I love your beautiful island with its'wonderful people. While this incident is tragic, it would never keep me from visiting. I think the authorities have done a wonderful job trying to get to the bottom of this. I pray for Natalee's family as I am sure this is pure torture for them.

I stumbled across the tragedy, because I am one of many Aruba lovers.

Nothing was said in the media in germany about it. Of course not. If it had been a german girl it would have been all over the news here.
I have been following as much as I can over the internet ever since I first read about it on May 30. I am here and in a very weird was wishing I was there to help in any kind of way I can.

To everyone that is out there trying to find her. Keeep up the hope. We are all with you in one way or the other

My wife and I visited Aruba for the first time that same week (as Natalee). We had a great trip, and our hearts go out to the Holloway family, and of course, hope is that Natalee is found.

I can honestly say that the people of Aruba are indeed friendly, almost sweet, and were much more helpful than most anywhere I've traveled.

Their willingness to help out in these circumstances is astounding. I'm hearing now that Aruba's civil servants are joining the search en masse, along with those who have already been scouring the island all week. I can’t think of many other places where that would happen. Impressive!

If anything about this could stick in my craw, though, it would be the time that went by before this level of effort kicked off. In defense of the authorities, it’s a pretty laid back place. On a bus tour of the island, our guide talked about how some tourists come and never do leave. I’m paraphrasing here, but it went something like this:
“You can even find work here, but the immigration officials will come one day and ask you for your work permit. If you have left it at the hotel, they’ll give you a ride to the hotel. And if you don’t have one, they’ll also give you a ride-- to the airport.”

It makes me wonder, when I hear quotes like that and those of Commissioner Jan van der Straaten, “After four or five days you are afraid a crime has been committed.” Yes, indeed. How much time did go by before a real search was started? I get that Aruba is laid back, and cases of people not wanting to leave are common, but Natalee’s bags were packed along with her passport. The authorities could see that on day one. Why would it take “four or five days” to wonder if there might be a crime?

It’s not known to me for a fact, but it also sounds like all of the “chaperones” left on their chartered jet last week. If that’s true, they’ll just have to live with that. I sure hope I’m wrong about that and that I just got the wrong impression, and at least one stayed behind to raise hell and get the ball rolling looking for Natalee.

The place is also spitting distance from Venezuela. You only have to take one look at the US State Department’s travel advisory on Venezuela http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1059.html “Safety and Security” section to see why we did not even consider our usual day trip to neighboring places. You can see Venezuela from Aruba, it’s that nearby. Hopefully, private inquiries are underway, and reward offers being made in there as well.

We’ve combed our film of the trip, but alas, not one picture of Natalee. Guess our paths never crossed at the same time. I wish we could have offered something useful, but our prayers and hopeful thoughts for Natalee and her family are certainly there. I would only add that the people of Aruba are to be commended for the effort that was and especially is now underway. That is really something!

How do you get to the dedicated thread?

Wanda is right. Evil is everywhere, just as Good is.

Natalee's predicament is not a geographical problem. Rather, it is a GENDER problem. Men rape and murder girls and women. This happens all over the globe. Aruba is not to blame; the blame lies on the specific men who raped and murdered Natalee.

CONGRADULATIONS;;; Your decision about Natalee is what I have suggested since it happened. Aruba has taken a major blow with this incident. People posted ANYTHING negative about this topic concerning Aruba should not be allowed on this Bulletin Board anywhere.

Its bad enough what happened without people latching on and condenming and blaming Aruba for its occurence.
Bless you all for making this important decision.

Whom is responsible for this will burn eternally. I pray she will return unharmed. I pray for Natalee's family and friends.

i just want to say i have been going to aruba for over 10 years now and it is very safe and the people are so nice. i pray for her as well as everyone looking for her.

My husband and I have visited the wonderful island of Aruba many times and will continue to do so. The government is doing a great job handling the case. We're glad to see the officials, locals and visitors all trying to find Natalee. We should all remind our children that there is safety in numbers and to stick together whenever possible. Our prayers and thoughts are with the Holloway family.

I was in Aruba the same weekend as Natalee for my mother's wedding. She got married on the beach of Wyndham resort with 8 of us in the immediately family there...So, this story is hitting me really hard. I am not sure how my family would be dealing with this if this situation had occurred with my younger sister. I even mentioned one day I would love to move to Aruba, because there are never any worries, ALL of the people we've met are amazing, and you would never expect this to happen on this wonderful island. I really hope Natalee is found alive. This whole thing is just really really sad. Where can we go to make donations to up the ante on the reward to find her?