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St. Martin/Sint Maarten -- Destination Overview

Author: Staff
CAPITAL: Marigot (French); Philipsburg (Dutch)

POPULATION: 28,000 (French); 32,000 (Dutch)

CURRENCY: French Franc (French); Netherland Antilles Florin (Dutch)

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: French/Dutch

POLITICAL STATUS: Subprefecture of Guadeloupe (French); Member of the Netherland Antilles (Dutch)

St. Martin/Sint Maarten is the smallest island in the world to be shared by two governments. Thus, there are two capitals on the 37-square-mile-island-one French and one Dutch. Marigot, the French capital, hugs the west coast. Philipsburg, the Dutch capital, is straddled on one side by a salt pond and on the other by a bay leading out to the Caribbean Sea.

All told, 37 beaches fringe the island of St. Martin/Sint Maarten.

HISTORY

In 1493, Columbus sighted the island; the Spanish, however, were too busy at the time colonizing other islands to bother with this one. In the early 1600s, the Dutch West India Company heard of the uninhabited island and decided that it would be the perfect place to stop on its journeys to and from Brazil. At almost the same time, the French settled the island. The two sovereignties banded together to prevent Spain from staking a claim to the island. It was 1648.

Some say that the great divide was based on a bet. Supposedly, a Frenchman and a Dutchman first stood back to back, then walked each in an opposite direction following the coastline until they met again on the other side of the island. France was awarded the larger portion of the island (21 square miles) because the Dutchman either drank too much on his journey, was seduced by a French woman along the way or was too overweight to travel as quickly. The Dutch were given a 16-square-mile parcel. For more than three centuries, the two nations have peacefully shared a tiny island that is part Dutch, part French, and all West Indian.

HIGHLIGHTS

Each half of St. Martin/Sint Maarten has a personality of its own. Sint Maarten is lively from dawn to dawn. Casinos and nightclubs are packed with tourists. St. Martin, on the other hand, closes its doors at nine with the exception of a few bistros in Grand Case.

Shopping, too, differs from side to side. On Front Street in Philipsburg, island-made crafts, T-shirts and loads of duty-free goods fill the shops that stand cheek by jowl. The French prefer their goods tucked away in lovingly arranged boutiques filled with stylish French fashions and gifts.

Three tiny islands lie off the island's east coast: Ilet Pinel, Caye Verte and, farther out, Ile Tintamarre. On-island, the ruins of two forts on the Dutch side are ideal for hiking and exploring; and 18th-century fort still stands on the French.

Grand Case is the place to be for fine French entrees. In Philipsburg, stop by the Guavaberry Shop for a sip of liqueur made from island berries and rum.

The French have perfected seclusion, and their beaches are exquisite. Try Prune Bay, Long Bay and Rouge Bay on the isthmus around the lagoon. At Orient Bay in the northeast, the sand is so white it glitters at night. Cupecoy Bay and Cole Bay have the nicest strands on the Dutch side.

If you are looking to retreat from the civilization that has touched the Dutch side, and you've done the beach thing on the French, climb the 1,278 feet to the top of Paradise Peak. It'll be you and the outline of half a dozen faraway places.

DON'T MISS:

*Paradise Peak, offering gorgeous views of harbor and towns below

*Cupecoy Beach, the stretch of sand preferred by locals and those in the know

Posted online 06/01/99.

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