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City Hall (Oranjestad)

City Hall
Eloy Arends House
Stadhuis
Map
General information
Architectural styleNeo-Baroque
AddressWilhelminastraat 8
Town or cityOranjestad
CountryAruba
Coordinates12°31′07″N 70°02′10″W / 12.51854°N 70.03600°W / 12.51854; -70.03600
Current tenantsCivil registration
Construction started1922
Inaugurated1925
OwnerMonuments Fund Aruba [nl]
Design and construction
Architect(s)Chibi Wever

City Hall (also known as the Eloy Arends House; Dutch: Stadhuis) is home to the civil registration of Oranjestad, Aruba. The building used to be a doctor's office and residential home of Eloy Arends. Aruba is only subdivided in regions and zones for administrative and statistical purposes, therefore, it is not a city hall defined as the seat of municipal government.[1] The city hall is used for civil registrations, passports and marriages.[2][3]

History

Jacobo Eloy Maria Arends was a medical doctor in Aruba. In 1922, he announced his engagement with Maria Monica Laclé. According to tradition, a house was constructed for the couple prior to the marriage.[4] The house was built on a 1,545 square metres (16,630 sq ft) lot in the centre of Oranjestad. The architect was Chibi Wever and the design was influenced by South American Neo-Baroque.[5][6] In 1925, the couple married, and Laclé was allowed to see the house.[4] The house uses sliding doors to allow for flexible usage of the interior space.[6]

The big hall

In 1960, Arends died, and the house became property of his son Jesus Eloy Arends. At first it was used as a dentist's office. Later, it was in use as restaurant, but became vacant in 1980 in a neglected state.[7] In 1985, it served as the headquarters of People's Electoral Movement (MEP),[8] In January 1988, it was sold to the Government of Aruba.[9] The purchase of the house was controversial, and the renovation was postponed. In the meantime, it became used by homeless people. In 1993, a fire severely damaged the building.[10]

In 1997, the Eloy Arends House was restored, and became home to the civil registration. In 1999, ownership was transferred to the Monuments Fund Aruba [nl]. In 2014, another major restoration took place. The City Hall also developed in a popular place for tourists to get married.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Geografische Adressen Classificatie Aruba" (PDF). Central Bureau of Statistics (in Dutch). pp. 4–5. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  2. ^ "Censo". censo.aw (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  3. ^ "Oranjestad: Capital of Aruba". Aruba.com. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Eloy Arends Huis". Beautiful Aruba (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  5. ^ "Eloy Arends House (City Hall)". Monumentfonds Aruba. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Eloy Arends Manor". Historia di Aruba. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  7. ^ "Eloy Arends-huis blijft in oude stijl behouden". Amigoe (in Dutch). 14 March 1980. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  8. ^ "Politieke agenda". Amigoe (in Dutch). 19 October 1985. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  9. ^ "Regering koopt huis van dr Eloy Arends". Amigoe (in Dutch). 26 January 1988. Retrieved 20 February 2022. Most sources say 1986, however the newspaper clip is from 1988
  10. ^ "Oranjestad". Amigoe (in Dutch). 27 January 1933.
  11. ^ "Maintenance City Hall". Monumentenfonds Aruba. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
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