If there's one thing Café the Plaza knows how to do, it's throw a party. And after 35 years, they certainly weren't going to settle for just one night of celebrating.
A whole week of racing waiters, beer-drinking and frikandel contests, live music and friends flying in for the occasion. And to wrap it all up, the party headed out to sea aboard Jolly Pirates.
Aruba's unofficial living room, Café the Plaza has been bringing people together since 1991, when HarbourTown was still the place to be in Oranjestad. The Waterfront was down at one end, Porto Bello, the Italian restaurant, was toward the casino side, and Café the Plaza was right in the middle of it all.
Afternoons were spent playing backgammon in a smoke-filled bar, with chicken satay, peanut sauce and fries, and evenings salsa dancing beside the stage where Aruba's popular bands performed, at what was once Tessa the tiger's address. Tropical-style ice skating, complete with hot chocolate and poffertjes, was all part of the fun.
No event idea has ever been too outrageous, too ambitious or too ridiculous to try.
Paalzitten drew crowds to watch people perched on poles for days in the name of charity, with contestants attempting to beat a record of 87 hours and 15 minutes. Fresh Hollandse Nieuwe herring was celebrated Dutch-style, while Café the Plaza's Aruban version of the Elfstedentocht, a famous Dutch skating tradition, traded ice skates for snorkels and flippers as teams went bar-hopping through Oranjestad.
Tennis tournaments, quiz nights, King's Day celebrations and Strongest Man competitions gave people even more reasons to get together.
And people came.
Paalzitten at Café the Plaza, where even sitting on a pole became a spectator sport.
When the Dutch national football team takes the field, Café the Plaza turns orange. The shirts, the flags, the singing, the cheering. Wij houden van Oranje rings through the crowd, and Oranjegekte takes over. Football brings a whole new level of frenzy to the Marketplace. Hup! Hup!
But nothing quite compares to the 2010 World Cup, when the Netherlands reached the final against Spain. Thousands of fans packed the Marketplace to watch the match. A sea of orange stretched across the square, and for one unforgettable day, we were all Dutch.
A sea of orange fills the Marketplace as fans gather for the World Cup final
Just days after the World Cup Final came an unexpected surprise. Arjen Robben, Dirk Kuyt, Mark van Bommel and André Ooijer appeared at Café the Plaza with their families, signing autographs and posing for photographs. The football stars were also spotted enjoying Aruba's beaches, playing volleyball and relaxing at hotel swim-up bars.
Behind so many of those memories were the people who made Café the Plaza what it became.
A charismatic host who remembered your name, Hans Nooter helped shape the character of Café the Plaza alongside its owner and his longtime business partner, Harry Koeman. Some who began their careers at the café went on to make their own mark on Aruba's hospitality scene.
Remembering Hans Nooter, whose warmth and personality helped make Café the Plaza a gathering place for generations.
The annual charity golf tournament held in Hans's memory is one way that spirit of generosity lives on. Harry's commitment to Aruba extends far beyond the café. Through his Aruba Wine & Dine Group and its We Care Initiative, he has made giving back a priority, supporting important causes throughout the island.
HarbourTown gave way to Seaport, and eventually the Renaissance Marketplace took shape. Restaurants came and went, familiar faces became fond memories, and new generations found their way to Café the Plaza.
Thirty-five years later, Café the Plaza is still gezellig, that wonderfully Dutch feeling of warmth, friendship and togetherness.
Glasses clink, laughter spills across the tables, and nobody seems quite ready to call it a night. There's always another reason to celebrate.
Cheers to 35 more!
Celebrating 35 years of Café the Plaza, with plenty of reasons to raise a glass.
Carla Cavallaro has called Aruba home since 1989 and helped launch Jolly Pirates in 1997. As Brand Manager for Jolly Pirates and Kukoo Kunuku, she created Taste of San Nicolas with the Aruba Wine and Dine Group, inspired by the remarkable people and stories of Aruba's Sunrise City.
