Aruba was originally inhabited by the Caquetio Indians. Back in 1636, however, the Dutch took possession of the island until 1805. The English then took control for a few years, until 1816. Since January of 1986, however, Aruba has been considered a separate entity within the kingdom of the Netherlands. Aruba has its own constitution, which is based on Western democratic ideals. As you might guess, the island's largest industry is tourism.