Flag of Aruba

The flag of Aruba was adopted on March 18, 1976 and consists of two yellow stripes of equal width at the bottom of the flag on a blue background and a red four-pointed star with a white outline in the upper left part.

Meaning of the flag of Aruba

The flag of Aruba consists of four colors and has a special meaning for the island's population:

• Yellow symbolizes prosperity and industrial prosperity, which are reflected in gold, aloe, tourism, and the oil refinery;
• The blue color of the flag reflects the color of the sea that surrounds Aruba;
• The white outline around the red star indicates the white sandy beaches and the purity of intentions of the locals who strive for justice, freedom and righteousness;
• The two parallel yellow stripes on the flag indicate Aruba's free position in relation to the Netherlands and other islands, while maintaining proximity to them;
• The four-pointed red star symbolizes freedom and serves as a compass for orientation. Its rays point in all directions - north, south, east and west - indicating the island's versatility. It is a symbol of freedom that reflects the spirit of a freedom-loving people and is the link that unites the islanders. This island has become a crossroads of cultures, where people from different countries have come together to call it home.

History of the Aruban flag

Prior to adopting its own flag, Aruba used the flag of the Netherlands until January 1976, after which a special committee was set up to select a national flag. Out of more than 500 proposals, only 3 noteworthy designs in white, blue, and yellow were chosen:

• J.W. Klein's proposal;
• Rosendo Feliciano's proposal;
• Proposal by W.J. Fransen (winner).

Klein and Feliciano's concepts are similar to the flag of Bangladesh, which also has a circle in the center of the flag, but consists of one solid green background, not divided into two halves. Klein's proposal has a yellow circle in the center, while Feliciano's has a green circle with a yellow border. However, the committee settled on Fransen's proposal - a blue background with two yellow stripes of the same size and a four-pointed star in the canton of the same color. The committee worked with this version and made several changes, including changing the color of the star to red and adding a white border, changing the width of the yellow stripes and the shade of blue, and adopted the flag on March 18, 1976.

Some interesting facts about Aruba

• The island of Aruba has a long history that dates back several millennia. The island has been inhabited by people since the pre-ceramic period. Around 1000 AD, the Kaketio Indians, who were part of the Arawak tribe, founded five large settlements on the island where they were engaged in agriculture. When Amerigo Vespucci and Alonso de Ojeda arrived on Aruba in 1499, the island was still home to the Cacetio. These colonizers from Spain were impressed by the high level of development of the Kaketio. Because the inhabitants of Aruba were taller than the Europeans, the island was nicknamed the “Island of the Giants”;
• Aruba is home to one of the most diverse peoples in the Caribbean, with about 100 different nationalities. Four main languages can be distinguished: English, Dutch, Spanish and Papiamentu. Papiamentu is a creole language that combines elements of other languages, such as Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English, French, African, and Arawakan. In addition to Aruba, these languages are also spoken on other islands of the Caribbean archipelago;
• In the 18th century, the island experienced the Gold Rush, during which more than 3 million pounds of gold were found. To learn more about those times, you can visit the Balashi gold mine at the southern end of French Pass or the ruins of the Bushiribani gold mine on the northern coast of the island. Visiting these places will give you a better understanding of Aruba's history and culture;
• Aloe has become the main export product of the island of Aruba, replacing gold as the most valuable natural resource. Aruba Aloe Company, founded in 1890, is the oldest aloe production company in the world. It utilizes the regenerative properties of this plant, which is a powerful antioxidant and contains vitamins beneficial to the skin. Many spas on the island use aloe in their treatments. Tourists can visit the Royal Aloe Museum and Factory, where they can see the process of making aloe and learn about its benefits. Aloe has become an important part of Aruba's tourism industry;
• Aruba has perfect weather, and this is one of its most important features. The temperature hardly changes throughout the year and is approximately 80 degrees. Thanks to the constant trade winds, there is a constant breeze on the island, making it an ideal place for windsurfing and sailing. Aruba receives more sunlight than any other country in the Caribbean. Even during the rains, which most often fall in November, the showers are short-lived, which does not interfere with outdoor activities.