13. Aruba, a single volcanic island in the Caribbean sea, belongs to which European kingdom which is known for its innovative water-management systems and millions of bicycles?
From Quiz A Little Taste of Aruba
Answer:
The Netherlands
Aruba was originally inhabited by the Arawak Indians, and because of this, red cave drawings, clay pots and stone tools from their culture still exist on the island today. In 1499 the Spanish arrived and claimed Aruba, and for many years it was known as a centre for piracy and smuggling.
In 1636 the island was once again taken, this time by the Dutch. It was occupied by the Dutch West India Company, a trading company founded in 1621 to carry out economic warfare against Portugal and Spain. The company did this by primarily striking at Spain and Portugal's colonies in the West Indies and South America.
During the Napoleonic Wars, because Aruba was part of the Netherlands Antilles, in 1806 it came under British rule. However in 1816 the island was returned to the Netherlands. In 1986, Aruba obtained autonomous status and became known as the Country of Aruba. As such, Aruba controls and manages its own internal affairs. However, it is still part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and so does share responsibilities for external affairs.