Aruba

1000s

1400s

(1499) Spanish explorer, Alonso de Ojeda, discovered the island; claimed Aruba for Spain

1500s

(1508) Alonso de Ojeda of Spain, appointed first governor of Aruba
(1515) Arawak Indian tribe transported to Hispaniola to work as slaves in copper mines
(1527) Spain began to formally colonize Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao; Governor Juan de Ampues asked King Charles V of Spain to return the Arawak Indians to the island, request granted

1600s

(1636) Aruba colonized by the Dutch, formed part of the Dutch West India Company
(1648-1664) Aruba under Dutch West India Company administration as “New Netherlands and Curacao”

1700s

1800s

(1805- 1816) British occupied Aruba
(1816) Aruba returned to Dutch control
(1824) Gold discovered
(1845) Aruba officially part of Netherlands Antilles
(1850) Aloe introduced to the island
(1874) The use of Guano (manure) as fertilizer was discovered, Aruba became major supplier of calcium phosphate

1900s

(1916) Gold mining ceased due to dwindling supply
(1928) Oil refinery built at San Nicolaas
(1935) First airport constructed in Aruba
(1940-1942) Aruba was British protectorate
(1942) German submarine attacked oil processing refinery
(1942-1945) Aruba was US protectorate
(1954) Aruba became part of the autonomous federation of the Netherlands Antilles
(1959) Aruba’s first hotel opened, Aruba Caribbean Hotel
(1971) People’s Electoral Movement party (MEP) founded, began campaign for independence and separation from the Netherlands Antilles federation

(1977) Majority of voters supported independence and withdrawal from the Antillean federation

(1983) Dutch and Netherlands Antilles governments agreed that Aruba should receive separate status
(1985) Oil refinery closed; Aruba economy devastated
(1986) Island obtained autonomous status within the Kingdom of the Netherlands; Jan Hendrick Albert (Henny) Eman became prime minister
(1989) Nelson Oduber became prime minister
(1991) Oil refining resumed; Aruba’s tourism economy exploded
(1994)Jan Hendrick Albert (Henny) Eman became prime minister (2nd time)
(1996) Aruba placed on US list of major drug-producing countries

2000s

(2000) Aruba named one of 35 non-cooperative tax havens by OECD
(2001) Nelson Oduber became prime minister
(2003) Aruba, US agreed to exchange tax data to help combat money laundering
(2005) Natural Bridge collapsed (one of Aruba’s most popular attractions)
(2009) Mike Eman became prime minister