Oranjestad-West , Aruba, Dutch Caribbean — Caribbean Region (Lesser Antilles)
1822 Protestant Congregation Foundation
Photographed by Sandra Hughes Tidwell, January 23, 2025
1. 1822 Protestant Congregation Foundation Marker
Inscription.
In 1822, the Protestant congregation was founded in Aruba. This building stands on the foundation of a house bought in 1844 from the Arends family for 250 guilders. Due to its ruinous state, plans were made to build a proper church. In 1845, the dilapidated building was demolished to make way for the building of the new church, which was consecrated on February 15, 1846, by Reverend A.J.K. Meyer from Curaçao. Today, it is the oldest church building on the island. In May 1856, a bell cage nicknamed "de Duiventil" (the dovecote) was placed on the roof. The bell that was installed came from Coro, Venezuela. "De Duiventil" later had to be removed to make way for the current tower, built in 1867 according to a design by Lieutenant Governor J.H. Ferguson. In 1910, Reverend Eybers paid for the porch on the street side with his own money in order to "hinder people from causing nuisance by looking in." This Protestant church held services until 1950. Between 1988 and 1994, it was renovated with the objective of returning it to its 19th-century state. As one of the oldest buildings on the island, it is of great importance to the history of Aruba and that of the Protestant community in particular. Together with the adjacent new Protestant church, it forms a unique architectural ensemble of significant value for the Wilhelminastraat., Construction period: , 1845-1846 main building. , 1867 tower. , 1910 side portal., Restored in: 1988-1994., Source: , Monumentenbureau, Olga van der Klooster and Michel Bakker.,
In 1822, the Protestant congregation was founded in Aruba. This building stands on the foundation of a house bought in 1844 from the Arends family for 250 guilders. Due to its ruinous state, plans were made to build a proper church. In 1845, the dilapidated building was demolished to make way for the building of the new church, which was consecrated
on February 15, 1846, by Reverend A.J.K. Meyer from Curaçao. Today, it is the oldest church building on the island. In May 1856, a bell cage nicknamed "de Duiventil" (the dovecote) was placed on the roof. The bell that was installed came from Coro, Venezuela. "De Duiventil" later had to be removed to make way for the current tower, built in 1867 according to a design by Lieutenant Governor J.H. Ferguson. In 1910, Reverend Eybers paid for the porch on the street
side with his own money in order to "hinder people from causing nuisance by looking in."
This Protestant church held services until 1950. Between 1988 and 1994, it was renovated with the objective of returning it to its 19th-century state. As one of the oldest buildings on the island, it is of great importance to the history
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of Aruba and that of the Protestant community in particular. Together with the adjacent new Protestant church, it forms a unique architectural ensemble of significant value for the Wilhelminastraat.
Construction period:
1845-1846 main building.
1867 tower.
1910 side portal.
Restored in: 1988-1994.
Source:
Monumentenbureau, Olga van der Klooster & Michel Bakker.
Spanish
La Congregación Protestante en Aruba fue fundada en 1822. Esta Iglesia está asentada sobre los cimientos de una casa comprada por la familia Arends en 1844, por 250 florines. Debido a su desgaste, se hicieron planes para construir la Iglesia más apropiada, consecuentemente su primera versión fue demolida en 1845. Esta Iglesia Protestante antigua fue
construida entre 1845 y 1846. La nueva Iglesia fue consagrada el 15 de febrero de 1846 por el Reverendo A.J.K. Meyer de Curazao. Hoy en día, es el edificio religioso más longevo de la isla.
En mayo de 1856, una jaula de campana para el reloj fue colocada en el techo. Fue apodada "De Duiventil" (el Palomar). El nuevo reloj que se instaló originalmente vino de Coro, Venezuela. En 1867 la torre actual fue construida según el diseño del Gobernador J.H. Ferguson lo que significó que el "De Duiventil" fuera retirado. En 1910, el Reverendo Eybers pagó por el portico al lado de la calle con su propio
Photographed by Sandra Hughes Tidwell, January 23, 2025
2. Protestant Congregation Church
dinero con el fin de "bloquear a las
personas que causaban molestias". La Iglesia funcionó hasta 1950. Entre 1988 y 1994 fue renovada con el objetivo de restaurarla a su estado del siglo
19. Como uno de los edificios más antiguos de Aruba es de gran importancia para la historia de la isla y la comunidad Protestante en particular. Junto con la nueva Iglesia Protestante adyacente forman un conjunto arquitectónico particular y es muy emblemático para Wilhelminastraat.
Periodo de construcción: 1845-1846 edificio principal. 1867 la torre.
1910 portal lateral.
Restauración: 1988 a 1994
Fuente: Monumentenbureau, Olga van der Klooster y Michel Bakker.
Erected by Aruba Tourism Authority.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1845.
Location. 12° 31.152′ N, 70° 2.194′ W. Marker is in Oranjestad, Aruba. It is in Oranjestad-West. It is on Wilhelminastraat. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Wilhelminastraat 1, Oranjestad, Aruba, Dutch Caribbean. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is one of the Lesser Antilles on the Caribbean Sea, in in the Atlantic Ocean, and in North America.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 4, 2025, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 136 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on February 4, 2025, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
