History of Aruba in Timeline

Aruba is a constituent island country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located in the southern Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela. It became a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1986, officially known as the Country of Aruba.

1911: Strong El Niño year

In 1911, Rainfall can be highly variable, ranging from as little as 150 millimetres or 6 inches during strong El Niño years

1912: Strong El Niño year

In 1912, Rainfall can be highly variable, ranging from as little as 150 millimetres or 6 inches during strong El Niño years

1924: Salt extraction at Rancho

Around 1924, salt extraction at Rancho had limited benefits, primarily being used in the preservation of fish during shipping.

1924: First oil refinery built in San Nicolas

In 1924, the first oil refinery, Lago Oil and Transport Company, in San Nicolas was built as a subsidiary of Standard Oil.

1927: Arend Petroleum Company established west of Oranjestad

In 1927, the Arend Petroleum Company was established to the west of Oranjestad to process crude oil from Venezuelan oil fields.

1930: Strong El Niño year

In 1930, Rainfall can be highly variable, ranging from as little as 150 millimetres or 6 inches during strong El Niño years

1931: Strong El Niño year

In 1931, Rainfall can be highly variable, ranging from as little as 150 millimetres or 6 inches during strong El Niño years

1933: La Niña year

In 1933, Rainfall can be highly variable, ranging to over 1,000 millimetres or 39 inches in La Niña years.

1934: La Niña year

In 1934, Rainfall can be highly variable, ranging to over 1,000 millimetres or 39 inches in La Niña years.

1940: Oil facilities under Dutch government-in-exile

In 1940, during World War II, the oil facilities in Aruba came under the administration of the Dutch government-in-exile in London.

1942: Aruba oil facilities attacked by German navy

In 1942, the oil facilities in Aruba, under the administration of the Dutch government-in-exile, were attacked by the German navy.

August 1947: Aruba formulates its first staatsreglement

In August 1947, Aruba formulated its first staatsreglement (constitution) for Aruba's status aparte as an autonomous state within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

1949: Salt pans disappeared beneath the sand in Paardenbaai

Paardenbaai (Horses' Bay) contained salt pans up until 1949 when it was dredged and disappeared beneath the sand.

1954: Charter of the Kingdom of the Netherlands established

By 1954, the Charter of the Kingdom of the Netherlands was established, providing a framework for relations between Aruba and the rest of the kingdom.

1958: Construction of the Lourdes Grotto

The Lourdes Grotto, was constructed in 1958 by a priest named Erkamp and his parishioners.

1970: La Niña year

In 1970, Rainfall can be highly variable, ranging to over 1,000 millimetres or 39 inches in La Niña years.

1971: La Niña year

In 1971, Rainfall can be highly variable, ranging to over 1,000 millimetres or 39 inches in La Niña years.

1972: Proposal for a Dutch Commonwealth of four states

In 1972, Aruban politician Betico Croes proposed the creation of a Dutch Commonwealth of four states: Aruba, the Netherlands, Suriname, and the Netherlands Antilles.

1972: Population statistics

The population experienced fluctuations between 1972 and 2022, primarily influenced by net migration.

1976: Adoption of trappings of an independent state

In 1976, Aruba adopted the trappings of an independent state with the creation of a flag and national anthem.

March 1977: Referendum held for complete independence

In March 1977, a referendum was held with the support of the United Nations where 82% of the participants voted for complete independence from the Netherlands.

1978: Study for independence

In 1978 the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague prepared a study for independence, entitled Aruba en Onafhankelijkheid, achtergronden, modaliteiten, en mogelijkheden; een rapport in eerste aanleg

1982: Strong El Niño year

In 1982, Rainfall can be highly variable, ranging from as little as 150 millimetres or 6 inches during strong El Niño years

March 1983: Official agreement reached for Aruba's independence

In March 1983, Aruba reached an official agreement within the kingdom for its independence, to be developed in a series of steps as the Crown granted increasing autonomy.

1983: Strong El Niño year

In 1983, Rainfall can be highly variable, ranging from as little as 150 millimetres or 6 inches during strong El Niño years

August 1985: Aruba drafts a constitution

In August 1985, Aruba drafted a constitution that was unanimously approved.

1985: Aruba's oil refinery closed

In 1985, Aruba's oil refinery closed, leading to a push for a dramatic increase in tourism.

January 1986: Aruba secedes from the Netherlands Antilles

On 1 January 1986, after the 1985 general election was held for its first parliament, Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles, officially becoming a country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

1986: Aruba becomes a constituent country

In 1986, Aruba became a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands and acquired the formal name the Country of Aruba.

1988: Aruba competes at the Olympic Games

Aruba has competed at the Olympic Games since 1988.

1988: Population nearly doubled between 1988 and 2016

Between 1988 and 2016, the population nearly doubled.

1988: La Niña year

In 1988, Rainfall can be highly variable, ranging to over 1,000 millimetres or 39 inches in La Niña years.

1989: La Niña year

In 1989, Rainfall can be highly variable, ranging to over 1,000 millimetres or 39 inches in La Niña years.

1990: Forest cover unchanged from 1990 to 2020

From 1990 to 2020, forest cover remained the same.

1990: Postponement of Aruba's transition to full independence

In 1990, at a convention in The Hague, the governments of Aruba, the Netherlands, and the Netherlands Antilles postponed indefinitely Aruba's transition to full independence.

1995: Article scheduling complete independence rescinded

In 1995, the article scheduling Aruba's complete independence was rescinded, although it was decided that the process could be revived after another referendum.

1996: Full independence planned for 1996

Full independence for Aruba was planned for 1996.

1997: Strong El Niño year

In 1997, Rainfall can be highly variable, ranging from as little as 150 millimetres or 6 inches during strong El Niño years

1998: Strong El Niño year

In 1998, Rainfall can be highly variable, ranging from as little as 150 millimetres or 6 inches during strong El Niño years

1999: U.S. Department of Defense establishes forward operating site

In 1999 the U.S. Department of Defense established a forward operating site the airport.

2000: Tool found at Sero Muskita suggests date before 2000 BC

A tool found at Sero Muskita, sharing similarities with one at Arikok, suggests activity before approximately 2000 BC.

2000: Arikok National Park established

In 2000, the Arikok National Park was established as formal conservation land, covering 20% of the island.

February 2001: Pre-clearance facility opens at Queen Beatrix Airport

On February 1, 2001, a full pre-clearance facility for private aircraft passengers bound for the United States opened at Queen Beatrix Airport, under the U.S. Customs and Border Protection of the United States Department of Homeland Security, coinciding with the airport's expansion.

2003: Aruba Conservation Foundation established

In 2003, the Aruba Conservation Foundation was established to oversee the management of the conservation of 16 established protected areas.

2005: Diversity in Aruba

In 2005, Aruba was home to people from 92 different nationalities, according to the Bureau Burgelijke Stand en Bevolkingsregister (BBSB, Civil Registry and Population Register), highlighting the island's diverse culture.

2006: Government changes tax laws to reduce deficit

By 2006, the government's debt had grown. In 2006, the government changed several tax laws to reduce the deficit, converting direct taxes to indirect taxes as proposed by the International Monetary Fund.

2008: Aruba is the only island with pre-clearance service for private flights

Since 2008, Aruba has become the only island to offer pre-clearance service for private flights bound to the United States.

2009: Netherlands discontinues development aid to Aruba

In 2009, the Netherlands discontinued development aid to Aruba at Aruba's request. This aid had been mainly allocated to law enforcement, education, administrative development, health care, and sustainable economic development.

July 7, 2010: Law Enforcement Council Legal Entity

July 7, 2010 Aruba is not part of the Law Enforcement Council (Raad van de Rechtshandhaving), which is a legal entity based on the Kingdom Act of the July 7, 2010 the Kingdom Act on the Law Enforcement Council.

2013: Government hasn't published statistics since 2013

Unemployment is low (although the government has not published statistics since 2013).

2015: Financial supervision reintroduced

Since 2015, a form of financial supervision was reintroduced in Aruba because the country's debt had risen sharply to over 80% of GDP.

2016: Population nearly doubled between 1988 and 2016

Between 1988 and 2016, the population nearly doubled.

2016: Biocapacity lower than world average

In 2016, Aruba had 0.57 global hectares of biocapacity per person within its territory, much less than the world average. Aruba used 6.5 global hectares of biocapacity per person.

2017: A decline occurred in 2017

In 2017, a decline occurred, breaking almost three decades of continuous growth.

2017: GDP per capita (PPP) estimated

The GDP per capita (PPP) was estimated to be $37,500 in 2017.

2018: Labor force participation rate for women at the end of 2018

At the end of 2018, the labor force participation rate was 56.6% for women.

2018: Tourism Statistics for Aruba in 2018

In 2018, Aruba's tourism industry saw 1,082,000 tourists staying overnight. Tourism and related activities accounted for approximately 75% of Aruba's gross national product. The majority of tourists came from North America (73.3%), followed by Latin America (15.2%) and Europe (8.3%). There were also 40,231 visitors from the Netherlands in 2018.

2018: Sunrise Solar Park opened

The Sunrise Solar Park was installed and opened in Aruba in 2018.

2019: Number of Venezuelan refugees estimated

In 2019, recently arrived Venezuelan refugees were estimated to number around 17,000 on Aruba, accounting for some 15% of the population.

2020: Forest cover at 420 hectares in 2020

As of 2020, the forest cover in Aruba was around 2% of the total land area, equivalent to 420 hectares.

2020: Population Nationality Statistics

As of 2020, the population is estimated to be 78.7% Dutch, 6.6% Colombian, 5.5% Venezuelan, 2.8% Dominican; 1.3% Haitian, and 5.1% from other backgrounds.

2020: Island affected by two hurricanes in early stages

Late in the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, the island of Aruba was affected by two hurricanes in their early stages.

2020: Covid-19 pandemic contributed to a population decrease

The first three years of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2022) also contributed to a population decrease, mainly due to reduced births and emigration.

2022: Aruba's forest cover in 2022

As of 2022, Aruba only has 2.3% of forest-covered land area and only 0.5% of protected natural area.

2022: Population statistics