What is the capital of Aruba?

The capital of Aruba is Oranjestad.

Oranjestad means “Orange City,” a reference to the Dutch royal House of Orange. The settlement developed around Paardenbaai on Aruba’s southwestern coast in the late 18th century, as trade restrictions eased and merchants and craftsmen moved to the harbor.

Locals commonly call the city “Playa,” its Papiamento name. Oranjestad is both Aruba’s political center and its most populous urban area, with government offices, shopping districts, museums, and the island’s main harbor.

A common mix-up is confusing Oranjestad with Willemstad, the capital of nearby Curaçao, or with Philipsburg, the capital of Sint Maarten. Aruba is a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Oranjestad is its administrative capital.