This official holiday in Aruba marks the birthday of Betico Croes, known as the father of the Aruban nation. 

Born on January 25th 1938, Gilberto Francois (Betico) Croes was an Aruban political activist who was a proponent of Aruba’s separation from the rest of the Netherlands Antilles. 

Betico Croes helped Aruba with attaining the “Status Aparte”. With its new status Aruba was given autonomy from the Netherlands Antilles, and was allowed to function as a commonwealth within the Dutch kingdom. 

On December 31st 1985, the evening before Aruba was due to secede from the Netherlands Antilles, Croes had an accident and slipped into a coma, from which he never regained consciousness. He passed away on November 26, 1986. 

This official holiday features several cultural, sports and musical events throughout the island and there is a national celebration at Plaza Betico in Oranjestad.