Although the first European to discover Aruba was the Spaniard Alonso de Ojeda in 1499, the island's history is dominated by the Dutch, with Holland conquering Aruba in 1636. It would change several times in the coming years, but mainly remain a Dutch colony until achieving independence in 1986.

Visiting today, you'll be captivated by the delicious mélange of cultures that make up Aruba's rich heritage. Dutch architecture mixes with the tropical influence of the island's natives and traditional Spanish style in downtown Oranjestad. "Bonbini!" say the locals, meaning "welcome" in Papiamento. While the official language is Dutch, most Arubans are fluent in several languages, including English and Spanish. Papiamento, the local dialect, is a perfect metaphor for the island's cultural diversity. Papiamento is a blending of Dutch, Spanish, and Portuguese with some French, English, and Indian thrown in for good measure!

Like Alaska but much warmer, Aruba also experienced a gold rush. The precious mineral was first discovered in Aruba in 1824. You can still visit the historic remains of the smelting works at Bushiribana and Balashi. When gold mining no longer proved profitable, Aruban aloe plantations flourished. Then, in the l920s, the oil industry arrived. The Lago refinery, a subsidiary of Standard Oil, was established just outside San Nicolas and became for a long time the island's most important employer.

When the falling prices in the 1980s caused the closing of the last oil refinery, the locals realized that their greatest natural resource was one that didn't have to be refined or exported. Arubans welcome visitors with open arms, proud to share the beautiful landscape and warm culture of their island treasure.

Get a feel for the real Aruba at the historic Fort Zoutman, the oldest building on the island, where the weekly Bon Bini Festival, celebrates local food, crafts, music, and dance. Don't miss the chance to explore the fascinating heritage of this legendary romantic island.