GX97+4P3, Zoutmanstraat, Oranjestad, Aruba
About
This is a unique opportunity to visit the oldest remaining building in Oranjestad, built in 1796 for coastline protection.
Once inside Fort Zoutman, you’re bound to feel the history seeping through the walls while enjoying the historic collection of documents and events from the past.
The Fort Zoutman Historical Museum is where many of our guests get their first exposure to Aruba’s past. Every Tuesday night everyone is invited to Fort Zoutman for our island’s welcoming party or as we call it, the Bon Bini Festival, from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, celebrating the island’s culture and history.
The fort, named after Dutch Rear Admiral Johan Arnold Zoutman, who never stepped foot on Aruba but defeated the English in the North Sea, was completed in 1798 after a two-year construction process.
The Willem III Tower next to the fort, marking its original entrance, was built in 1868 and served as both a lighthouse and public clock tower. After 95 years, the light in the tower was extinguished in 1963.
Inside the courtyard, a replica-kitchen shows how cooking was done in Aruba's days gone by.