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Aruba Culture
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Aruba has over 88,000 inhabitants
its island. Culturally, Aruba has strong ties to Holland, its
colonial occupier and present day partner in the Netherlands
kingdom. The official language of Aruba is Dutch. Dutch can
be seen on street signs, government documents, and several local
newspapers. English is spoken by most Arubans, particularly
those in the tourism business. Aruba also has a lyrical language
called Creole that is compromised of Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, |
French, English, and a combination of African languages, called
Papiamento. The language of Papiamento is thought to have evolved
in Curacao during the 16th century, when slaves and their Spanish
owners developed a common ground to communicate with. The population
of Aruba is a mix of descents with 40 different ethnic backgrounds
from around the world. Due to such a cultural and diverse ethnic background,
Aruba plays a range of different music on the island such as calypso,
soca, and reggae. The history and people of the island contribute
to Aruba’s rich culture and present day.
More Information:
 www.state.gov
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