Fort Zoutman Historical Museum
Once entering Fort Zoutman, you'll undoubtedly sense history oozing through the walls while admiring the rich collection of documents and historical developments. Many of our visitors are first introduced to Aruba's history at the Fort Zoutman Historical Museum. Every Tuesday night from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., everyone is invited to Fort Zoutman for our island's Welcome Party, also known as the Bon Bini Festival, which celebrates the island's culture and history.
After a two-year building period, the fort was named after Dutch Rear Admiral Johan Arnold Zoutman, who never set foot on Aruba yet fought the English in the North Sea.
The Historic Museum of Aruba, or Museo Historico Aruba, is located in Oranjestad's military bastion of Fort Zoutman. The fort was built in 1798, and the Willem III Tower, which now serves as a museum, was finished between late 1974 and 1980. A visit to the museum will provide you with insight into Aruba's history and growth around the turn of the century. Visitors come to the museum to see the Bon Bini Festival, which takes place every Tuesday at the fort between 7:00 and 8:30 p.m. Between 1913 and 1915, the fort and the tower were repaired and refurbished.
Location: Zoutmanstraat Oranjestad, Aruba
