Fort Zoutman is Oranjestad's oldest structure, a small Dutch colonial fort built in 1798 to guard the harbour from pirates and privateers. It has been restored several times over the years and now houses the Historical Museum of Aruba, which traces the island's history from pre-Columbian Arawak settlement through the colonial era and the 19th-century gold rush to the present. The exhibits are modest but well organized, and the building itself is the real draw.
The adjacent Willem III Tower was added in 1868 as a lighthouse and clock tower. Together the two structures form one of the most recognizable views in Oranjestad, their ochre-painted walls and white trim standing out against the blue Caribbean sky. On Tuesday evenings, the courtyard comes alive with the Bon Bini Festival — a weekly celebration of local music, folk dance, and craft stalls that has been running for decades. It is as genuine an introduction to Aruban culture as you will find.