ST MARTIN
The south of the Caribbean island of Sint Maarten is Dutch and the north is French. Since October 10, 2010, Sint Maarten is an autonomous part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands where you speak English and pay with US dollars or Antillean guilders. The neighbors speak French and you pay in euros.Princess Juliana Airport is located behind Maho Beach, a favorite spot for plane spotters! Mullet Bay Beach is popular with surfers. The coast of Sint Maarten consists of many bays and beaches and the island is hilly. You will find rainforest, but also thorny bushes and columnar cacti.
The island was inhabited for centuries by Arawaks and Caribbeans. Since 1630, the Dutch and French have settled here, and Sint Maarten has often changed hands in wars. Today it is densely populated and a few plantation houses remain of the former plantations. Along the coast there were salt pans.
The population consists of people born on the island and thousands of immigrants from the Dominican Republic, Haiti and other Caribbean islands. They find work in the hotels and shops.
Tourism is the most important economic sector. Hurricane Irma caused major damage in 2017. The corona period also caused a dip, but tourism has now started up again.
The Sint Maarten Heineken Regatta, an international sailing competition, is an important event. November 11 is St. Martin’s Day, the day the island was discovered by Columbus. Carnival is celebrated for 3 weeks.
Cruise ships bring thousands of day trippers to the island. In Sint Philipsburg they visit Front Street with its luxury shops. Historical monuments include the Foga Salt Factory from 1862, the Pasangrahan (government lodging house) from 1905 and the Court House (1793). Simpson Bay Strip with many hotels, casinos, bars and restaurants has a thriving nightlife.
West of Philipsburg lies Fort Amsterdam. The ruins of the triangular fort (1631) have been restored. It is located on a peninsula where there is a breeding ground for pelicans and other water birds.
Do you like thrills and are you not afraid of heights? In the Rainforest Adventure Park there are several ziplines. In a harness you hang from a cable and you fly down 320 meters at enormous speed with a view of Philipsburg and the south of the island.
Marigot is the capital of the French part of Sint Maarten. At the market you will find fresh fish, vegetables and fruit. There are also shopping malls.
Grand Case is a culinary hotspot with many fish restaurants.
Pic Paradis (411 m.) is the highest hill on the island. A steep mountain path through the rainforest takes you to the top.
Sint Maarten has an Atlantic and a Caribbean coast. You can practice many water sports, of course just swimming and relaxing on the beach, snorkeling, diving, boat trips, kite surfing and windsurfing. There are also ferries to surrounding islands. Saba is a popular destination for day trips.
Sint Maarten is a small island with two faces and many possibilities! The choice is yours!
$398,-
| Capital | Dutch side: Philipsburg / French side: Marigot |
|---|---|
| Population | Dutch side: 40.000 / French side: 35.000 |
| Language | Dutch, English, French and Papiamentu |
| Currency | American dollar and euro |
| Visa required | www.visum.nl |
| Vaccination(s) | no |
| Voltage | 110 V |
| Traffic | Right-hand traffic |
