The Friendly Island!
For over 350 years the island of St. Martin has been divided by two powers: the northern part is French, the southern part belongs to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Although there is no visible border line (without any impediment you can visit both sides), the differences are great. The French part is really “French”: people speak French all over, road signs are in French and the euro is a fully accepted means of payment.
That is quite different in the Dutch part: the idea of staying in a part of the Netherlands is absolutely absent: everywhere English is spoken, in virtually nothing the Netherlands are to be recognized and payment is done
in dollars, though the Antillean guilder is the official currency. In places euros are accepted, but if so be careful, for often a very unfavourable rate of exchange is calculated. All the remarkable differences, so typical of this relatively small island, are tersely summarized by St Martin’s inhabitants in the slogan: “Twice the vacation. Twice the fun”.
St. Martin is a touristic haven. Over two million tourists are drawn to this beautiful island annually. A tour across the green hills with its many, really breathtaking, vistas is a once-in-a-lifetime event. In the French part you will also find splendid bays with beautiful sandy beaches, where you will often encounter surprisingly nice restaurants and bars. Lovers of entertainment and gambling had better go to the Dutch side: in Philipsburg they will find numerous opportunities for amusement, (taxfree) shops, restaurants and casinos.
Culture
The cultural diversity of St. Martin is due to the historic role of the island as a hub for visitors to the “New World”. Dutch, French and English tradesmen brought European traditions, whereas the Africans contributed the language and culture of Western Africa. Nowadays these different influences can be traced in the many languages spoken as well as in the different nationalities. The most important cultural event is the annual Carnival Parade with floats, calypso contests, reggae shows and an endless row of stands offering traditional dishes.
Guavaberry is the legendary liqueur of the St. Maarten/St. Martin population. It was first home made centuries ago. It is made from rum, cane sugar and wild St. Martin guavaberries. On the hills in the centre of the island the rare fruit is found. The liqueur has become part of the local culture. It is now a valued symbol of past times.
Nature
As a result of constant landslides and much volcanic activity, St. Martin consists of various layers of rock and many hills. Pic Paradis is the highest point in the island and is situated at 424 metres. There are numerous bays and creeks along the coast of the island with fresh and salt water combined. One of the largest lagoons in the Caribbean is the Simpson Bay Lagoon, situated on the south west coast of the island.
St. Martin has many unique species of plants, like yellow and orange sage, flamboyant and hybiscus. There are also many sorts of palm trees and cacti. Also birds like yellow breasts, pelicans and tropical birds are to be found in the island.
The Caribbean
Sea hosts an incredible diversity of life. St. Martin is surrounded by coral reefs, where a full-scale variety of underwater flora and fauna is to be found. Large shoals of fish are visible in the crevices and holes of the
reefs. Other inhabitants of the reef are the starfish, the Caribbean “Vertebrate Lobster”, the “Queen Conch” and “Queen Angelfish”, which can easily be recognized by its purple and yellow colours.
Also various species of turtles are present, like Hawksbill, Loggerhead and Leatherback. These can best be spotted in the southern and eastern parts of the island.
Shopping
St. Martin is one of the few tax free destinations in the Caribbean Region. Front Street in Philipsburg is an international shopping area. Besides there is Maho, open till 11 PM, Simpson Bay and Marigot, with design
shops and unique boutiques along the harbours. Articles like jewellery, watches, sunglasses, perfumes and cigars are dozens of percentages cheaper here. Original Cuban cigars are sold by more than 20 official shops.
Leather bags and accessories are very good purchases, too, because these are much cheaper here than in Europe.
Beaches
St. Martin is surrounded by some 37 beaches, which are all different from one another. The crystal clear, turquoise, warm waters of the Caribbean Sea transfer the fantastic, tropical feeling. There are some private beaches and smaller bays, accessible by boat only, but there are also beaches which are famous for their popular beach-tents. On Orient Bay beach clothing is optional. Moreover the reefs grant snorkelers and divers the opportunity to see many tropical fish.
Philipsburg
Philipsburg, the capital of the Dutch part of St. Martin, was founded in 1763 by John Philips, a Scottish captain in Netherlands service. The town is as it were clenched between the sea of Great Bay on the one hand and on the other hand the waters of a shallow lake that used to play a part in salt-making: Great
Salt Pond. In fact the town consists of two main roads running parallel to the sea, and the streets and alleys interconnecting these two and access roads to Great Bay beach. This beach is a beautiful, long and safe “town beach”. The two main roads bear the names of “Front Street” and “Back Street” respectively. Front Street is the street of the many (luxurious) tax free stores, shops and boutiques. Everything is for sale: Italian (design) leather goods, cameras, watches, jewellery, liquor, etcetera. Backstreet on the other
hand is more the street of cheap clothing stores and (Chinese) restaurants.
The most conspicuous building of Philipsburg is no doubt the “Courthouse”. The white-painted wooden building with a tower was built in 1793 and is situated in Front Street. It serves as courthouse to Dutch St. Maarten. Also in Front Street you will find the St. Martin Museum. With the help of its collection the history and culture of the island is described.
Of the two original forts that had to offer St. Martin protection only ruins remain. Fort Amsterdam is the older fort and was built in 1631; Fort Willem, that originally bore the name of “Fort Trigge”, was built by the English in 1801 and transferred to the Dutch in 1816.
Philipsburg is a lively town where enormous cruise ships regularly come to moor and it has a lot to offer to the tourist: countless restaurants, bars, shops, fine beaches, hotels, (all inclusive) resorts, casinos, etcetera.
Marigot
It needs some adaptation: the idea that such a relatively small island is split into two and therefore has two capitals. Marigot is the capital of St. Martin, the French part of the island. “Marshland” is the original meaning of “Marigot” and marshland it was in times past. As soon as you enter Marigot you will recognize French influences: it is said that in all of the Caribbean there is no other place as French as Marigot. You can tell this by the road signs which are a copy of road signs in France herself. Besides you will see and hear this by means of all kinds of different observations: advertising is in French and if you listen intently you will hardly hear anything but French. By the way, this does not necessarily mean that you cannot get along with English.
In Marigot there are many shops with this typically French atmosphere of “boutique”. The most luxurious shopping centre is located close to the sea in the relatively new "Marina Port la Royale” complex.
But there is more: for example the open air markets on Saturday and Wednesday mornings with an abundance of clothing, fresh vegetables, fruits and fish. Or the many restaurants and bistros, the art galleries, the museum “On the trail of the Arawaks”, which not only cherishes the history and culture of French St. Martin but also makes it visible.
Just like Philipsburg Marigot has a limited street pattern: only four main roads that run parallel to the coast with the big advantage that seeing Marigot takes little effort. And of course paying a visit to the imposing,
beautifully restored Fort Louis is a “must”. This fort is the biggest and most important historical building of St. Martin. It was built in 1767 by order of the French king Louis XVI. The rather steep climb to the fort is
amply rewarded by a fantastic view of the sea and the immediate surroundings.
For over 350 years the island of St. Martin has been divided by two powers: the northern part is French, the southern part belongs to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Although there is no visible border line (without any impediment you can visit both sides), the differences are great. The French part is really “French”: people speak French all over, road signs are in French and the euro is a fully accepted means of payment.
That is quite different in the Dutch part: the idea of staying in a part of the Netherlands is absolutely absent: everywhere English is spoken, in virtually nothing the Netherlands are to be recognized and payment is done
in dollars, though the Antillean guilder is the official currency. In places euros are accepted, but if so be careful, for often a very unfavourable rate of exchange is calculated. All the remarkable differences, so typical of this relatively small island, are tersely summarized by St Martin’s inhabitants in the slogan: “Twice the vacation. Twice the fun”.
St. Martin is a touristic haven. Over two million tourists are drawn to this beautiful island annually. A tour across the green hills with its many, really breathtaking, vistas is a once-in-a-lifetime event. In the French part you will also find splendid bays with beautiful sandy beaches, where you will often encounter surprisingly nice restaurants and bars. Lovers of entertainment and gambling had better go to the Dutch side: in Philipsburg they will find numerous opportunities for amusement, (taxfree) shops, restaurants and casinos.
Culture
The cultural diversity of St. Martin is due to the historic role of the island as a hub for visitors to the “New World”. Dutch, French and English tradesmen brought European traditions, whereas the Africans contributed the language and culture of Western Africa. Nowadays these different influences can be traced in the many languages spoken as well as in the different nationalities. The most important cultural event is the annual Carnival Parade with floats, calypso contests, reggae shows and an endless row of stands offering traditional dishes.
Guavaberry is the legendary liqueur of the St. Maarten/St. Martin population. It was first home made centuries ago. It is made from rum, cane sugar and wild St. Martin guavaberries. On the hills in the centre of the island the rare fruit is found. The liqueur has become part of the local culture. It is now a valued symbol of past times.
Nature
As a result of constant landslides and much volcanic activity, St. Martin consists of various layers of rock and many hills. Pic Paradis is the highest point in the island and is situated at 424 metres. There are numerous bays and creeks along the coast of the island with fresh and salt water combined. One of the largest lagoons in the Caribbean is the Simpson Bay Lagoon, situated on the south west coast of the island.
St. Martin has many unique species of plants, like yellow and orange sage, flamboyant and hybiscus. There are also many sorts of palm trees and cacti. Also birds like yellow breasts, pelicans and tropical birds are to be found in the island.
The Caribbean
Sea hosts an incredible diversity of life. St. Martin is surrounded by coral reefs, where a full-scale variety of underwater flora and fauna is to be found. Large shoals of fish are visible in the crevices and holes of the
reefs. Other inhabitants of the reef are the starfish, the Caribbean “Vertebrate Lobster”, the “Queen Conch” and “Queen Angelfish”, which can easily be recognized by its purple and yellow colours.
Also various species of turtles are present, like Hawksbill, Loggerhead and Leatherback. These can best be spotted in the southern and eastern parts of the island.
Shopping
St. Martin is one of the few tax free destinations in the Caribbean Region. Front Street in Philipsburg is an international shopping area. Besides there is Maho, open till 11 PM, Simpson Bay and Marigot, with design
shops and unique boutiques along the harbours. Articles like jewellery, watches, sunglasses, perfumes and cigars are dozens of percentages cheaper here. Original Cuban cigars are sold by more than 20 official shops.
Leather bags and accessories are very good purchases, too, because these are much cheaper here than in Europe.
Beaches
St. Martin is surrounded by some 37 beaches, which are all different from one another. The crystal clear, turquoise, warm waters of the Caribbean Sea transfer the fantastic, tropical feeling. There are some private beaches and smaller bays, accessible by boat only, but there are also beaches which are famous for their popular beach-tents. On Orient Bay beach clothing is optional. Moreover the reefs grant snorkelers and divers the opportunity to see many tropical fish.
Philipsburg
Philipsburg, the capital of the Dutch part of St. Martin, was founded in 1763 by John Philips, a Scottish captain in Netherlands service. The town is as it were clenched between the sea of Great Bay on the one hand and on the other hand the waters of a shallow lake that used to play a part in salt-making: Great
Salt Pond. In fact the town consists of two main roads running parallel to the sea, and the streets and alleys interconnecting these two and access roads to Great Bay beach. This beach is a beautiful, long and safe “town beach”. The two main roads bear the names of “Front Street” and “Back Street” respectively. Front Street is the street of the many (luxurious) tax free stores, shops and boutiques. Everything is for sale: Italian (design) leather goods, cameras, watches, jewellery, liquor, etcetera. Backstreet on the other
hand is more the street of cheap clothing stores and (Chinese) restaurants.
The most conspicuous building of Philipsburg is no doubt the “Courthouse”. The white-painted wooden building with a tower was built in 1793 and is situated in Front Street. It serves as courthouse to Dutch St. Maarten. Also in Front Street you will find the St. Martin Museum. With the help of its collection the history and culture of the island is described.
Of the two original forts that had to offer St. Martin protection only ruins remain. Fort Amsterdam is the older fort and was built in 1631; Fort Willem, that originally bore the name of “Fort Trigge”, was built by the English in 1801 and transferred to the Dutch in 1816.
Philipsburg is a lively town where enormous cruise ships regularly come to moor and it has a lot to offer to the tourist: countless restaurants, bars, shops, fine beaches, hotels, (all inclusive) resorts, casinos, etcetera.
Marigot
It needs some adaptation: the idea that such a relatively small island is split into two and therefore has two capitals. Marigot is the capital of St. Martin, the French part of the island. “Marshland” is the original meaning of “Marigot” and marshland it was in times past. As soon as you enter Marigot you will recognize French influences: it is said that in all of the Caribbean there is no other place as French as Marigot. You can tell this by the road signs which are a copy of road signs in France herself. Besides you will see and hear this by means of all kinds of different observations: advertising is in French and if you listen intently you will hardly hear anything but French. By the way, this does not necessarily mean that you cannot get along with English.
In Marigot there are many shops with this typically French atmosphere of “boutique”. The most luxurious shopping centre is located close to the sea in the relatively new "Marina Port la Royale” complex.
But there is more: for example the open air markets on Saturday and Wednesday mornings with an abundance of clothing, fresh vegetables, fruits and fish. Or the many restaurants and bistros, the art galleries, the museum “On the trail of the Arawaks”, which not only cherishes the history and culture of French St. Martin but also makes it visible.
Just like Philipsburg Marigot has a limited street pattern: only four main roads that run parallel to the coast with the big advantage that seeing Marigot takes little effort. And of course paying a visit to the imposing,
beautifully restored Fort Louis is a “must”. This fort is the biggest and most important historical building of St. Martin. It was built in 1767 by order of the French king Louis XVI. The rather steep climb to the fort is
amply rewarded by a fantastic view of the sea and the immediate surroundings.