Betico Croes Day is observed in Aruba every January 25, commemorating the birth anniversary of Gilberto François “Betico” Croes, an influential Aruban politician and activist. Born in 1938, Croes played a pivotal role in advocating for Aruba's separation from the Netherlands Antilles and was the leader of the People’s Electoral Movement. He was instrumental in establishing Aruba's seal, flag, and anthem, and organized a referendum in 1977 that favored independence. Aruba gained autonomy from the Netherlands Antilles on January 1, 1986, and became a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. After Croes's death in a car accident in 1986, he was honored as the "liberator of Aruba," and his birth anniversary was declared an official holiday to celebrate his contributions to the nation's independence.