ORANJESTAD, Aruba – The San Nicolas Tourism Mural is receiving a new lease on life as Aruban artist Elvis Tromp restores the well-known artwork he originally created in 2014 to celebrate Aruba’s hospitality, friendliness and dedication to tourism.
The mural dates back to 2014, when Tromp accepted a commission from the Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA) to create an artwork at the entrance to San Nicolas.
According to Tromp, the assignment was about much more than simply decorating a wall. The mural needed to visually represent the hospitality and kindness of the Aruban people and recognize the important role residents have played in helping the island’s tourism industry grow.
Tromp explained that his goal was, in a sense, to give something back to the community. He believes Aruba distinguishes itself from many other destinations because of the personal attention, friendliness and dedication that residents show toward visitors.
When designing the mural, Tromp did not rely on an existing photograph or image. He arrived at the site on Bernhardstraat with paper and pencil and began sketching the concept from scratch.
The final artwork emerged from his own ideas about what it means to be Aruban and how local hospitality is experienced by visitors.
The San Nicolas Tourism Mural depicts everyday interactions between residents and tourists. One scene shows a person working when a visitor approaches with a question. Despite being busy, the local resident stops what he is doing, steps aside and assists the tourist.
For Tromp, that small gesture represents something important about Aruba: the willingness to take extra time to help visitors and make them feel welcome.
The mural also includes elements specifically connected to San Nicolas and the surrounding area. Parts of the artwork represent the beauty of Baby Beach, the sea and a painted anchor, while another scene shows a local person offering a coconut to a tourist.
Tromp said these details were intended to capture both the character of San Nicolas and the warm interaction between residents and visitors.
When he first created the mural in 2014, San Nicolas had very few murals compared with today. Tromp recalled that people regularly stopped while he was painting to thank him for bringing attention and beauty to the area.
Those reactions encouraged him to continue the work and showed that the mural had meaning for the local community.
More than a decade later, Tromp is seeing a similar response while restoring the artwork.
Residents have approached him during the renovation to say they are pleased that the mural is being refreshed and given new life.
The artist noted that the mural occupies an important and highly visible corner. Even while the artwork was deteriorating, motorists and visitors would slow down, stop their vehicles and take photographs.
That continued attention demonstrated to Tromp that the mural had retained its significance despite its condition.
By restoring the San Nicolas Tourism Mural, Tromp hopes to return its original color, energy and message to the community.
The project preserves a piece of San Nicolas’ public-art history while once again highlighting the hospitality that the mural was originally designed to celebrate.
For Tromp, the restoration is also an opportunity to reconnect with an artwork that reflects his own feelings about Aruba and the role its people play in creating positive experiences for visitors.
Once completed, the renewed mural is expected to remain a recognizable feature of San Nicolas and continue attracting the attention of residents and tourists alike.
