Fort Zoutman & Willem III Tower

Fort Zoutman is a small coastal fortification in central Oranjestad, completed in 1798 and regarded as the oldest structure on Aruba. The slender Willem III Tower, added in 1868, served as the island's lighthouse and town clock. Since 1983 the fort has housed the Historical Museum of Aruba, making it the natural first stop for anyone curious about the island's past.

Who built Fort Zoutman, and why?

In 1796 a military committee in Curaçao ordered fortifications on Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire against pirates and other enemies. The fort on Aruba was built in 1796–1798 at what was then the shoreline of Paardenbaai, initially with four cannons; the town of Oranjestad grew around it. It was built by enslaved Africans, with materials supplied by Amerindians under statute labour for the Dutch West India Company — which is why UNESCO lists it as a Place of Memory of the Slave Trade Route in the Latin Caribbean. It is named after Rear Admiral Johan Arnold Zoutman, a Dutch naval officer who never set foot on Aruba.

What is the Willem III Tower?

At the request of lieutenant governor J.H. Ferguson, construction of a tower began in 1866 to hold a lighthouse lamp and the town bell. Named after King William III of the Netherlands, it was first lit on his birthday, 19 February 1868, and its archways formed the fort's west entrance. Kerosene gave way to petrol, acetylene (1930) and electric light (1935) until the lamp was removed in 1963. Over the years the tower has also been a clock tower, courtroom, library, post office, tax office and police station.

What is inside the Historical Museum?

The fort and tower were restored between 1974 and 1980 and reopened on 15 September 1983 as the Historical Museum of Aruba, run since 1992 by the Fundacion Museo Arubano. Exhibits cover the early history and development of Aruba into the 20th century; the Aruba Tourism Authority mentions historic documents and a replica kitchen in the courtyard showing how Arubans once cooked.

When can you visit?

Opening hours and fees are not published on an official museum website, and third-party listings disagree, so check locally before going. The fort's courtyard has traditionally hosted the weekly Bon Bini Festival folklore evening, which was reported on pause in 2026 — check aruba.com or ask locally before planning around it.

Good to know

• The fort is on Zoutmanstraat, a short walk from the cruise terminal and the main shopping streets.
• The building is small; combine it with the National Archaeological Museum, a few streets away, and an Oranjestad walking tour.
• Midday is hot in the open courtyard — mornings are more pleasant.