September 13, 2015

1892 NETHERLANDS (Aruba) - Plaza Daniel Leo in Oranjestad

Aruba
1892 Plaza Daniel Leo in Oranjestad

Located on the southern coast, near the western end of the island, Oranjestad, the capital and largest city of Aruba, had formed around Fort Zoutman shortly after it was built in 1796. Initially it had no official name, being known only as the town on the Bay of Horses (Paardenbaai in Dutch). Later was named after the first King Willem van Oranje-Nassau (William of Orange-Nassau) - the first heir to the Dutch House of Orange. The name was conferred on the city in the 1820s when interest in Aruba increased due to the discovery of (alluvial) gold deposits.

There is some Dutch Colonial architecture. Due to increased government interest in maintaining the island's cultural heritage, a number of old buildings and houses in the center of town have been transformed into colorfully restored landmarks. Plaza Daniel Leo, named after a local politician, is located in front of Renaissance Mall, and features some of the most picturesque Dutch multicolored colonial buildings, which are housing all kind of shopping stores.

About the stamps
The first stamp is part of a definitive series issued in 2009, and depicting Alto Vista Chapel, about which I wrote here. The second stamp is part of a series of four issued to mark the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to 24, 2008.

References
Oranjestad - Wikipedia

Sender: Denise
Sent from Oranjestad (Aruba), on 04.07.2014
Photo: Luis Minoz / 2005

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