After one year and 25 days since the signing of a letter of intent to purchase the former John G. Eman Bank building on Betico Croes Street, another important milestone has been reached toward the restoration of this historic landmark in downtown Oranjestad.
In the presence of Prime Minister Mike Eman, Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs and the Primary Sector Geoffrey Wever, representatives of Aruba Bank, members of the Eman family, and the board of Stichting Monumentenfonds Aruba (SMFA), the official transfer of ownership from Aruba Bank to Monumentenfonds Aruba was completed. This transfer took place during a special year, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Aruba Bank.
At the same time, a lease agreement was signed by Minister Wever for future tenants, including the Central Bureau of Statistics Aruba (CBS) and the Socio-Economic Council (SER), who will occupy the building after restoration. Monumentenfonds is also in ongoing discussions with potential tenants in the hospitality (horeca) sector. The combination of office space and horeca is considered ideal, as it allows the monument to remain accessible to the general public.
Financing
For each restoration project, SMFA seeks financing both locally and in the Netherlands. In the case of the John G. Eman Monument, the Government of Aruba provided a subsidy to support part of the purchase. Funding for the restoration itself was secured through a low-interest loan from the Dutch National Restoration Fund (Nationaal Restauratiefonds), co-financed in collaboration with Aruba Bank.
Next Steps
The next phase of the project involves the formal designation of the building as a protected monument, a process managed by the Monumentenbureau. While awaiting this designation, Monumentenfonds will begin selecting an architect, assembling a construction team, conducting necessary research, and finalizing the restoration design. Restoration work is expected to begin toward the end of 2026, with completion anticipated in 2027 or 2028.
Historical Value and Future Use
The building features a unique architectural style typical of the 1930s and holds significant historical and cultural value. The transfer completed today marks a crucial first step not only in restoring the structure, but also in preserving its heritage while giving it a renewed function that contributes to the revitalization of Oranjestad’s city center.
Stichting Monumentenfonds Aruba expressed its gratitude to the Government of Aruba, Aruba Bank, the Nationaal Restauratiefonds, and the Eman family for their collaboration in making this project possible and for helping preserve Aruba’s history for future generations.
Photo Credits : https://diario.aw/categories/noticia/general/traspaso-oficial-di-edificio-john-g-eman-pa-monumentenfonds-aruba
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