On March 3, 1936, the then new government building was inaugurated. This was the third government building of Aruba, after the governor’s residence and the central government’s office building located on the Zoutmanstraat. The building is almost East-West orientated.

In March 1934 it was evident that the central government’s office building could not house the governor’s residence anymore. From March 1934 to the end of February 1936, the first magistrate of the island resided in the store of B.J. (Brenchi) Arends. Also the government building inaugurated in 1936 soon appeared to be too small.

An expansion on the west side was added for the post office. It is likely that this western wing came about in 1936-1937. The post office had to move again after a few years.

In 1951 the building was not capable anymore to house the population register and civil register. “In the government’s building it kept turning this way and that”. A strange combination of public departments was seen sometimes together in one room.  At a certain moment part of the Domain Administrator‘s Office was in the public library. At another time the accountant department was housed in a corner of the room where the judiciary office was established”.

When the Islands Agreements were introduced in 1951 which made the governments’ decentralization possible, the island’s departments moved to the Government building on L. G. Smith Blvd.  The old government’s office of 1936 remained reserved for the central government services and the judiciary office.

Ever since the 1950’s, the building has served as Aruba Courthouse, on Willem de Zwijgerplein (William the Silent Square).

In front of the building stands a statue of Lady Justice, by local sculptor Ciro Abath.