De Vuijst Field

The airport's closure is directly linked to economic changes at the adjacent Lago Oil Refinery. It was a private airfield built for the refinery's use. When Exxon sold the refinery to the Aruban government in 1985 and the facility temporarily shut down, the associated 'Lago Colony' for expatriate workers was dissolved. With the departure of its primary users and the main Queen Beatrix International Airport (TNCA) serving the island's needs, the private airstrip became obsolete and fell into disuse.

The site is completely abandoned and the airstrip is derelict. The asphalt runway is still visible on satellite imagery but is severely cracked, weathered, and partially overgrown with vegetation, making it unusable for any type of conventional aircraft. The area and the old runway are now popularly used for recreational activities by locals, including off-roading, illegal street racing, and flying radio-controlled model aircraft.

The airstrip was a crucial piece of infrastructure for the Lago Oil and Transport Company, which operated one of the world's largest oil refineries in Aruba. Its primary functions included:

1. **Executive and Personnel Transport:** It served as a private airport to fly in company executives, engineers, and other key personnel directly to the refinery complex, bypassing the main public airport.
2. **Supporting the Lago Colony:** It provided a direct link for the residents of the Lago Colony, a large, self-contained American-style community built for the refinery's expatriate staff and their families. It was used for mail, transport of goods, and medical evacuation flights.
3. **WWII Strategic Importance:** During World War II, the Lago refinery was of immense strategic importance, supplying a significant portion of the Allied forces' aviation fuel. The airstrip supported this critical operation by facilitating rapid transport and logistics for the refinery.

In essence, the airfield represents a unique era in Aruban history when the oil industry dominated the island's economy and led to the creation of a large, isolated expatriate community.

There are no known official plans or serious prospects for reopening the airport. The cost of renovating the runway and facilities to modern standards would be substantial. Furthermore, with Aruba's main Queen Beatrix International Airport (TNCA) located only about 25 kilometers away and adequately serving the entire island, there is no economic or logistical justification for reviving this small, remote airstrip. It is expected to remain in its current abandoned state.