Edgar Ras releases book on Willem Rasmijn and Aruban gold history

Author Edgar “Eddy” Ras has released a new book titled ‘Willem Rasmijn: storia di su bida y di e keintura di oro Arubano’, which blends history and fiction to recount the story of Willem Rasmijn and the discovery of gold in Aruba.

The narrative focuses on the historical gold rush in Rooi Fluit, detailing how the extraction and export of the precious mineral transformed the lives of Aruban citizens and shaped the island's development. The book was presented to Astrid Britten, director of the Biblioteca Nacional Aruba, and will soon be available for public consultation.

Eduard Pieters, leader of the Partido Patriotico di Aruba (PPA), praised the work for its educational potential. He described the book as a pedagogical resource that presents Aruban history in an accessible way for children and teachers, urging the government to make the publication available in schools to help preserve the nation's collective memory.