"The renaissance of a Caribbean city. " a Oranjestad Travel Page by Arubasun.

Oranjestad (Oranje=Orange, stad=city) was named after the last name of the Royal Dutch Family (van Oranje). Oranjestad is the bustling capital of Aruba.

Home to only 20,000 people, Oranjestad is Aruba's main city home to the political, economic and cultural might of the island.

The city of Oranjestad was founded in 1824 by the Dutch near Paardenbaai (Bay of horses). At that time the capital of Aruba was Savaneta located in the South Central section of the island. Oranjestad took over the title of capital due to its harbour potential. More commerce and businesses eventually concentrated in that area of the island.

Today Oranjestad is a busy booming town. It is a city that profited a lot from Aruba's 15 year economic growth. The Oranjestad of today has its own character, new buildings have a mixture of Latin, Aruban, American but predominantly Dutch architecture.

The city is also quiet lively at night. As a matter of fact Oranjestad was voted in 2002 for the second consecutive year as the Caribbean's best small town nightlife city by the readers of Travel & Life Magazine.

Oranjestad is a true success story of a sleepy Caribbean town converted into a bustling cosmopolitan city within only 15 years. Certainly in the last 10 years Oranjestad has become a destination within the destination Aruba, and is one of the Caribbean's most photogenic cities.

Oranjestad has a mixture of architecture dominated by a Dutch, Spanish Caribbean tatste, though there are a few touches of American and French architecture.

Oranjestad is lively at day and also at night and is voted for the second consecutive year in 2002 as having the Caribbean's best small city nightlife.

Plaza Daniel Leo is the most beautiful square on the island located just in the heart of Oranjestad and the shopping area of the city. The plaza is surrouned by photogenic commercial buildings and there are at times live music activities on the square.