University of Aruba researcher Eric Mijts is set to bring a Caribbean perspective to Onderwijsdag 2026 in the Netherlands, using Lago refinery history and other island examples to help teachers present a broader account of the region.
Aruba’s industrial history as a teaching example
NoticiaCla reports that Mijts will use the former Lago refinery in San Nicolas to show how geography education can connect historical, economic and environmental realities. The refinery served as a major engine of Aruba’s economy for nearly a century.
Historic salt pans in Bonaire will provide another example of how economic activity and the colonial past shaped the Caribbean islands.
A wider Caribbean perspective
The presentation will also address dependence on imports, geopolitical tensions involving Venezuela, sustainability challenges and nature protection.
The stated goal is to help Dutch educators move beyond a tourism-only image of the Caribbean and give students a fuller picture of island society, history and present-day pressures.
