|RConstitution:|N An autonomous part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Aruba has its own legislature, government, judiciary, civil service and police force.
The legislature - Staten - consists of 21 members and is elected by universal suffrage for four years.
|RNature and climate:|N Tropical maritime climate with a short rain period from October to December. Percipitation 400 - 500 mm.
Average temperature in January 26°C and in July 29°C.
|RPeople:|N Aruba is the only West Indian island with the original population still in majority. Also many Dutchmen and Spaniards.
|REconomy:|N From 1926 onwards the Exxon oil refiniry dominated economy. Here crude oil from Venezuela was refined. But it was closed in 1985 and 40% of the population were unoccupied.
Since then tourism is the most important industry, followed by shipbuilding.
The oilrefinery was reopened in 1991.
|RHistory:|N Discovered by Alonzo de Ojeda 1499. Claimed by Spain but they never started any colonization.
1634 the Netherlands sent several garrisons and colonized the island.
From 1828 a part of the Dutch West Indies and from 1845 of the Netherlands Antilles. From 1954 internal selfgoverning.
In 1986 separated from the Netherlands Antilles and an autonomous member of the Netherlands.
