Aruba has seen many different cultures during the colonization period. The Caquetios were the first inhabitants of this beautiful desert like island. In 1500s the Spanish conquistadores were the first explorers to discover Aruba and called the island "useless". In 1636, the Dutch, during the war with Spain, established a naval base here. Later the British took it away after defeating Spain. Following the defeat of Napoleon the realignment that took place among European countries (Congress of Vienna 1814) resulted in Aruba becoming a Dutch colony along with other islands; Curacao, Bonaire, Saba, St. Martin and St. Eustatius.