The Dutch “Westindische Compagnie” took over the islands of Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire in 1636 from the Spanish, and a new economic and politic plan was introduced.  Curaçao was the operational base for the chief “Commandeur”.  Aruba and Bonaire had each their own “Commandeur”. 

It was not until 1667 or 1668, thirty years after the Dutch occupation, that the first Commandeur was appointed for the island of Aruba. Nobody knows why it took so long before they appointed someone for this position. Aruba was used as a breading place for horses and other live stocks, and Bonaire was used for salt and corn cultivation. 

The job of the “Commandeur” was to keep an eye on the Indians who were herding the animals. He was also responsible for all trading and selling and had to keep records of income and expenses generated by these transactions. He had to report regularly to his Commander in chief in Curaçao. He also had some soldiers under his command to keep peace and order on the island.  In those early days they were the only white people on the island. 

The base station was situated on the south coast of the island at bay called “De commandeurs baai” meaning the Commander’s bay. It is here that all the trade took place, ships would anchor out side the reef and row with canoe to shore. 
It is not known why this bay was chosen. From a letter written by the captain of the ship Elizabeth, it is concluded that the "Commandeurs" lived there from around 1727. In this letter, dated that year, he wrote " We where attacked by two Spanish ship in front of the "Commandeurs Baai”. It is not known if other "Commandeurs" before 1727 lived there, as there is no historical documents to prove this.  It is at this location that the first stone house was built on Aruba. 

From old folklore stories it is said that the Indians who where forced to hard labor and abused by a certain "Commandeur" Jahrman, one day, took revenge and drove Jahrman and his horse into the sea, where he drowned. And that is why this bay is called the "Commandeurs Baai". There is no proof of this. 
Today this place is known as Savaneta. 
 
Out of my research I can conclude that this bay was used under the Spanish occupation, and was probably the best landing place at the time. 
During the Spanish occupation, all three Islands belong to Venezuela, and the Spanish government was based in Coro. Consequently I think that the shortest route between the mainland and Aruba is from the coast straight to the "Commandeurs baai"    

The first "Commandeur" of Aruba was an Irish man by the name of Williams. In some historical documents he was also known as Wilhem. He was in charge between 1667 and 1668. This is all the information obtained about Williams. 

The second "Commandeur" was a Belgium by the name of Josephus Flaccius who was in charge between 1677-1679. 

A property tax was introduced on Aruba in 1780.  With this people could migrate to Aruba and claim a piece of land.  There is evidence that the first white colonist was Moses Maduro who settled in Aruba in 1754 and obtain land. This was before the new law.  Merchants and traders, usually from families born in Curaçao or Bonaire and not directly from Europe, started to migrate to Aruba. They concentrated at Ponton and used the bay close by, which is now our main port, the "paarden baai" bay of the horses, as there were a lot of horse trading going on at this bay. 

The "Commanduers baai", where the "Commandeur" was based, started to loose its trade activity. In order to gain better control on the activities at Ponton and the "Parden Baai" the "Commandeurs" post was moved to Ponton. It is not known when the post was moved.  It is estimated that, between 1781-1782, Jan van der Biest II, the "Commandeur" in charge during 1772 and 1782,  was buried at the cemetery of Ponton.  Today this place is known as Hato. 
 
Another "Commandeur", Simon Plats in charge between 1826-1827, was buried at Shiribana. It is known that some of the "Commandeurs" after their discharge stayed on the island.  Aruba was getting populated.  Documents show that, in 1804,  the population was 1155.  People where moving to several places on the island, like Buena Vista, Parkietenbos, and Santa Martha. 

In 1833 the Title of "Commandeur " changed to “Director (Gezashebber)”, occasioned by new political structures put in place to gain better control on Holland’s colonies.  Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao and the Lesser Antilles had each a Director, who was under the command of the Chief Director in Paramaribo, Surinam (Surinam got its independence on the 25th of November, 1975). 

In this new political structure, an Official did not need to have a military rank to become a Director. Mostly, they came from wealthy families. The soldiers became policemen, forming the new police corps.  This was the start of the transformation towards a new political structure that lasted to the present. 

In 1986 Aruba got its autonomy from the Netherlands Antilles, leaving Bonaire, Curaçao and the Lesser Antilles as one colonial entity. Thus, becoming a separate colony whit its own Governor representing the Dutch Crown. 

There is nothing left of the first "Commandeurs" post at Savaneta.  After an extensive research, I could not find the old cemetery belonging to this post. However, I will keep looking and I will update this page with any new findings.