Oranjestad (UK: /ɒˈrænjəstɑːt/ orr-AN-yə-staht, US: /ɔːˈrɑːn-, oʊˈrɑːn-/ or-AHN-, oh-RAHN-, Dutch: [oːˈrɑɲəstɑt]; literally "Orange City"), the capital and most populous of Aruba's eight regions, is located on the southwestern coast of the island. In Papiamento, the local language, Oranjestad is commonly referred to as "Playa" by the locals.

Administratively, the Oranjestad is divided into two regions: East and West. In 2010, the capital had a population of 28,294, and by 2020, it increased to 28,658.

Since 1754, European settlers established modest plantations along Aruba's south coast and the flat northwestern region, leading to the emergence of the first residential centers. In the early 20th century, the island was divided into four "districts": the first district, Playa, the second with Noord, the third with Santa Cruz, and the fourth with Sabaneta (Savaneta). By 1795 or 1796, as Aruba opened up and trade restrictions eased, urban development commenced. Traders and craftsmen subsequently migrated to the village by the bay. Governor Johann Lauffer granted permission to settle at the bay and engage in trade, with the condition that trade goods were sourced from Curaçao.

Jewish settlers in Aruba, likely driven by the economic decline in Curaçao, engaged in smuggling discreetly. Fluent in Spanish, they leveraged their connections with the mainland via the predominantly Jewish-controlled Curaçao trade (see History of the Jews in Curaçao). The Sephardim, facing economic challenges, established independent trading colonies in the Caribbean around 1796, maintaining close links with Curaçao in trade, religion, and marriage. Smuggling played a pivotal role in Jews choosing Aruba as their settlement. Choosing Paardenbaai ("Bay of Horses") as a trading hub, rather than Commandeursbaai ("Commander's bay") in Savaneta was influenced by its improved ship accessibility and the ongoing prohibition of trade and settlement east of Hooiberg, which included Commandeursbaai.

They exported local products like cattle, sheep, poultry, Antillean dyewood (Haematoxylum brasiletto), and gold after 1824. However, the primary trade involved importing goods from Curaçao, which were then smuggled ashore using small vessels along the Venezuelan coast, in Coro, and nearby areas. Imports encompassed items such as food, clothing, tools, and more. Additionally, red slaves were transported from the mainland.

Illegal trade from Paardenbaai spurred the growth of Playa village. The command's relocation played a key role in this development. Although the exact date of the commander's move to Playa is unknown, Fort Zoutman was erected in 1798, marking a significant period when traders shifted from Ponton to Paardenbaai. Following the commander's arrival, milestones in the village's early history included the construction of the first Catholic church, between 1800 and 1810 and the arrival of the initial Protestant religious instructor, Klaas van Eekhout, in 1822 were milestones in the early history of the village. The trade boom, however, saw a decline around 1822 or 1823 due to a civil war, during which Simon Bolivar and the independence movement expelled the Spaniards from South America. Similar to Curaçao, trade dwindled, but a new drive for Aruban colonization emerged—the discovery of gold in 1824. During the visit of Governor Paulus Roelof Cantz'laar in 1824, the village was named Oranjestad after William I of the Netherlands.

Hoezee! Hoezee! Hoezee! Lang leve de Oranjestad! zij groeije en bloeije!

Hooray! Hooray! Hooray! Long live Oranjestad! May it grow and flourish!