Every now and then when I start talking about my love of the countries that are found in the Caribbean, I hear someone asking whether St. Maarten is a country or not.
And the answer is yes, it is a country. And no, it isn’t a country. Wait, what? I can hear you asking me. Well, the honest answer is a little bit more complicated, but not that much.
Continue reading to understand more about St. Maarten, I hope this article will help you to clear any doubts you may have about this Caribbean Island and when you finally make up your mind I really hope you go on holiday here!.
St. Maarten’s history
According to history books, St. Maarten was discovered by Christopher Columbus back in 1493, and it was then claimed by and for Spain. The Dutch then occupied the island in 1631, and they began to exploit its salt deposits non-stop.
Two years later, in 1633, the Spanish took the island again but they were always some Dutch nationals that would live on the island still, so the Dutch presence was always felt.
The Spanish decided to give up on St. Maarten and then it was divided into the French and the Dutch side, in 1648. A couple of industries started to grow, such as tobacco, cotton and of course, sugar plantations, and it was all due to the African slaves that would work on the earth in order to obtain such products.
In 1863 the slaves were set free, and many of them didn’t know what to do. Some people went to other islands that are nearby, such as Curacao, but many others remained there and continue to work for their ex-masters.
Fast-forward many hundreds of years, and you get to 2000 when a referendum was held where citizens of St. Maarten decided to become a self-governing country but they would still be part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
It took them 10 years to make this change a reality, and it was in October 2010 when the Netherlands Antilles was completely over that a change in the status of St. Maarten went into full effect.
Are St. Maarten and St. Martin the same?
Actually, I can see where you are coming from and understand why it can be so confusing.
Basically, these two islands are on the same bigger island, however, they are two different territories; on one side (mainly on the south) there is the Dutch side called St. Maarten, and on the other side (the north side) is the French side, referred to as St. Martin.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands also comprises of other Caribbean Islands and the European country of the Netherlands. So, all countries that form this Kingdom will automatically receive the Dutch nationality, which, in turn, means the citizens of St. Maarten are also EU citizens.
But, because St. Maarten is also a state, it is not a part of the EU (even though The Netherlands is). They can, however, move around the European Union freely as they have a Dutch passport to travel with.
So, Sint Maarten is a country…
Yes, St. Maarten is definitely a country. It is one of the four countries that form part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The capital city of St. Maarten is Philipsburg.
And even though St. Maarten forms part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, it still has its own constitution and parliament. Though they send delegates that go to the European Parliament on behalf of the Dutch islands that are in the Caribbean.
‘’Do I need a visa to travel to St. Maarten?’’
This is another frequent question because most tourists are not sure about whether they need a visa or not to go to this Caribbean island. It is fair to say that the entire island (both the Dutch side and the French side) are considered to be part of the European Union, so they have the same travel requirements as the European Union.
In other words, if you go travel to the European Union and you need a visa, then you will likely need a visa to go to St. Maarten. On the other hand, if you are not required to have a visa whenever you go to Europe, then you probably won’t need a visa to go to St. Maarten.
If you have an American, Canadian or European passport then you shouldn’t have a problem entering St. Maarten. However, always do your homework though, and have a look at St. Maarten’s official website in order to see whether your passport and nationality need a visa before you travel to this island.
What’s the currency in St. Maarten?
Because St. Maarten is its own country you will have to pay with Dutch guilders, which are the official currency of the island.
However, due to its proximity to the United States of America, you will also be able to pay with US dollars. Be warned though, as some restaurants will take a favorable exchange rate on their side if you decide to use US dollars.
In fact, sometimes shops and even supermarkets will take dollars as well, but the exchange rate is not really that good either. Make sure you check all the possible alternatives when it comes to exchanging your money.
What about St. Maarten’s economy?
St. Maarten’s economy is pretty much based on tourism. In fact, around 45% of its GDP comes from the tourism industry. There are restaurants, hotels, hostels, rental car shops, gift shops and many more tourism-related industries that are based on the island.
This small island in the Caribbean usually welcomes around 1.5 million cruise passengers each year, and the airport is the most important airport in the area, connecting flights across the Caribbean.
The currency used in St. Maarten is called the Netherlands Antillean Guilder, just like the one used in Curacao. So if you are planning a trip to both of these islands you can definitely use the same currency for both of them.
Also, because St. Maarten’s economy depends heavily on tourism, they are nowadays accepting more and more US dollars that are used by the tourists that come either on cruises for a day or for longer holidays.
Another important and growing sector is agriculture, and even though it is definitely improving, St. Maarten still relies on food imports to supply to its locals and tourists alike.
What languages are spoken in St. Maarten?
Even though English is used on a daily basis, it is also the de facto administrative language and the mother tongue for many people who live on the island. However, the government officially uses the Dutch language when they are communicating with The Netherlands in Europe.
Dutch was also used when the Netherlands Antilles was still together. Another interesting point about St. Maarten is that during the last census made in 2001, there were more Spanish speakers than Dutch speakers, making St. Maarten a polyglot society, where English, Spanish, Dutch and French are spoken throughout the island.
Papiamento is also spoken but to a lesser degree. It is usually spoken by people who have lived in Aruba or Curacao and have moved to St. Maarten.