List of cities in Sint Maarten
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Sint Maarten () is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the
Caribbean The Caribbean (, ) ( es, El Caribe; french: la Caraïbe; ht, Karayib; nl, De Caraïben) is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean Se ...
. With a population of 41,486 as of January 2019 on an area of , it encompasses the southern 44% of the
divided island This is a list of islands whose land is divided by one or more international borders. Sea islands Lake islands *''De facto'' between Russia (Crimea) ('' disputed'') and Ukraine ** Rotten Sea islands *Among Finland, Norway, and Sweden: **T ...
of
Saint Martin Saint Martin may refer to: People * Saint Martin of Tours (c. 316–397), Bishop of Tours, France * Saint Martin of Braga (c. 520–580), archbishop of Bracara Augusta in Gallaecia (now Braga in Portugal) * Pope Martin I (598–655) * Saint Mart ...
, while the northern 56% of the island constitutes the French overseas collectivity of
Saint Martin Saint Martin may refer to: People * Saint Martin of Tours (c. 316–397), Bishop of Tours, France * Saint Martin of Braga (c. 520–580), archbishop of Bracara Augusta in Gallaecia (now Braga in Portugal) * Pope Martin I (598–655) * Saint Mart ...
. Sint Maarten's
capital Capital may refer to: Common uses * Capital city, a municipality of primary status ** List of national capital cities * Capital letter, an upper-case letter Economics and social sciences * Capital (economics), the durable produced goods used f ...
is Philipsburg. Collectively, Sint Maarten and the other Dutch islands in the
Caribbean The Caribbean (, ) ( es, El Caribe; french: la Caraïbe; ht, Karayib; nl, De Caraïben) is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean Se ...
are often called the Dutch Caribbean. Before 10 October 2010, Sint Maarten was known as the Island Territory of Sint Maarten ( nl, Eilandgebied Sint Maarten), and was one of six island territories () that constituted the
Netherlands Antilles nl, In vrijheid verenigd"Unified by freedom" , national_anthem = , common_languages = Dutch English Papiamento , demonym = Netherlands Antillean , capital = Willemstad , year_start = 1954 , year_end = 2010 , date_start = 15 December , ...
. Sint Maarten has the status of an overseas country and territory (OCT) and is not part of the European Union. On 6 and 7 September 2017, the island was hit by Category 5 Hurricane Irma, which caused widespread and significant damage to buildings and infrastructure.


Etymology

The island was named by Christopher Columbus in honour of St Martin of Tours, as he first sighted it on the saint's feast day on 11 November 1493. "Sint Maarten" is
Saint Martin Saint Martin may refer to: People * Saint Martin of Tours (c. 316–397), Bishop of Tours, France * Saint Martin of Braga (c. 520–580), archbishop of Bracara Augusta in Gallaecia (now Braga in Portugal) * Pope Martin I (598–655) * Saint Mart ...
in Dutch.


History


Pre-colonial

Sint Maarten had been inhabited by Amerindian peoples for many centuries, with archaeological finds pointing to a human presence on the island as early as 2000 BC. These people most likely migrated from South America. The earliest identified group were the Arawak people who are thought to have settled around the period 800 BC – 300 BC. Circa 1300-1400 AD they began to be displaced with the arrival of Carib people.


Arrival of Europeans

It is commonly believed that Christopher Columbus named the island in honor of Saint Martin of Tours when he encountered it on his second voyage of discovery. However, he actually applied the name to the island now called Nevis when he anchored offshore on November 11, 1493, the feast day of Saint Martin. The confusion of numerous poorly charted small islands in the
Leeward Islands french: Îles-Sous-le-Vent , image_name = , image_caption = ''Political'' Leeward Islands. Clockwise: Antigua and Barbuda, Guadeloupe, Saint kitts and Nevis. , image_alt = , locator_map = , location = Caribbean SeaNorth Atlantic Ocean , coor ...
meant that this name was accidentally transferred to the island now known as Saint-Martin/Sint Maarten. Nominally Spanish territory, the island became the focus of the competing interest of the European powers, notably France, Britain and the Netherlands. While the French wanted to colonize the islands between Trinidad and Bermuda, the Dutch found ''San Martín'' a convenient halfway point between their colonies in
New Amsterdam New Amsterdam ( nl, Nieuw Amsterdam, or ) was a 17th-century Dutch settlement established at the southern tip of Manhattan Island that served as the seat of the colonial government in New Netherland. The initial trading ''factory'' gave rise ...
(present day
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...
) and New Holland. Meanwhile, the Amerindian population began to decline precipitously, dying from introduced diseases to which they had no immunity. The Dutch built a fort ( Fort Amsterdam) on the island in 1631; Jan Claeszen van Campen became its first governor and the
Dutch West India Company The Dutch West India Company ( nl, Geoctrooieerde Westindische Compagnie, ''WIC'' or ''GWC''; ; en, Chartered West India Company) was a chartered company of Dutch merchants as well as foreign investors. Among its founders was Willem Usselincx ( ...
began mining salt on the island. Tensions between the Netherlands and Spain were already high due to the ongoing
Eighty Years' War The Eighty Years' War or Dutch Revolt ( nl, Nederlandse Opstand) ( c.1566/1568–1648) was an armed conflict in the Habsburg Netherlands between disparate groups of rebels and the Spanish government. The causes of the war included the Refo ...
, and in 1633 the Spanish captured St Martin and drove off the Dutch colonists. At Point Blanche, they built what is now Old Spanish Fort to secure the territory. The Dutch under
Peter Stuyvesant Peter Stuyvesant (; in Dutch also ''Pieter'' and ''Petrus'' Stuyvesant, ; 1610 – August 1672)Mooney, James E. "Stuyvesant, Peter" in p.1256 was a Dutch colonial officer who served as the last Dutch director-general of the colony of New Net ...
attempted to wrest back control in 1644, but were repulsed. However, in 1648 the Eighty Years' War ended and the Spanish, no longer seeing any strategic or economic value in the island, simply abandoned it. With Saint Martin free again, both the Dutch and the French jumped at the chance to re-establish their settlements. Dutch colonists came from
St. Eustatius Sint Eustatius (, ), also known locally as Statia (), is an island in the Caribbean. It is a special municipality (officially " public body") of the Netherlands. The island lies in the northern Leeward Islands portion of the West Indies, s ...
, while the French came from
St. Kitts Saint Kitts, officially the Saint Christopher Island, is an island in the West Indies. The west side of the island borders the Caribbean Sea, and the eastern coast faces the Atlantic Ocean. Saint Kitts and the neighbouring island of Nevis cons ...
. After some initial conflict, both sides realized that neither would yield easily. Preferring to avoid an all-out war, they signed the
Treaty of Concordia The Treaty of Concordia, or the Partition Treaty of 1648, was signed on March 23, 1648, between the Kingdom of France and the Dutch Republic and divided the island of Saint Martin. Signature The treaty was signed by the two governors of the islan ...
in 1648, which divided the island in two. During the treaty's negotiation, the French had a fleet of
naval A navy, naval force, or maritime force is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval warfare, naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral zone, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operations and ...
ships off shore, which they used as a threat to bargain more land for themselves. In spite of the treaty, relations between the two sides were not always cordial. Between 1648 and 1816, conflicts changed the border sixteen times. The entire island came under effective French control from 1795 when Netherlands became a puppet state under the
French Empire French Empire (french: Empire Français, link=no) may refer to: * First French Empire, ruled by Napoleon I from 1804 to 1814 and in 1815 and by Napoleon II in 1815, the French state from 1804 to 1814 and in 1815 * Second French Empire, led by Nap ...
until 1815. In the end, the French came out ahead with ; 61%) against ; 39%) on the Dutch side.


18th–19th centuries

To work the new cotton, tobacco and sugar plantations the French and Dutch began importing large numbers of African slaves, who soon came to outnumber the Europeans. The slave population quickly grew larger than that of the land owners. Subjected to cruel treatment, slaves staged rebellions, and their overwhelming numbers made it impossible to ignore their concerns. In 1848, the French abolished slavery in their colonies including the French side of St. Martin. Slaves on the Dutch side of the island protested and threatened to flee to the French side to seek asylum. The local Dutch authorities then freed the colonies' slaves. While this decree was respected locally, it was not until 1863 when the Dutch abolished slavery in all of their island colonies that the slaves became legally free.


20th century

After the abolition of slavery, plantation culture declined and the island's economy suffered. In 1939 Sint Maarten received a major boost when it was declared a duty-free port. In 1941 the island was shelled by a
German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...
U-boat as part of the
Battle of the Atlantic The Battle of the Atlantic, the longest continuous military campaign in World War II, ran from 1939 to the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945, covering a major part of the naval history of World War II. At its core was the Allied naval blockade ...
. Tourism began growing from the 1950s onward, and Princess Juliana International Airport became one of the busiest in the Eastern Caribbean. For much of this period, Sint Maarten was governed by business tycoon
Claude Wathey Claude Wathey (full name Albert Claudius Wathey; 24 July 1926 – January 1998), was a prominent politician of the Democratic Party Sint Maarten, Democratic Party from the island of Sint Maarten. He was knighted by the Dutch Crown for his politi ...
of the
Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...
.NRC.nl
Sint Maarten bloeit, politici leven in luxe
The island's demographics changed dramatically during this period as well, with the population increasing from a mere 5,000 people to around 60,000 people by the mid-1990s. Immigration from the neighbouring Lesser Antilles,
Curaçao Curaçao ( ; ; pap, Kòrsou, ), officially the Country of Curaçao ( nl, Land Curaçao; pap, Pais Kòrsou), is a Lesser Antilles island country in the southern Caribbean Sea and the Dutch Caribbean region, about north of the Venezuela coast ...
,
Haiti Haiti (; ht, Ayiti ; French: ), officially the Republic of Haiti (); ) and formerly known as Hayti, is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and ...
, the Dominican Republic, the United States, Europe, and Asia turned the native population into a minority. Sint Maarten became an "island territory" (''eilandgebied'' in Dutch) of the
Netherlands Antilles nl, In vrijheid verenigd"Unified by freedom" , national_anthem = , common_languages = Dutch English Papiamento , demonym = Netherlands Antillean , capital = Willemstad , year_start = 1954 , year_end = 2010 , date_start = 15 December , ...
in 1983. Before that date, Sint Maarten was part of the island territory of the Windward Islands, together with Saba and
Sint Eustatius Sint Eustatius (, ), also known locally as Statia (), is an island in the Caribbean. It is a special municipality (officially " public body") of the Netherlands. The island lies in the northern Leeward Islands portion of the West Indies, so ...
. The status of an island territory entails considerable autonomy summed up in the Island Regulation of the Netherlands Antilles. During this period Sint Maarten was ruled by an island council, an executive council, and a lieutenant governor ( nl, gezaghebber) appointed by the Dutch Crown.
Hurricane Luis Hurricane Luis was a long lived and powerful Category 4 hurricane. It was the strongest hurricane to make landfall and the third-most intense hurricane recorded during the 1995 Atlantic hurricane season. The storm, along with Humberto, Iris, an ...
in late August and early September 1995 hit the island, causing immense destruction and resulting in 12 deaths.


21st century

In 1994, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and France had signed the
Franco-Dutch treaty on Saint Martin border controls The Franco-Dutch treaty on Saint Martin border controls, sometimes shortened to the Franco-Dutch treaty and in full the Treaty between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the French Republic on the control of persons entering Saint Martin through t ...
, which allows for joint Franco-Dutch border controls on so-called "risk flights". After some delay, the treaty was ratified in November 2006 in the Netherlands and subsequently entered into force on 1 August 2007. Though the treaty is now in force, its provisions are not yet implemented as the working group specified in the treaty is not yet installed. On 10 October 2010 Sint Maarten became a constituent country ( nl, Land Sint Maarten) within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, making it a constitutional equal partner with
Aruba Aruba ( , , ), officially the Country of Aruba ( nl, Land Aruba; pap, Pais Aruba) is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands physically located in the mid-south of the Caribbean Sea, about north of the Venezuela peninsula of ...
,
Curaçao Curaçao ( ; ; pap, Kòrsou, ), officially the Country of Curaçao ( nl, Land Curaçao; pap, Pais Kòrsou), is a Lesser Antilles island country in the southern Caribbean Sea and the Dutch Caribbean region, about north of the Venezuela coast ...
, and the Netherlands proper. Constitution Day (10 October) is celebrated annually as a public holiday. Sint Maarten has been assigned the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country codes of SXM and SX, and the
.sx .sx is the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) in the Domain Name System of the Internet for Sint Maarten. Sint Maarten became an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands on October 10, 2010. On December 15, 2010, the ISO 3166 Ma ...
Internet ccTLD became available to register on 15 November 2012.


Effects of Hurricane Irma

Hurricane Irma made landfall on 6 September 2017, causing extensive damage. 4 deaths were ultimately reported; there were 11 serious injuries out of a total of 34. Princess Juliana Airport was extensively damaged but reopened on a partial basis in two days to allow incoming relief flights and for flights that would take evacuees to other islands. By 8 September, "many inhabitants eredevoid of basic necessities" and looting had become a serious problem. Reports on 9 September indicated that 70% of the infrastructure on the Dutch part had been destroyed. A survey by the Dutch Red Cross estimated that nearly a third of the buildings in Sint Maarten had been destroyed and that over 90 per cent of structures on the island had been damaged. The prime minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, told the news media on 8 September that the airport in Sint Maarten was ready to receive emergency flights and that aid, as well as police officers and military personnel, were on their way. The prime minister of Sint Maarten,
William Marlin William Marlin (born 21 October 1950) is a Sint Maarten politician who served as the 3rd Prime Minister of Sint Maarten from 2015 to 2017. Marlin was the leader of the National Alliance, and was the leader of the First and Second Marlin cabinet. ...
, had already asked the Dutch government for extended relief assistance which began to arrive on 8 September. The government issued a tropical storm warning on 8 September since the Category 4
Hurricane Jose The name Jose has been used for eight tropical cyclones worldwide: six in the Atlantic Ocean, one in the Western Pacific Ocean, and one in the South-West Indian Ocean. In the Atlantic: * Tropical Storm Jose (1981) – short-lived and weak storm th ...
was approaching. The government of the Netherlands was sending aid, as well as additional police and military, since looting was a serious problem. A statement by Marlin summarized the situation on 8 September. "We've lost many, many homes. Schools have been destroyed. We foresee a loss of the tourist season because of the damage that was done to hotel properties, the negative publicity that one would have that it's better to go somewhere else because it's destroyed. So that will have a serious impact on our economy." At the time, preparations were being made as
Hurricane Jose The name Jose has been used for eight tropical cyclones worldwide: six in the Atlantic Ocean, one in the Western Pacific Ocean, and one in the South-West Indian Ocean. In the Atlantic: * Tropical Storm Jose (1981) – short-lived and weak storm th ...
approached the island. Government estimates on 9 September indicated that 70 percent of houses were badly damaged or destroyed; much of the population was living in shelters pending the arrival of Jose. Thankfully, this second hurricane did not have a significant impact on the island. Widespread looting had started and a state of emergency was announced; some 230 soldiers from the Netherlands were patrolling. Additional Dutch troops were expected. By 10 September, some 1,200 Americans had been evacuated to Puerto Rico from Sint Maarten by military aircraft during a time of looting and violence. On that date, Royal Caribbean International said that the company was sending its
Adventure of the Seas ''Adventure of the Seas'' is a operated by Royal Caribbean International. The vessel was launched and entered service in 2001. Registered in the Bahamas, ''Adventure of the Seas'' has cruised from ports in the United States and Europe to sites ...
to Saint-Martin and to St. Thomas to provide supplies and to offer evacuation services. The ship arrived on the island on 10 September with water, ice, garbage bags, clothing and canned food, and evacuated 320 people. By 11 September, King Willem-Alexander had already arrived in Curaçao and was scheduled to visit St. Maarten, St. Eustatius and Saba. When King Willem-Alexander visited Sint Maarten for the first time post-hurricane, he was shocked by the destruction. He immediately called for support from the European Union so the island could recover swiftly. Later in the month, it was revealed that the EU would allocate €2 billion in emergency funds for immediate disaster relief to restore basic essentials on Sint Maarten, such as drinking water and sanitation. In addition to the EU's contribution, Red Cross, the government of the Netherlands, and Dutch citizens of the mainland pitched in (via donations and crowdfunding) to raise money for the devastated island.


Post hurricane rebuilding

On 10 October 2017, Princess Juliana International Airport re-commenced commercial flights using temporary structures, pending repairs. A report in late March 2018 indicated that the airport was able to handle some flights and some service had resumed from the US, Canada, and Europe. A new departure lounge was being used during rebuilding of the original facility. The General Aviation building was being used for passengers arriving on the island. A little over a year after Hurricane Irma, St Maarten's cruise industry had recovered to the extent that in 2018, more than 1 million cruise passengers visited the island. Telecommunications, including Wi-Fi, had been restored on the island, 95% of customers were receiving electricity and drinking water was readily available on the island. Some tourist accommodations were open, with 27 operating and 36 said to be ready sometime later this year. Cruise ships were arriving; a full 14 were accommodated the week of February 18, 2018.


Geography

Sint Maarten occupies the southern part of the island of
Saint Martin Saint Martin may refer to: People * Saint Martin of Tours (c. 316–397), Bishop of Tours, France * Saint Martin of Braga (c. 520–580), archbishop of Bracara Augusta in Gallaecia (now Braga in Portugal) * Pope Martin I (598–655) * Saint Mart ...
in the
Leeward Islands french: Îles-Sous-le-Vent , image_name = , image_caption = ''Political'' Leeward Islands. Clockwise: Antigua and Barbuda, Guadeloupe, Saint kitts and Nevis. , image_alt = , locator_map = , location = Caribbean SeaNorth Atlantic Ocean , coor ...
; the northern half forms the French territory of
Saint Martin Saint Martin may refer to: People * Saint Martin of Tours (c. 316–397), Bishop of Tours, France * Saint Martin of Braga (c. 520–580), archbishop of Bracara Augusta in Gallaecia (now Braga in Portugal) * Pope Martin I (598–655) * Saint Mart ...
. To the north across the
Anguilla Channel The Anguilla Channel (french: Canal d'Anguilla) is a strait in the Caribbean Sea. It separates the island of Anguilla (a British Overseas Territory) in the north from the Collectivity of Saint Martin, an overseas collectivity of France on the is ...
lies the British Overseas Territory of Anguilla, to the south-east of the island lies the French island of Saint Barthélemy, and further south are the Dutch islands of Saba and
Saint Eustatius Sint Eustatius (, ), also known locally as Statia (), is an island in the Caribbean. It is a Caribbean Netherlands, special municipality (officially "Public body (Netherlands), public body") of the Netherlands. The island lies in the northern ...
. Sint Maarten is . The terrain is generally hilly, with the highest peak being
Mount Flagstaff Mount is often used as part of the name of specific mountains, e.g. Mount Everest. Mount or Mounts may also refer to: Places * Mount, Cornwall, a village in Warleggan parish, England * Mount, Perranzabuloe, a hamlet in Perranzabuloe parish, C ...
at 383m. The area to the west around the airport is flatter, and contains the Dutch section of the
Simpson Bay Lagoon Simpson Bay Lagoon (also spelt Simson Bay Lagoon, or referred to simply as The Great Pond) is one of the largest inland lagoons in the West Indies of the Caribbean. It is located on the island of Saint Martin. The border between the French and ...
. The
Great Salt Pond The Great Salt Pond is the largest lake within Saint Kitts and Nevis, a country in the Lesser Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean. Geography It is located on Saint Kitts island, near the point of the Southeast Peninsula and to the north of ...
lies to north of Philipsburg. Several small islands lie off the coast. Little Key lies in the Simpson Bay Lagoon. There are ten total islands in Sint Maarten, including: *
Saint Martin Saint Martin may refer to: People * Saint Martin of Tours (c. 316–397), Bishop of Tours, France * Saint Martin of Braga (c. 520–580), archbishop of Bracara Augusta in Gallaecia (now Braga in Portugal) * Pope Martin I (598–655) * Saint Mart ...
(southern part), *
Cow and Calf Island Cattle (''Bos taurus'') are large, domesticated, cloven-hooved, herbivores. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus ''Bos''. Adult females are referred to as cows and adult ma ...
, *
Guana Key of Pelikan Guana may refer to: Places * Guana Island, an island in the British Virgin Islands * Guiana Island, also called Guana Island, off Antigua * Guana River, in Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve, in Florida, U.S. Languages * G ...
, *
Hen and Chicken Hen commonly refers to a female animal: a female chicken, other galliformes, gallinaceous bird, any type of bird in general, or a lobster. It is also a slang term for a woman. Hen or Hens may also refer to: Places Norway *Hen, Buskerud, a villa ...
, * Little Key, *Molly Beday, *Mona Island, *Pelikan Key, *Pond Island, *Snoopy Island,


Climate

Sint Maarten has a tropical savanna climate ( Köppen ''Aw''), and is drier than most parts of the northeastern Caribbean because of a
rain shadow A rain shadow is an area of significantly reduced rainfall behind a mountainous region, on the side facing away from prevailing winds, known as its leeward side. Evaporated moisture from water bodies (such as oceans and large lakes) is carrie ...
from the island's mountains, drying the trade winds. The driest months are from January to July, and the wettest from September to November, when hurricanes can strike the island.


Government and politics

Sint Maarten is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and as such the monarch of the Netherlands is head of state, represented locally by a governor. Following the dissolution of the
Netherlands Antilles nl, In vrijheid verenigd"Unified by freedom" , national_anthem = , common_languages = Dutch English Papiamento , demonym = Netherlands Antillean , capital = Willemstad , year_start = 1954 , year_end = 2010 , date_start = 15 December , ...
, the
Constitution of Sint Maarten The Constitution of Sint Maarten (Dutch: ''Staatsregeling van Sint Maarten'') was unanimously adopted by the island council of Sint Maarten on 21 July 2010.RNW.nl Eilandsraad Sint Maarten unaniem achter staatsregeling/ref> The constitution enter ...
was unanimously adopted by the island council of Sint Maarten on 21 July 2010. Elections for a new island council were held on 17 September 2010, since the number of seats was increased from 11 to 15. The newly elected island council became the
Estates of Sint Maarten The Parliament of Sint Maarten ( nl, Staten van Sint Maarten) is a unicameral legislature that consists of 15 members, each elected for a four-year term in a general election. The first parliament was installed on 10 October 2010, the date of the ...
on 10 October. Sint Maarten is largely autonomous in internal affairs, with the Netherlands responsible for foreign diplomacy and defence. The first woman to be the president of Sint Maarten was
Gracita Arrindell Gracita Arrindell (born 1956) is a Dutch politician, writer and women's rights activist, who was the first woman to be appointed President of the Parliament of Sint Maarten, a role she held for two terms. Biography Born in Sint Maarten, she was ...
, who was first elected in 2010. There currently is a movement in Sint Maarten aiming for the unification of island of Saint Martin, which has its own flag.


Foreign Policy and Defence

The Kingdom of the Netherlands has overarching responsibility for foreign relations, defence and Dutch nationality law in the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom. A detachment of the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps is present on Sint Maarten and the
Royal Netherlands Navy The Royal Netherlands Navy ( nl, Koninklijke Marine, links=no) is the naval force of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. During the 17th century, the navy of the Dutch Republic (1581–1795) was one of the most powerful naval forces in the world an ...
deploys a guardship, normally a
Holland-class offshore patrol vessel The ''Holland''-class ocean-going patrol vessels are a class of four ocean-going patrol vessels constructed for the Royal Netherlands Navy. They are designed to fulfill patrol and intervention tasks against lightly armed opponents, such as pira ...
, in the Caribbean on a rotational basis together with the support vessel HNLMS Pelikaan which operates out of Curacao. Additionally, the
Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard The Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard (DCCG) ( nl, Kustwacht Caribisch Gebied (''KWCARIB'')) is the coast guard of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Dutch Caribbean. The unit is a joint effort between all constituent countries within the Kingdom. ...
, directed by the commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy in the Caribbean, is operational and funded by the four constituent countries of the Kingdom.


Environmental laws

The beach policy (as of 1994) views the beach from the perspective of being an ecosystem service for recreational activities. This is because the economy on Sint Maarten is tourism-driven and many tourists come to the island to enjoy the 37 beaches on the island. The policy has three main points: the beach must be usable for everyone, developments negatively affecting recreational use will be prevented, and beaches should be protected against human influences that could impair their recreational function. The policy's main purpose is to protect the recreational value of the beach. The laws do not consider the protection and ecological value of this habitat in regard to protecting nesting sea turtles, preserving the beach line, or preserving the plants that live in and along the beach line. The hillside policy, as of 1998, is mainly concerned with residential development. On the hillside, only residential development is permitted, certain hillsides with important “visual impact” are protected and conserved for their general landscape. A natural park is projected for the following hills: Cole Bay Hill, Sentry Hill, St. Peters Hill, Concordia Hill, Marigot Hill, Waymouth Hill, and Williams Hill. The policy stated the main objective was to conserve and maintain the green hillside and restore any natural habitats if needed. However, as of 2020, these natural parks have not yet been established.


Corruption

In 1978, the government of the
Netherlands Antilles nl, In vrijheid verenigd"Unified by freedom" , national_anthem = , common_languages = Dutch English Papiamento , demonym = Netherlands Antillean , capital = Willemstad , year_start = 1954 , year_end = 2010 , date_start = 15 December , ...
installed a Research Committee on the Windward Islands ( nl, Commissie van Onderzoek Bovenwindse Eilanden) to investigate claims of corruption in the island government. Even though the report issued by this commission was damaging for the island's government, measures were not put into place to curb corruption, arguably because the government of the Netherlands Antilles depended on the support of Wathey's Democratic Party in the
Estates of the Netherlands Antilles The Parliament of the Netherlands Antilles (; ), also translated as the Estates of the Netherlands Antilles, was the parliament of the Netherlands Antilles. It comprised 22 members, elected for a four-year term in three multi-seat constituencies a ...
. In August 1990, the public prosecutor of the Netherlands Antilles started an investigation into the alleged ties between the island government of Sint Maarten and the
Sicilian Mafia The Sicilian Mafia, also simply known as the Mafia and frequently referred to as Cosa nostra (, ; "our thing") by its members, is an Italian Mafia-terrorist-type organized crime syndicate and criminal society originating in the region of Sicily a ...
, and in 1991 the
Court of Audit A Court of Audit or Court of Accounts is a Supreme audit institution, i.e. a government institution performing financial and/or legal audit (i.e. Statutory audit or External audit) on the executive branch of power. See also *Most of those in ...
of the Netherlands Antilles issued a report which concluded that the island government of Sint Maarten was ailing. In the government and parliament of the Netherlands, the call for measures became louder. With Dutch pressure, the government of the Netherlands Antilles installed the Pourier Commission tasked with investigating the state of affairs of the island government of Sint Maarten in December 1991. Its report concluded that the island was in a severe financial crisis, that rules of democratic decision-making were continuously broken, and that the island government constituted an oligarchy. In short, the island government failed completely according to the report. After long negotiations, the Kingdom government enacted a General Measure of Kingdom Administration ( nl, Algemene Maatregel van Rijksbestuur) in early 1993, placing Sint Maarten under direct supervision of the Kingdom. Although originally meant for one year, the Order-in-Council for the Kingdom was eventually extended until 1 March 1996. Though much has changed since, allegations of criminal activities continue to plague Sint Maarten. In 2004, the Minister of Justice of the Netherlands Antilles asked the Scientific Research and Documentation Centre ( nl, Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek- en Documentatiecentrum (WODC)) of the Dutch Ministry of Justice to conduct research into organized crime in Sint Maarten. The report concluded that
money laundering Money laundering is the process of concealing the origin of money, obtained from illicit activities such as drug trafficking, corruption, embezzlement or gambling, by converting it into a legitimate source. It is a crime in many jurisdictions ...
and cocaine trade are widespread on Sint Maarten. It also alleged that money from the island was used to finance Hamas, its associate Holy Land Foundation, and the Taliban. In April 2009, former Commissioner Louie Laveist was convicted, and sentenced to an 18-month prison sentence, by the Sint Maarten Court-of-First-Instance, on account of forgery, fraud, and bribery. He was later acquitted of forgery and of fraud by the
Common Court of Justice of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba Common may refer to: Places * Common, a townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland * Boston Common, a central public park in Boston, Massachusetts * Cambridge Common, common land area in Cambridge, Massachusetts * Clapham Common, originally ...
, but not of bribery.


Ecology


Plants

Sint Maarten is home to many distinctive plants such as hibiscus, yellow sage (seen on the flag), flamboyant trees, mahogany, and cacti. An estimated 522 wild plants are present, mainly being seed plants and a few ferns. The ''
Calyptranthes boldinghgii ''Myrcia'' is a genus of plants in the family Myrtaceae, containing about 765 species as of 2022. They are distributed in Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean, with centers of diversity in the Brazilian Cerrado and Atlantic Forest ...
'' and ''
Galactia nummelaria ''Galactia'' is a genus of plants in the legume family (Fabaceae). It belongs to the subfamily Faboideae. They do not have an unambiguous common name, being commonly called milk peas, beach peas or wild peas. Selected species * ''Galactia an ...
'' are “ island-endemic” and it is suspected that they have already gone extinct. Much of the hilltops are semi-evergreen seasonal forests which are rare in region. The categorization of native, introduced, and invasive plant species is not as well documented for the island. Some of the introduced plant species include: manila grass ('' Zoysia matrella''), Spanish bayonet ( Y''ucca aloifolia''), Singapore almond ('' Terminalia catappa''), true aloe (''
Aloe vera ''Aloe vera'' () is a succulent plant species of the genus ''Aloe''. It is widely distributed, and is considered an invasive species in many world regions. An evergreen perennial, it originates from the Arabian Peninsula, but grows wild in tro ...
''). Some of the native species are west Indian holly ('' Tunera ulmifolia''), spiny amaranth ('' Amaranthus spinosus''), bell pepper (C''apsium pulcherrima''), salt heliotrope (''
Heliotropium curassavicum ''Heliotropium curassavicum'', commonly called salt heliotrope (among other names), a species of flowering plant in the borage family (Boraginaceae). It is native to much of the Americas, from Canada to Argentina, including the West Indies and Ha ...
''), bay rum tree (''pimento racemose''), and sourbush (''pluchea carolinesis''). One of the invasive species on the island is crowfoot grass (''
Dactyloctenium aegyptium ''Dactyloctenium aegyptium'', or Egyptian crowfoot grass is a member of the family Poaceae native in Africa. The plant mostly grows in heavy soils at damp sites. Description This grass creeps and has a straight shoot which are usually about 3 ...
'').


Mullet Pond

Mullet Pond, a section of the inland lagoon
Simpson Bay Lagoon Simpson Bay Lagoon (also spelt Simson Bay Lagoon, or referred to simply as The Great Pond) is one of the largest inland lagoons in the West Indies of the Caribbean. It is located on the island of Saint Martin. The border between the French and ...
, is home to 70% of Sint Maarten's mangrove population on the Dutch side of the island. Mangroves are a nursery for many young fish and during hurricane season they provide coastal protection. The area, however, is at risk due to dredging, tourism activities, and the yacht industry on the island. Mullet Pond is the 55th
Ramsar site A Ramsar site is a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention,8 ha (O) *** Permanent 8 ha (P) *** Seasonal Intermittent < 8 ha(Ts) **
climate change are felt on Sint Maarten. According to the Netherlands Antilles Coral Reef Initiative the coral reefs were fragmented due to a temperature rise to 30 °C in 2005. Twenty years ago, the sea grass beds were much larger. Natural disasters (hurricanes), development, and a tourism-based industry caused a significant decrease over the years. The
seagrass beds A seagrass meadow or seagrass bed is an underwater ecosystem formed by seagrasses. Seagrasses are marine (saltwater) plants found in shallow coastal waters and in the brackish waters of estuaries. Seagrasses are flowering plants with stems and ...
are important for anchoring the sand in place as well as hurricane protection. Without the seagrass bed sand can easily be moved by a hurricane resulting in the loss of beaches or sand accumulates in one area, impacting marine life.


Demographics

In the 2011 Netherlands Antilles census, the population of the island territory was 33,609. In the 2017 census the total population of the country was 40,535.


Settlements

* Philipsburg (1,894 inhabitants) *
Lower Prince's Quarter Lower Prince's Quarter is a town in Sint Maarten, in the Kingdom of the Netherlands , national_anthem = ) , image_map = Kingdom of the Netherlands (orthographic projection).svg , map_width = 250px , image_map2 = File:KonDerNed-10-10-10.png ...
(10,833 inhabitants) * Cul de Sac (8,588 inhabitants) * Cole Bay (7,194 inhabitants) * Upper Prince's Quarter (4,595 inhabitants) * Little Bay (Fort Amsterdam) (5,581 inhabitants) * Simpson Bay (1,142 inhabitants) * Lowlands (708 inhabitants)


Religion


Languages

English is the everyday language of communication in Sint Maarten, and also the first language of native Sint Maarteners. A local variety of Virgin Islands Creole is spoken in informal situations by Sint Maarteners between themselves. Most Sint Maarteners learn Dutch as a second language, and only use it when communicating with other Dutch speakers. The government uses the Dutch language when communicating with the Dutch government and also formerly did so with the Netherlands Antilles government. Local signage uses both Dutch and English.Klomp, Ank. "Saint Martin: Communal Identities on a Divided Caribbean Island." In: Niedermüller, Peter and Bjarne Stoklund (editors). ''Journal of European Ethnology'' Volume 30:2, 2000: ''Borders and Borderlands: An Anthropological Perspective''. Museum Tusculanum Press, 2000. , 9788772896779. Start: p
73
CITED: p
80
The main languages are English and Dutch. There were English-medium and Dutch-medium schools on Sint Maarten, and the Dutch government policy towards St. Maarten and other SSS islands promoted English medium education. As per the 2001 census there were far more Spanish speakers than Dutch speakers, amounting to 14.8% and 4.2% of the population, respectively. Sint Maarten is a polyglot society, most are simultaneously bilingual in Dutch and English, and among them are also speakers of Spanish and French. Linguist Linda-Andrea Richardson stated in 1983 that Dutch was a " dead language" in Sint Maarten.Dijkhoff, Marta, Silvia Kowenberg, and Paul Tjon Sie Fat. Chapter 215 "The Dutch-speaking Caribbean Die niederländischsprachige Karibik." In: ''Sociolinguistics / Soziolinguistik''. Walter de Gruyter, January 1, 2006. , 9783110199871. Start: p
2105
CITED: p
2108
Some residents, including Arubans and St. Martiners who lived in
Aruba Aruba ( , , ), officially the Country of Aruba ( nl, Land Aruba; pap, Pais Aruba) is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands physically located in the mid-south of the Caribbean Sea, about north of the Venezuela peninsula of ...
, speak
Papiamento Papiamento () or Papiamentu (; nl, Papiaments) is a Portuguese-based creole language spoken in the Dutch Caribbean. It is the most widely spoken language on the Caribbean ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao), with official status in Arub ...
.


Economy

Sint Maarten, along with
Curaçao Curaçao ( ; ; pap, Kòrsou, ), officially the Country of Curaçao ( nl, Land Curaçao; pap, Pais Kòrsou), is a Lesser Antilles island country in the southern Caribbean Sea and the Dutch Caribbean region, about north of the Venezuela coast ...
, uses the
Netherlands Antillean guilder The Netherlands Antillean guilder ( nl, gulden) is the currency of Curaçao and Sint Maarten, which until 2010 formed the Netherlands Antilles along with Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius. It is subdivided into 100 ''cents'' (Dutch plural form: ...
as its currency. The economy is heavily dependent on tourism, either from long-stays or day-trippers from the many cruise lines that dock in the Philipsburg Harbour; around 80% of the workforce is employed in this sector. Some limited agriculture occurs, however most food is imported. In 2014, St. Maarten had more gaming machines per resident than any other country in the world. Hurricane Irma severely affected the economy in 2017. In a 2019 report, it was revealed that the island's GDP had dropped by 4.7%, with an increase in inflation. This drastic hit to the economy was due to lessened tourism, real estate, trade, and business activities.


Culture

Sint Maarten's culture is a mix of African, European and North American influences. Ank Klomp wrote in ''Saint Martin: Communal Identities on a Divided Caribbean Island'' that Sint Maarten lacked a Dutch cultural identity.


Festivals

An annual
regatta Boat racing is a sport in which boats, or other types of watercraft, race on water. Boat racing powered by oars is recorded as having occurred in ancient Egypt, and it is likely that people have engaged in races involving boats and other wate ...
is held over three days culminating in the first weekend in March. Among the leading cultural artists of the island are Isidore "Mighty Dow" York ( kaisonian, panman), Roland Richardson (
Impressionist Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement characterized by relatively small, thin, yet visible brush strokes, open composition, emphasis on accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities (often accentuating the effects of the passage ...
painter),
Nicole de Weever Nicole de Weever (born 1979) is a dancer and choreographer from Sint Maarten. After completing her primary schooling in the Caribbean, she moved to the United States, completing education. She has performed in film, on television and appeared on B ...
(dancer, broadway star), Ruby Bute (painter, storyteller, poet), Clara Reyes (choreographer), Susha Hien (choreographer),
Lasana M. Sekou Lasana M. Sekou (born 12 January 1959) is a poet, short story writer, essayist, journalist, and publisher from the Caribbean island of Saint Martin. Biography Lasana M. Sekou has authored over 20 books and is considered one of the prolific Caribb ...
(poet, author, independence advocate), Drisana Deborah Jack (visual artist, poet), and Tanny and The Boys (string band music group). The annual St. Maarten Carnival starts in April and ends in May. The Grand Carnival parade that takes place on the Dutch side is the largest parade of the island's two carnivals. The annual St. Martin Book Fair takes place during the first weekend of June, featuring emerging and famous authors from the island, the Caribbean region, and from around the world.


Sport

Popular team sports in Sint Maarten include baseball, basketball, volleyball,
cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striki ...
, and
soccer Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...
. Recreational fishing, golf, and water sports (including diving,
kayaking Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving over water. It is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle. A kayak is a low-to-the-water, canoe-like boat in which the paddler sits fac ...
, snorkelling, and yachting) are popular amongst tourists. The
Sint Maarten Soccer Association The Sint Maarten Football Federation is the governing body of association football in Sint Maarten. It was founded in 1986 and its president is Johnny Singh. The federation administers the men's national football team, the women's national foo ...
was founded in 1986. The organisation is not a member of
FIFA FIFA (; stands for ''Fédération Internationale de Football Association'' ( French), meaning International Association Football Federation ) is the international governing body of association football, beach football and futsal. It was found ...
, but became an associate member of CONCACAF in 2002, and a full member in 2013. The national football team debuted in 1989, and plays its home games at the
Raoul Illidge Sports Complex Raoul Illidge Sports Complex is a multi-use stadium in Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Philipsburg, Sint Maarten. It is currently used mostly for football (soccer), football matches. The stadium holds 3,000 people. The stadium is located on the Dut ...
, which has a 3,000-spectator capacity. After an initial period of popularity during the 1990s, including an appearance at the
1993 Caribbean Cup The 1993 Caribbean Cup (known as the Shell Caribbean Cup for sponsorship reasons) was the fifth edition of the Caribbean Cup, the football championship of the Caribbean, one of the CONCACAF zones. The final stage was hosted by Jamaica. The two fi ...
, interest in football declined, with the national team playing its last official match in 2000 (against
Dominica Dominica ( or ; Kalinago: ; french: Dominique; Dominican Creole French: ), officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island country in the Caribbean. The capital, Roseau, is located on the western side of the island. It is geographically ...
). However, Sint Maarten returned to international competition in March 2016, for the
2017 Caribbean Cup qualification The 2017 Caribbean Cup qualification began in March 2016. The qualification competition determined which Caribbean national teams would play in the 2017 Caribbean Cup and the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Participants 25 teams from the 31 CFU members ...
tournament. The Sint Maarten Cricket Association is a member of the Leeward Islands Cricket Association (LICA), which is, in turn, a member of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB). With rare exceptions (for instance, the
Stanford 20/20 The Stanford 20/20 was a short-lived cricket tournament in the Caribbean island of Antigua. It was held first in July and August 2006 in the West Indies at the Stanford Cricket Ground, St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda, and then again in the s ...
), the national cricket team plays only against other LICA members, though Sint Maarteners may go on to play for the Leeward Islands team at regional level and are eligible for both the West Indies and the Netherlands internationally. The primary venue for cricket is the Charles Vlaun Cricket Field.
Colin Hamer Colin Keville Hamer (born 6 February 1988) is a cricketer who has played for the Leeward Islands in West Indian domestic cricket. Born in Georgetown, the capital of Guyana, Hamer emigrated to Sint Maarten with his family at an early age, lear ...
was the first Sint Maartener to play first-class cricket, while
Daniel Doram Daniel Tarric Doram (born 13 October 1997) is a Sint Maarten cricketer who has played internationally for the Dutch national side. He plays for the Leeward Islands cricket team in West Indian domestic cricket. He is a left-arm orthodox bowler wh ...
was the first islander to play at international level, debuting for the Netherlands against Ireland in the Intercontinental Cup in July 2013 at the age of 15, also becoming the first St. Maartener to take a first-class five-wicket haul. In 2016 Keacy Carty became the first St Maartener to play representative cricket for the West Indies (for the West Indies under-19s). Carty was the man of the final at the 2016 Under-19 World Cup, and was later described by the prime minister,
William Marlin William Marlin (born 21 October 1950) is a Sint Maarten politician who served as the 3rd Prime Minister of Sint Maarten from 2015 to 2017. Marlin was the leader of the National Alliance, and was the leader of the First and Second Marlin cabinet. ...
, as having "brought the name of St Maarten to international acclaim". Prior to cricket becoming popular, baseball was preferred. No national team existed, although Sint Maarteners were eligible to play for the Netherlands Antilles baseball team before its dissolution. Several Sint Maarteners have passed through the American baseball system, playing at college level or in the
minor leagues Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities/markets. This term is used in Nor ...
. Allen Halley played college baseball for the South Alabama Jaguars and was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 30th round of the 1995 draft, reaching Class A-Advanced in the minor leagues. Three others, Rene Leveret, Marc Ramirez, and Rafael Skeete, were signed as free agents by major league teams during their careers, but played only in the minor leagues. The Sint Maarten Volleyball Association is part of the
Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association Eastern may refer to: Transportation *China Eastern Airlines, a current Chinese airline based in Shanghai *Eastern Air, former name of Zambia Skyways *Eastern Air Lines, a defunct American airline that operated from 1926 to 1991 *Eastern Air Li ...
, which hosts championship qualifiers with countries within its zone. Countries that are part of the ECVA are: Anguilla, Antigua, Bermuda, Virgin Islands, Dominica, Dutch St.Martin, French St.Martin, Grenada, Montserrat, Saba, St. Eustatius, St.Kitts, St.Lucia, and St. Vincent & the Grenadines. Over the past 8 years, volleyball in St.Maarten on a National level has been developing and showing results. In 2016, the Sint Maarten Men's National Team went on to win the championship in their pool for the round 1 World Championship Qualifiers winning the gold along with many individual awards. The local awardees were; Nicholas Henrietta (Best Setter); Leonardo J Jeffers (Best Outside Hitter); Stephan Ellis (Best Middle); Allinton Augustine (Best Defence); Riegmar Valies Courtar (Best Opposite), and Riegmar Valies Courtar (Best Scorer) and MVP Most Valuable Player.


Popular culture

The island is famous for its runway at Princess Juliana International Airport, in which landing aircraft pass within of Maho Beach below, due to the close proximity of the runway to the ocean. The planes appear to land dangerously close to beach goers so the beach and airport have become a popular place for people to view aeroplane landings. In July 2017, a New Zealander died from head injuries after being propelled backwards from a jet engine blast. Sint Maarten is also known for its festive nightlife, expansive beaches, precious jewelry, traditional cuisines, and plentiful casinos.


Education


Primary and secondary schools

Public schools include: *Primary: **Charles Leopold Bell School (
Cole Bay Cole Bay is a northern hamlet in Saskatchewan's northern taiga, boreal forest. It is located on the southern shore of Canoe Lake (Saskatchewan), Canoe Lake. The population in the Canada Census of 2011 was 230, an increase of 47.4% over 156 in 2006 ...
) **Leonald Connor School (
Cape Bay A cape is a clothing accessory or a sleeveless outer garment which drapes the wearer's back, arms, and chest, and connects at the neck. History Capes were common in medieval Europe, especially when combined with a hood in the chaperon. The ...
) **Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Primary School (
Lower Princes Quarter Lower may refer to: * Lower (surname) * Lower Township, New Jersey *Lower Receiver (firearms) * Lower Wick Gloucestershire, England See also *Nizhny Nizhny (russian: Ни́жний; masculine), Nizhnyaya (; feminine), or Nizhneye (russian: Ни ...
) **Ruby Labega Primary (
Retreat Estate Retreat or re-treat may refer to: Common uses *Retreat (spiritual), a time taken to reflect or meditate *Retreat (survivalism), a place of refuge for survivalists Military * Retreat (bugle call), a military signal for the end of day, known as "S ...
) **Oranje School ( Philipsburg) **Marie G. de Weever School (
Hope Estate Liguanea ( ) is an area of the island of Jamaica. Its name came from the language of the Yamaye people who currently inhabit some of the island's rural areas in Cornwall County. and named it after the iguana lizard that is endemic to the island, ...
) *The sole public secondary school is the
St. Maarten Vocational Training School ST, St, or St. may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Stanza, in poetry * Suicidal Tendencies, an American heavy metal/hardcore punk band * Star Trek, a science-fiction media franchise * Summa Theologica, a compendium of Catholic philosophy ...
in
South Reward South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Proto-Germanic ''*sunþaz' ...
*Prins Willem Alexander School in St. Peters is the special education school Private schools subsidized by the St. Maarten government include: *Primary: **Hillside Christian School (St. Peters) **MAC Browlia F. Maillard Campus (
Cul-de-Sac A dead end, also known as a cul-de-sac (, from French for 'bag-bottom'), no through road or no exit road, is a street with only one inlet or outlet. The term "dead end" is understood in all varieties of English, but the official terminology ...
) and Rev. John A. Gumbs Campus (
Betty's Estate Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate, also known as Bettys and Taylors Group Limited, is a family company based in Yorkshire, England. The company's brands are Bettys (with no apostrophe), Taylors of Harrogate (also with no possessive apostrophe), a ...
) **Seven Day Adventist (Cole Bay) **Sr. Borgia Primary (Philipsburg) **Sr. Magda Primary (St. Peters) **Sr. Marie Laurence (
Middle Region Middle or The Middle may refer to: * Centre (geometry), the point equally distant from the outer limits. Places * Middle (sheading), a subdivision of the Isle of Man * Middle Bay (disambiguation) * Middle Brook (disambiguation) * Middle Creek ...
) **Sr. Regina Primary (
Simpson Bay Simpson Bay Lagoon (also spelt Simson Bay Lagoon, or referred to simply as The Great Pond) is one of the largest inland lagoons in the West Indies of the Caribbean. It is located on the island of Saint Martin. The border between the French and ...
) **St. Dominic Primary (South Reward) **St. Joseph Primary (Philipsburg) **The Asha Stevens - Hillside Christian School ( Cayhill) *Secondary: **
Milton Peters College Milton may refer to: Names * Milton (surname), a surname (and list of people with that surname) ** John Milton (1608–1674), English poet * Milton (given name) ** Milton Friedman (1912–2006), Nobel laureate in Economics, author of '' Fre ...
(South Reward) - Has HAVO, PKL, PBL, TKL, and VWO classes **
St. Maarten Academy St. Maarten Academy is a private secondary school in Sint Maarten with two campuses: Main campus in Cul-de-Sac, and PSVE in Ebenezer. It is subsidized by the Sint Maarten government.Ebenezer Ebenezer may refer to: Bible * Eben-Ezer, a place mentioned in the Books of Samuel People * Ebenezer (given name), a male given name Places Australia * Ebenezer, New South Wales * Ebenezer, Queensland, a locality in the City of Ipswich * Ebeneze ...
) **
Sundial School A sundial is a horological device that tells the time of day (referred to as civil time in modern usage) when direct sunlight shines by the apparent position of the Sun in the sky. In the narrowest sense of the word, it consists of a flat ...
(Philipsburg) **St. Dominic High School (South Reward) **St.Maarten Vocational Training School (South Reward) **M.A.C. Highschool (Ebenezer) Previously residents had to complete secondary studies in
Aruba Aruba ( , , ), officially the Country of Aruba ( nl, Land Aruba; pap, Pais Aruba) is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands physically located in the mid-south of the Caribbean Sea, about north of the Venezuela peninsula of ...
and/or
Curaçao Curaçao ( ; ; pap, Kòrsou, ), officially the Country of Curaçao ( nl, Land Curaçao; pap, Pais Kòrsou), is a Lesser Antilles island country in the southern Caribbean Sea and the Dutch Caribbean region, about north of the Venezuela coast ...
. Prior to 1976 Sint Maarten had two secondary schools: the government secondary school John Phillips School and the Catholic secondary school Pastoor Nieuwen Huis School. Philips was both a MAVO/ETAO school while Huis was a MAVO school. The foundation
Stichting Voortgezet Onderwijs van de Bovenwindse Eilanden Stichting Voortgezet Onderwijs van de Bovenwindse Eilanden (SVOBE; "Foundation for the Advancement of Secondary Education Windward Islands") is a nonprofit organisation that operates two secondary schools on Sint Maarten: Milton Peters College (MPC ...
(SVOBE), established on February 20, 1974,History
" Stichting Voortgezet Onderwijs van de Bovenwindse Eilanden. Retrieved on March 3, 2018.
was created as the neutral governing body for a new school created by the merger of Phillips and Huis schools.History Sundial School
" Stichting Voortgezet Onderwijs van de Bovenwindse Eilanden. Retrieved on March 3, 2018.
MPC, the merged school, opened on August 17, 1976. The
Caribbean International Academy The Caribbean (, ) ( es, El Caribe; french: la Caraïbe; ht, Karayib; nl, De Caraïben) is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean Se ...
, founded in 2003 is a preparatory private boarding and day school on the island of St. Maarten. Catering to children from Kindergarten to Grade 12, CIA is also the only school offering Canadian/Ontario High School Diploma (OSSD) and 90% of their graduates go on to attend universities in Europe, Canada and the United States. Learning Unlimited Preparatory School (LUPS) is an American accredited institution, that established a Caribbean location in St.Maarten in 1991. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).


Colleges and universities

Most residents who attend tertiary institutions do so in Curaçao and/or European Netherlands. The
American University of the Caribbean The American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC) is a private for-profit medical school. Its main basic science campus is located in Sint Maarten, and administrative offices are located in Miramar, Florida, in the United St ...
School of Medicine (AUC), founded in 1978, was previously located on
Montserrat Montserrat ( ) is a British Overseas Territories, British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean. It is part of the Leeward Islands, the northern portion of the Lesser Antilles chain of the West Indies. Montserrat is about long and wide, with r ...
. Because of the eruption of the Soufrière Hills volcano in 1995, AUC moved its campus to St. Maarten later that year. A permanent campus was completed in 1998 in Cupecoy. The
University of St. Martin The University of St. Martin (USM) is a university in Philipsburg, Sint Maarten founded in 1989. The USM has about 350 part and full-time students, and more than 800 alumni. Its president is currently Dr. Antonio Carmona Baez Dr. Antonio Carmona ...
(USM) is located in Philipsburg. The
University of Sint Eustatius School of Medicine The American University of Integrative Sciences (AUIS), is a private for-profit offshore medical school with a single campus located in Barbados. Founded in 1999, it was formerly known as the University of Sint Eustatius School of Medicine (USE ...
, founded in 1999, was previously located on
Sint Eustatius Sint Eustatius (, ), also known locally as Statia (), is an island in the Caribbean. It is a special municipality (officially " public body") of the Netherlands. The island lies in the northern Leeward Islands portion of the West Indies, so ...
. In September 2013, the University of Sint Eustatius moved its campus to Cole Bay, St. Maarten.


Libraries

Philipsburg Jubilee Library in Philipsburg was the most prominent library in Sint Maarten. However, after Hurricane Irma hit the island in 2017, the library was forced to shut down. As of February 2019, Philipsburg Jubilee Library still lacks the funding necessary for it to be rebuilt, but has recently reopened in a temporary location until further notice.


Transportation

Sint Maarten is served by Princess Juliana International Airport, serving destinations across the Caribbean, North America and France and the Netherlands. It is well known for its very low final approach
landings Landing is the last part of a flight, where a flying animal, aircraft, or spacecraft returns to the ground. When the flying object returns to water, the process is called alighting, although it is commonly called "landing", "touchdown" or ...
close to a popular beach at the end of the runway. The
Supreme Court of the Netherlands The Supreme Court of the Netherlands ( nl, Hoge Raad der Nederlanden or simply ''Hoge Raad''), officially the High Council of the Netherlands, is the final court of appeal in civil, criminal and tax cases in the Netherlands, including Curaçao ...
ruled in a well-known case on the jet blast on this beach. Winair (
Windward Islands Airways Winair, an abbreviation of Windward Islands Airways International NV, is a government-owned Dutch airline based in Sint Maarten. Founded in 1961 by Georges Greaux and Hippolyte Ledee, It has a fleet of seven aircraft serving ten destinations, ...
) has its headquarters on the grounds of the airport."Directory: World Airlines." '' Flight International''. 30 March–5 April 2004
96


See also

*
Le Grand Marché Le Grand Marché is a supermarket chain based in Sint Maarten in the Caribbean. It began operations in 2002. Le Grand Marche is operating on 4 locations: Bush Road, Le Grande Marche, Cole Bay, Le Grande Marche, Porto Cupecoy, Le Gourmet Marche, ...
*
List of Designated Monuments in Sint Maarten Sint Maarten has 51 designated monuments. The first objects were given this protected status in 2005. Dutch Cul de Sac Dutch Cul de Sac has 5 designated monuments Little Bay Little Bay has 2 designated monuments Lo ...
*
List of divided islands This is a list of islands whose land is divided by one or more border, international borders. Sea islands Lake islands *''De facto'' between Russia (Crimea) (''Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, disputed'') and Ukraine **Syvas ...
*
Mary Star of the Sea Church, Simpson Bay The Mary Star of the Sea Church ( nl, Maria Sterre der Zee kerk) is a religious building of the Catholic Church located in the town of Simpson Bay in St. Maarten in the Dutch part of the Caribbean island of St. Martin in the Lesser Antilles, a c ...
*
Postage stamps and postal history of Sint Maarten Sint Maarten, a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, started issuing postal stamps after the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles on 10 October 2010. The island thus became one of the five postage regions in the Kingdom of the Nether ...


Notes


References

* Gert Oostindie (1998)
paradijs overzee: de 'Nederlandse' Caraïben en Nederland
'. Amsterdam: Bert Bakker. * Gert Oostindie and Inge Klinkers (2001)
Knellende koninkrijksbanden: het Nederlandse dekolonisatiebeleid in de Caraïben, 1940–2000
'. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press. * Joseph H. Lake, Jr. (2004) ''Friendly Anger - The rise of the labor movement in St. Martin''. St. Martin: House of Nehesi Publishers

* Lasana M. Sekou, ed. (1997, Third printing) ''National Symbols of St. Martin - A Primer''. St. Martin: House of Nehesi Publishers. * Louis Duzanson (2000, 2003) ''An Introduction to Government - Island territory of St. Maarten''. St. Martin: House of Nehesi Publishers

* Richardson, Linda-Andrea. "The socio-linguistic situation in St. Maarten." In: Carrington, Lawrence D. (editor). ''
Studies in Caribbean Language Study or studies may refer to: General * Education **Higher education * Clinical trial * Experiment * Observational study * Research * Study skills, abilities and approaches applied to learning Other * Study (art), a drawing or series of drawin ...
''.
Society for Caribbean Linguistics A society is a group of individuals involved in persistent social interaction, or a large social group sharing the same spatial or social territory, typically subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations. Societi ...
, 1983. p. 63-69.. * Rhoda Arrindell (2014) ''Language, Culture, and Identity in St. Martin''. St. Martin: House of Nehesi Publishers
Language Culture and Identity in St Martin


External links


Government


Official website of the Sint Maarten governmentSint MaartenMullet Pond: Protected Ramsar site, Protecting the Natural Areas of St. Maarten


Organizations


Philipsburg Jubilee Public Library

St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(official site).
St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association
(official trade association site).
House of Nehesi Publishers
(book publishing/research/PR foundation).


Universities


American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine

University of St. Martin


Secondary education


Caribbean International Academy

Learning Unlimited Preparatory School

St. Dominic High School

St. Maarten Academy


Tourism


Sint Maarten
'' The World Factbook''. Central Intelligence Agency.
St. Maarten Tourist Bureau
(official site).
St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (visitor information)

St. Maarten Tourism Map (visitor information)

Princess Juliana International Airport
(official site).
St. Maarten Excursions

GAYSXM tourism (official site)SXM RALLY TOURS


News and opinion


''The Today Newspaper''
local daily newspaper.
''St. Maarten Daily Herald''
, local newspaper.
''St. Maarten Island Times''

Soualiga Newsday

St. Maarten News
{{Authority control Caribbean countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Island countries Islands of the Netherlands Antilles Saint Martin (island) Dutch-speaking countries and territories English-speaking countries and territories States and territories established in 2010 2010 establishments in the Netherlands Antilles Sint Maarten