Brief History
Aruba had been a Dutch colony since 1636, but the British were able to obtain control of the island thanks to the Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars. The Dutch were unable to resist Napoleon's influence and so the Royal Navy was at liberty to pick up virtually all Dutch colonies throughout the world. The British occupied the island from 1799 to 1802. There was then a truce of sorts back in Europe but the British moved back in 1804 and then stayed for the remainder of the war finally handing it back in 1816.

Proximity meant that its fate was very similar to the Dutch island colonies of Bonaire and Curacao.

aruba flag
Flag
aruba Map
Map of Aruba
aruba
Dutch Architecture



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by Stephen Luscombe