St.Maarten/St.Martin
This 37 square mile island contains two countries, French St Martin and Dutch St Maarten and although both sides speak English and accept US dollars, they still retain a lot of their European origins with great Dutch and French cheeses, fine French restaurants, Indonesian rijstafels brought by the Dutch, a European indifference to topless, even nude, beaches, and much more. All of this is colored with the Caribbean, leading to sunny, hot days on beautiful beaches and warm nights with soft breezes blowing through open-air, seaside restaurants. Add in casinos and bars for nightlife, calypso-filled carnivals, and duty-free shopping for jewelry, alcohol, and cigars, and you'll have the perfect vacation.
St. Maarten is the smallest Island in the world to be shared by two sovereign governments-namely the Dutch and French. The Dutch side, with Philipsburg as its capital occupies the southern 17 square miles of this 37-square-mile island; St. Martin, a French dependency, occupies the northern half. The dual nationality adds variety to this most unique of island gems in the Caribbean Sea. Both Dutch St. Maarten and French St. Martin have maintained a peaceful coexistence for over 350 years, the longest of any two bordering nations. The two territories have enjoyed harmonious relations through their history and have shared the prosperity of many years without dispute. The Treaty of Concordia executed on March 23rd 1648 established this coexistence and has the unique distinction of being the oldest Treaty still in force today.

Introduction to Saint Maarten / Saint Martin

As part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Dutch St. Maarten has been both politically and economically stable. The territory is not only a safe and pleasant place to do business, but also to establish roots and raise a family. The total population has grown from 13,156 in 1980 to nearly 39,000 in year 2000. It is estimated that the population of St. Maarten consists of 77 different nationalities. The native languages are English and Dutch. Infrastructure and utilities

St. Maarten has an excellent seaport and airport, which makes the island very attractive as a hub. Government is presently in the process of a major road enhancement project, which includes the construction of new roads, the re-paving of existing roads, the implementation of roundabouts and traffic lights.

St. Maarten has a modern and up-to-par telecommunication system. 3 companies offer telephone services and cellular phone services. St. Maarten also several Internet providers and a cable TV company that offers over 50 different channels. Electricity and water is produced and distributed at the island by Government controlled companies.

Dutch Side Flag		French Side Flag

for more info:

St. Maarten Tourist Bureau - 599-542-2337

http://www.st-maarten.com

http://www.sxm-info.com