Nine Unexpected Facts about Aruba

The author is currently two weeks into a two-month stay on the magnificent island of Aruba, taking advantage of the beautiful sea and beaches. On the sand, they enjoy doing yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises before enjoying a delectable box breakfast and going swimming or snorkeling. They did a lot of study about Aruba in advance of their lengthy visit and learned a lot of intriguing and unexpected things about it. Learn more about this city, then book DTW flights to Aruba and spend some time in Aruba.

1. Aruba ranks seventh-smallest globally.

Aruba is the seventh-smallest country in the world and is one of many island countries. With some of Africa, India, and the Mediterranean Sea, it is situated in the Caribbean and Pacific. The six minor nations—Vatican City, Monaco, Nauru, Tuvalu, San Marino, and Liechtenstein—are all located in Europe or the Pacific Ocean.

2. Aruba is 35 years old.

In 1986, Aruba separated from the Netherlands, acquiring control of its flag, coat of arms, currency, and constitution. It is one of the four "Constituent Countries of the Netherlands," the other three being Curacao, Sint Maarten, and the Netherlands. While Aruba oversees all of its internal affairs, the Netherlands is in charge of Aruba's military defense and foreign policy. Everything about Aruba's way of life is based on Holland, including its governmental structure, right-hand traffic, and official usage of the Dutch language.

Read More: Awesome things to do in Aruba.

3. Aruba uses a separate currency.

Florin, the local currency of Aruba, is tied to the US dollar at a rate of $1US = 1.8 florin. It has brilliant colors and lovely Aruban-themed motifs. On the island, both Florin and US dollars are accepted, and many shops and services provide prices in both. Paying in Florins may let you make savings when visiting, despite US dollar pricing being slightly more expensive.

4. Papamiento is the name of Aruba's native tongue.

The southern Caribbean islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao all speak the Creole language known as Papamiento, which is the official language of Aruba. It incorporates vocabulary from English, West African languages, Dutch, Spanish, and Portuguese. Under centuries of Dutch dominance and tourism, the language has changed. Although its exact ancestry is unknown, most linguists concur that it originated from Creole languages spoken off the coast of West Africa. Papamiento was initially widely used in Aruba as shown by official records from the early 1700s. Most locals now communicate with one another in Papamiento, which is also used in newspapers and on TV and radio programs.

5. Venezuela and South America are only 30 kilometers (18 miles) from Aruba.

The southernmost island in the Caribbean Sea is Aruba, which is close to Venezuela and Paraguay. Its southeast coast shares latitude with Nicaragua in Central America and is located 18 miles north of Venezuela's peninsula.

6. For 350 years, Aruba was a colony of the Dutch.

During the Thirty Years' War, the Dutch defeated Spain and captured Aruba in 1636. From 1500 until the Dutch acquired control, the island had been cruelly governed by Spain. After a brief British occupation in the 1800s and a Nazi Germany takeover in the 1940s, the Dutch ruled Aruba for 350 years. Currently, Aruba is responsible for its domestic affairs but the Netherlands is in charge of its military defense and external relations.

7. Aruba used to export more aloe vera than any other country in the world.

The Dutch brought aloe vera plants to Aruba in 1840, and these plants flourish amid the island's dry soil and scant rainfall. The aloe vera industry had its start in 1890 when a local produced an aloe resin laxative that was sold in America and Europe. This developed into Aruba's first industry and employed numerous natives. Success with the aloe laxative product led Aruba to become the world's top exporter of aloe vera by the turn of the century and the early 1900s. Oil refineries began operating in Aruba in the late 1920s, drastically altering the island's riches and economy. The aloe sector shrank, but one aloe company is still in business in the 2020s and makes a variety of skincare and cosmetics goods. Visitors can learn about the development, creation, and products of aloe vera.

8. Most Arians are trilingual.

Dutch and Papamiento, which were both taught in schools, are the two official languages of Aruba. In their homes and daily lives, most locals use Papamiento. The majority of inhabitants, including many Arubans who immigrated from South America and other Caribbean islands, speak English and Spanish, with the tourist sector serving as the primary source of income.

9. Until the 1980s, Aruba was home to one of the largest oil refineries in the world.

The Royal Dutch Shell-opened oil refineries in Aruba in 1928 completely changed the island's economy, standard of living, and prosperity. The boom produced money and jobs for 50 years. Due to a global oversupply, the refineries were forced to close in 1986, which had a huge impact on Aruba's economy, prosperity, and labor market.

Take a flight to Aruba from Detroit if you want more information about Aruba.