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Overview. Aruba is an autonomous region in the Kingdom of Netherlands. The country has no administrative divisions.
How big is Aruba? The island of Aruba is 33 kilometers long and has a land area of 193 square meters or 75 square miles, located in the Lesser Antilles region in the southern Caribbean Sea. It is situated 27 kilometers to the north of Paraguana Peninsula, Falcon State, Venezuela.
Aruba, along with Bonaire and Curacao, comprise a group known as the ABC Islands of the Leeward Antilles.
Geography. Aruba is a flat, riverless island with an arid, cactus-strewn landscape. It is famous for its white, sandy beaches particularly in the western and southern costs. One advantage of this is that these parts of the island are relatively sheltered from strong ocean current. As such, this is where most of the developments in tourism take place.
However, the eastern and northern coasts of Aruba do not enjoy this type of protection. In fact, these regions are considerably the more battered regions by the sea and are also the locations least touched by mankind.
The hinterland of Aruba features rolling hills. The best know rolling hill is the Hooiberg with peaks at 165 meters (541 feet) and Mount Jamanota which is the highest rolling hill on the island at 188 meters (617 feet) above sea level.
Climate. Aruba is a popular tourist spot primarily because of its climate. Upon setting foot on the island, foreigners and tourists are treated to a warm and sunny weather. It also has a relatively dry climate. The temperature in the island is isothermal and tourists may expect a warm and pleasant tropical marine climate all year-round. The ambient temperature in Aruba starts from 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit). It is further moderated by constant trade winds commonly passing through the island from the Atlantic Ocean. The annual precipitation in Aruba barely reaches 500 mm (19.7 inches). Most of these fall during late autumn season.
Politics. Aruba is one of the Constituent Countries of the Kingdom of Netherlands. The political system in the island follows the framework of a 21-member Parliament and an eight-member Cabinet.
 The monarch of Netherland is considered as the head of state but he is represented locally by the governor. To date, Queen Beatrix is the head state.
Governor. The governor of Aruba is appointed by the Queen for a six-year term. The prime minister and the deputy prime minister are elected by the Staten or Parlamento for four-year terms each. The Staten is comprised of 21 members, all of which are elected directly by the popular vote in order to serve a four-year term.
Commonwealth. The State of the Netherlands, the State of Netherlands Antilles, and the State of Aruba form a Commonwealth. This Commonwealth allow these three states to share the same Dutch citizenship as well as the use of the Dutch passport representing the Kingdom of Netherlands.
Aruba and the Antilles have relatively small populations. As such, they have to set certain limits on their immigration. The governments of Aruba and Antilles reserve the right to control the admission of Netherlands nationals in order to protect their population. In addition, there is also the supervision of admission and expulsion of Netherlands nationals. They are also in the process of evaluating and revising the general conditions for both the admission and expulsion of foreigners from the island.
Laws of Aruba. The laws of Aruba or its legal jurisdiction lies within the Gerecht in Eerste Aanleg or the Court of First Instance. This court, technically, facilitates and hears the disputes. It is an independent court that is associated with the European Court of Justice. The Court of First Instance observes a two-level or tiered jurisdiction. For one, all cases are heard at first instance by this court and it may be subjected to a right of appeal to the Court of Justice based on points of law only. Another court in Aruba that upholds the law is the Gemeenschappelijk Hof van Justitie voor de Nederlandse Antillen en Aruba or the Common Court of Justice of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. This court is the combined Appeals Court of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. It serves the Caribbean territories under the Kingdom of Netherlands. It serves the appeals from lower courts. The Common Court of Justice of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba is composed of judges from the first level of courts. However, judges who have participated in cases at the lower level courts are no longer allowed to participate in this level.
The third type of court in Aruba is the Hoge Raad der Nederlanden or the Supreme Court of Justice of the Netherlands.
Economy. Aruba is currently enjoying the distinction of having one of the highest standards of living in the Caribbean region. There is low unemployment rate.
In previous years, the oil processing was the dominant industry in the island but this has shifted in recent years to tourism. To date, the effect of the oil processing industry on Aruban economy is very minimal. The same is true for the agricultural and manufacturing sectors.
The gross domestic product of Aruba is among the highest in the Caribbean region and the in the United States. Some of its main trading partners include the United States, the Netherlands, and Venezuela.
Tourism. About 75% of the island’s gross national product comes from the tourism sector. Most of the tourists coming to the island shores come from either Venezuela or the United States, which is also the largest trading partner of Aruba.
Culture. Aruba has a very colorful and mixed culture due to the origins of their population as well as the geographical location of the island. Much of the Dutch influences can still be seen throughout the island. For instance, the Arubans celebrate the Sinterklaas every December 5 and 6. Other national holidays are also reminiscent of the Dutch such as the celebration of the Queen’s birthday every 30th of April.
 The Yuletide season in Aruba is celebrated through the typical music and songs of the gaitas for Christmas. The Dande, on the other hand, is heard every New Year. The holiday season is likewise evident through traditional food and beverages like "ayaca", the "ponchi crema" and "ham" which are all associated with Christmas season. The burning of millions of dollars worth of fireworks signal the entrance of the new year at midnight.
Carnival. One of the most important and celebrated holidays in Aruba is the Carnival. This is actually a common festivity in the Caribbean and Latin Countries. The celebration is somewhat similar to a Mardi Gras and it could go on for weeks.
The Carnival started in Aruba in the 1950s, as an influence form the inhabitants of the nearby islands who came to Aruba to work in the oil refinery. Through the years, the Carnival has changed. In fact, it now starts from early January until the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. A large parade on the last Sunday of Festivities or the Sunday before Ash Wednesday signals the end of the Carnival celebration.
Language. One important aspect of culture is the Aruban language. The cultural and population mix in the island gave rise to a linguistic mixture that became known as Papiamento, the predominant language of Aruba. The two official languages in the island are the Papiamento and the Dutch language.
As with the other islands in the Caribbean region, some Arubans also use or speak the Spanish language. To date, the English language is fast gaining popularity and usage due to the huge inflow of tourists. By far, the other common languages spoken in Aruba are Portuguese, Chinese, German, and French.
Papiemento. Papiamento is a local language that has evolved through the years. It is a combination of the various languages in the island such as Dutch, English, diverse African dialects, Portuguese, and Spanish |
