| City Hall Eloy Arends House | |
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Stadhuis
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Neo-Baroque |
| Address | Wilhelminastraat 8 |
| Town or city | Oranjestad |
| Country | Aruba |
| Coordinates | 12°31′07″N 70°02′10″W / 12.51854°N 70.03600°W / 12.51854; -70.03600 |
| Current tenants | Civil registration |
| Construction started | 1922 |
| Inaugurated | 1925 |
| Owner | Monuments 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 registrationofOranjestad, 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]
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]
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]
Most sources say 1986, however the newspaper clip is from 1988
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