{{Infobox port | name = Paardenbaai | image = File:Aruba Oranjestad Paardenbaai Bay Lagoon L.G. Smith Blvd. - panoramio.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = Aerial view of Paardenbaai (2004) | pushpin_map = Aruba | country = Aruba | native_name = | native_name_lang = | location = Oranjestad, Aruba | coordinates = {{coord|12.51980|-70.04225|display=title,inline}} | locode = | opened = 1796{{sfn|Benjamins|Snelleman|1917|p=428}} | operated = Aruba Ports Authority<ref name="port">{{cite web|url=https://www.arubaports.com/main/oranjestad/ |title=Oranjestad |website=Aruba Ports|access-date=2 May 2021}}</ref> | owner = | type = | sizewater = | sizeland = | size = | berths = 5<ref name="port"/> | wharfs = | piers = | draft_depth = | employees = | arrivals = | cargotonnage = | containervolume = | cargovalue = | passengertraffic = | website = }} '''Paardenbaai''' (English: ''Bay of Horses'') or '''Port of Oranjestad''' is the main seaport for passengers in Aruba. It is located in Oranjestad and has existed since 1796.{{sfn|Benjamins|Snelleman|1917|p=428}}
==History== In 1796, Fort Zoutman was constructed near Paardenbaai. It was a natural bay which was accessible to large ships. It was the second harbour on Aruba after Commandeurs Baai (Commander's Bay) in Savaneta.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://docplayer.nl/113421717-Naar-een-duurzame-inrichting-van-aruba.html |title=Naar een duurzame inrichting van Aruba |publisher=Ministerie Ruimtelijke Onderwikkeling, Infrastructuur en Milieu|language=nl|access-date=27 April 2021|year=2019|page=10}}</ref> The bay later became known as Paardenbaai (Bay of Horses) because the harbour was mainly used to ship horses to Jamaica and other places. The village near the harbour had no name and was often referred to as Paardenbaai. In 1820, it was named Oranjestad.{{sfn|Benjamins|Snelleman|1917|p=59}}
In the 1920s, a part of the harbour was reclaimed to extend the city of Oranjestad.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:010280599:mpeg21:a0011 |title=Paardenbaai|website=Amigoe di Curacao via Delpher.nl|date=10 December 1921|access-date=2 May 2021|language=nl}}</ref> With this, the harbour is now partially located in Taratata.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ia800909.us.archive.org/32/items/BNADIGWERBATAARUBA/BNA-DIG-WERBATA-004.jpg |title=Taratata map (historic)|access-date=5 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/906829876 |title=Taratata map (updated)|access-date=5 February 2022}}</ref> In 1928, Arend Petroleum Maatschappij, a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell, opened an oil refinery near the harbour.<ref name="historia">{{cite web|url=http://www.historiadiaruba.aw/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28&Itemid=42&lang=en |title=Lago and Eagle: the oil industry on Aruba |website=Historia di Aruba|access-date=29 April 2021}}</ref> A wharf at the Taratata was used for the refinery,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/BNA-DIG-HARTOG-CAHA-001-015-002-001 |title=Flash chamber at Taratata|access-date=5 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/BNA-DIG-HARTOG-CAHA-001-015-003-001 |title=Fractionator at Taratata|access-date=5 February 2022}}</ref> but turned out to be too small, therefore, a 420 metre long pier was constructed near Druif Beach. 8 kilometres of railway lines were laid to link the facilities. On February 16, 1942 there was also a World War II Attack on Aruba at this location. In 1953, Paardenbaai was expanded again with two large basins<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/BNA-DIG-HARTOG-CAHA-001-009-029 |title=Aerial View Paardenbaai & Taratata|access-date=5 February 2022}}</ref> and completely used the Taratata grounds. The refinery closed in 1958. In 1974, the pier and the refinery were demolished and replaced by a tourist resort with a large beach. Eagle Beach is nowadays one of the busiest beaches of the island.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/trains/aruba01.htm |title=The Railways of Aruba, 2014 |website=International Steam|access-date=2 May 2021}}</ref>
The harbour was large enough, however it used to be shared by cargo and cruise ships which often caused problems.<ref name="navingo">{{cite web|url=https://www.navingocareer.com/nieuwe-haven-barcadera-op-aruba-officieel-in-gebruik-genomen/ |title=Nieuwe haven Barcadera op Aruba officieel in gebruik genomen|website=Navingo Career|access-date=2 May 2021|language=nl}}</ref> It was decided to move cargo to Barcadera. The first priority was to move the container terminal. Work began in 2011, and the move was completed in 2015.<ref name="contain">{{cite web|url=https://www.arubaports.com/main/move/ |title=Container Port Moves to Barcadera|website=Aruba Ports|access-date=2 May 2021}}</ref> In 2016, Barcadera was officially opened, and Paardenbaai became a harbour for passengers only.<ref name="navingo"/>
Paardenbaai has five berths and is open all day and night.<ref name="port"/> The tram of Oranjestad has a terminal at Port of Call which is located near the harbour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tramz.com/aw/awm2.html |title=Oranjestad Aruba|website=Tramz|access-date=2 May 2021}}</ref>
==Bibliography== * {{cite book|url=https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/benj004ency01_01/ |last1=Benjamins |first1=Herman Daniël|last2=Snelleman |first2=Johannes |title=Encyclopaedie van Nederlandsch West-Indië|year=1917|language=nl|publisher=Martinus Nijhoff Publishers|location=Leiden}}
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Ports and harbours of Aruba Category:Oranjestad