In Oranjestad, the capital of Aruba, a collection of striking blue horse statues captures the attention of visitors. Each of the eight vibrant blue horses is unique, showcasing its own name and personality, including Rosalinda, Saturnina, Escapia, Sinforosa, Eufrosina, Ambrosio, Bonifacia, and Celestina. These sculptures were created by local artist Osaira Muyale and are part of a project titled “Paarden Baai,” which translates to “Horses Bay.” This name also refers to the bay in front of the city, near the cruise terminals.
Installed in 2015, these statues commemorate the significant historical moment when horses would leap from ship decks into the Caribbean Sea, swimming towards Aruba’s Paardenbaai. The blue color of the statues symbolizes the ocean they crossed, representing a crucial part of Aruba’s heritage. The eight sculptures embody “Strength, Nobility, Grace, Beauty, and Freedom,” while also reflecting Aruba’s collaboration with local and international communities and its trade relationships with Europe, South America, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean.
The name “Paardenbaai” has its roots in the Aruban and European trade commerce of the 1700s, when Aruba engaged in cattle exchange and horse trading with the Netherlands. Arubans would acquire horses from the coasts of Venezuela and Colombia, aided by the indigenous people who lived near Forti Abow, the site of the current pier in Paardenbaai. These horses thrived in the ranches (ranchos) of Aruba, where they had ample space to roam and breed. By the 1800s, international horse exports had become a vital source of livelihood for Aruba, particularly in relation to the sugar-producing countries.
The blue horse statues not only honor this rich history but also serve as a symbol of Aruba’s cultural legacy and its interconnectedness with the world.
