other · Mesoamerica and the Caribbean
Aruba
Origins
Arubans had long resented domination by Curaçao within the Colony of Curaçao and the Netherlands Antilles. Led by Gilberto 'Betico' Croes and his People's Electoral Movement, they won a referendum for separation in 1977, and on 1 January 1986 Aruba gained 'status aparte' as an autonomous country in the kingdom, with independence planned for 1996.
Rule and society
Aruba has its own parliament, prime minister, constitution and currency, the florin, while the Netherlands manages defence and foreign affairs and a governor represents the monarch. The closure of the Lago oil refinery in 1985 forced a rapid turn to tourism, which now dominates. Papiamento and Dutch are official languages. Henny Eman became the first prime minister, followed by leaders such as Nelson Oduber and Evelyn Wever-Croes.
To the present
In 1990 Aruba asked to postpone independence, and in 1995 the plan was dropped, leaving it a permanent country within the kingdom. It remains among the most prosperous Caribbean islands, though heavily dependent on American tourism.
Lineage
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- Aruba was part of Kingdom of the Netherlands1986 CE – 2030 CE
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Cite this page
- APA
- The Epoch Institute. (2026). Aruba. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/aruba
- MLA
- “Aruba.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/aruba. Accessed .
- Chicago
- The Epoch Institute. “Aruba.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/aruba.
- Harvard
- The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Aruba’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/aruba (Accessed: ).
Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻