San Nicolaas

San Nicolaas (Dutch: Sint Nicolaas) is 19 kilometres (12 mi) southeast of Oranjestad, and is Aruba's second largest city. As of 2010 it has a population of 15,283,[1] most of whom originate from the British Caribbean and rest of the Caribbean. Home of the Palo Marga Raceway Track.

San Nicolaas

Sint Nicolaas
Town
Nicolaas Store in 2013
Motto(s): 
The sunrise side
San Nicolaas
Location in Aruba
Coordinates: 12°26′N 69°55′W
CountryAruba
RegionSan Nicolas Noord
San Nicolas Zuid
Population
 (2010)[1]
 • Total15,283
Time zoneUTC-4 (AST)
ClimateBSh

Overview

Known as the island's Sunrise Side, San Nicolaas was once a bustling company town, when Lago Oil and Transport Company opened its oil refinery in 1924 until 1985 when Exxon Corporation closed it and began to dismantle the facility as well as the Colony. In 1991 Coastal Corporation reopened the oil refinery until 1995. It was then sold to Valero in 2004, and it was open for a number of years, and closed in 2009. In December 2010, Valero announced plans to reopen the refinery.[2]

According to oral tradition, San Nicolaas was named after a Mr. Nicolaas van der Biest (1808–1873), who owned a big piece of the land there.[3] Landowners were then addressed by their subordinates by their first names preceded by 'Shon' meaning 'master'. So he was called 'Shon Nicolas', as was the area. It is thought that the change from Shon Nicolas to San Nicolaas was due to the influence of Spanish. (Source is Dr. J Hartog, Aruba's historian and Aruba Tourism Authority.)

On August 22, 2010, San Nicolaas, Aruba, won the Senior League World Series in Bangor, Maine.

Close to San Nicolaas, a Dutch marine camp is off Commanders Bay near the fishing village of Savaneta.

A section of San Nicolaas' main street has been converted to a picturesque promenade with shops containing souvenirs, crafts and local snacks. In nearby Seroe Colorado, there is a small natural bridge, not to be confused with the bridge at Andicuri. To view the bridge follow the road to its terminus, then hike approximately 200 feet (61 m) down old lava and coral formations.

Environment

The San Nicolas Bay Reef Islands Important Bird Area lies just off the coast from the town, and is an important site for nesting terns.[4]

Notable people

References
  1. Aruba Central Bureau of Statistics (29 September 2010). Fifth Population and Housing Census, 2010: Selected Tables (PDF) (Report). p. 75. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  2. "www.fairplay.co.uk – Valero primes Aruba refinery for a restart". 2010-12-15. Retrieved 2010-12-15.
  3. Johannes Hartog. Aruba Past and Present: From the Time of the Indians Until Today. D. J. DeWit; 1961. p. 152.
  4. "San Nicolas Bay Reef Islands". BirdLife Data Zone. BirdLife International. 2007. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  5. "Muzikaal afscheid van Bobby Farrell". nu.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 11 October 2020.

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