hawaii_-_20100913.jpg
Author: Nula666
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Visiting Oranjestad

Many people arrive on cruise ships. Alternatively, the Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA) gets flights from Amsterdam, Atlanta, Baltimore, Bogotá, Bonaire, Boston, Caracas, Curaçao, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Miami, Milan, New York-JFK, Orlando, Panama City and Toronto, among others. To explore, you can either rent a bike or a taxi to go around.

Places of Interest in Oranjestad

Coin Museum
Museum with a vast collection of coins from all over the world.
Fort Zoutman
Dutch fort built in 1796, located on the southern end of Oranjestad.
Oranjestad Archaeological Museum
Museum displaying artifacts that include stone tools from 4,500 years ago.
Willem III Tower
Tower built in 1868 that once served as a lighthouse.

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