Aruban History

Discovered

1499

Aruba was discovered in 1499 by a Spanish explorer named Alonso de Ojeda, kicking off the colonization of the island.

Spaniard enslaved many of the Caquetio Indians

1513

The Spanish enslaved many of the Caquetio Indians and sent them to Hispaniola to work on plantations and in mines. Some Indians retired to Aruba in 1515. About nine years later Alonso de Ojeda discovered Aruba, the Spanish had named him the first governor.