History
The official flag of Aruba was introduced on March 18, 1976, along with our official national anthem, “Aruba Dushi Tera.” And since January 1, 1986, when Aruba received its “separate status.” This means the position of an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with the flag of the Country of Aruba, along with the anthem and coat of arms, being officially established on October 17, 1991, by law (AB 1991 no. 101 (amended in AB 1991 no. 118))¹, and it included the official colors yellow, blue, white, and red². This law has been valid and applicable to the official flag of Aruba since that time.
Color
The blue color of the flag represents the vast sea that surrounds Aruba. Yellow is the color of abundance, and the horizontal lines demonstrate the solidity of such abundance. Yellow represents the source of income, such as the current industry and tourism as the most important sources of income, as well as the industries of the past, such as gold, phosphate, and aloe.
Yellow is also the color of many of our trees and plants in Aruba that bloom yellow, such as ‘Kibrahacha,’ ‘Brazil,’ ‘Bonchi di strena,’ ‘Curahao,’ ‘Tuturutu,’ and ‘Wanglo.’
The four-pointed red star represents the four compass directions and also symbolizes the different countries from where people came to Aruba and formed a community that lives in harmony with each other. It also represents the industries of the past, such as the ‘Brazil’ tree industry and the red blood of the Indians who fought for their freedom in ‘Rooi Frances’ in Aruba.
The white color at the edge of the star symbolizes the beautiful sands of the extensive beaches that surround our island and, at the same time, the purity of the hearts of the people of Aruba, who respect justice, order, and freedom.
Use of flag colors
For several years, there has been much discussion about the color coding system of the official colors of the Aruba Flag, where it has been observed that colors that were not always prescribed by law concerning color and measurement requirements were circulating. There are flags that display all sorts of variations of the color blue.
After several years of research on the color coding system of the official colors of the Aruba Flag, the Government of Aruba decided in 2014 to establish new colors in accordance with today’s color coding systems. It is no longer possible to obtain the original colors of the flag that were established in 1976 by law because these colors have been discontinued.
National decree renews and establishes flag colors
On October 17, 2014, the national decree on the flag was finalized, and with changes to the Flag, Coat of Arms, and Anthem Decree (AB 1991 no. 101) (renewal of flag colors according to law; indication of shoco as a national symbol) (AB 2014 no. 51), where the colors of the Aruba Flag according to the Pantone color coding system were once again established.
The official blue color is now ‘Pantone Matching System’ ‘PMS 279 C’ or also ‘Larkspur’ as referred to in the ‘British Colour Council Dictionary of Colour Standards.’ This color is the closest to the original color of 1976. With this commitment, the Government aims to prevent any further confusion regarding the blue color and to ensure that flags in different shades of blue are no longer flown in Aruba.
Flag colors stipulated by law:
The flag is rectangular and has the colors yellow, blue, red, and white.
The background color of the flag is blue ‘PMS* 279 C’ or also ‘Larkspur.’ In the bottom third of the flag, there are three equal horizontal stripes of yellow, blue, yellow, respectively, and the width of each stripe is equal to one-eighteenth (1/18) of the width of the flag. The top stripe starts at a distance of exactly two-thirds (2/3) of the width of the flag, measured from top to bottom. The color of each of these three stripes (yellow-blue-yellow) is blue PMS 279 C. Under these three stripes, there is a wide border, which is equal to one-sixth (1/6) of the width of the flag, in the color blue PMS 279 C;
The yellow color of the stripes is ‘PMS 109 C’ or also ‘Bunting Yellow’;
The red color of the star is ‘PMS 032 C’ or also ‘Union Jack Red.’ The flag is shown in the uppermost part with a regular four-pointed star, of which the horizontal and vertical midlines run parallel to the top and bottom edges of the flag and the right and left edges of the flag. A line drawn from any point along the edge of the star passing through the center of the star to a point on the opposite side is equal to one-third (1/3) of the horizontal or vertical midline of the star. The distance from one point of the star to the other point of the star, including the white space, is one-third (1/3) of the width of the flag.
The highest point of the star is located at a distance equal to one-eighteenth (1/18) of the width of the flag from the top edge of the flag; the point of the star closest to the right edge of the flag is located at a distance of one-eighteenth (1/18) of the width of the flag from the right edge.
The white color through which the star is outlined is ‘Absolute White PMS.’
¹ According to the LANDSVERORDENING of October 17, 2014, amending the Landsverordening flag, coat of arms, and national anthem (AB 1991 no. 101) (renewal of flag colors; indication of shoco as a national symbol), the flag of Aruba consists of the following official colors:
² Government of Aruba, National Symbols
(https://arubaoverheid-preproductie.sim-otap.nl/informatie-dienstverlening/nationale-symbolen_41478/)
Source: Stan Dabian
