Some people are very confused about who belongs or who doesn’t belong to the US Virgin Islands. Many individuals think that St. Maarten is part of the US Virgin Islands as it is close by other known islands in the Caribbean.
But is this truly the case? Is St. Maarten part of the US Virgin Islands such as St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John and Water Island or is it an independent country eager to show the world its greatness?
Are you ready to travel to St Maarten? Then continue reading and find out everything you need to know before you go to this amazing destination that is located in the heart of the Caribbean.
Two cultures, one island
Did you know that in St. Maarten two cultures live one next to another? In other words, this Caribbean island is literally split between the French St. Martin and the Dutch St. Maarten without having to cross a border!
Back in 1630 the Dutch and the French government established small settlements on this island. A couple of months later, they had to fight together in order to expel Spanish attackers who wanted to take control over the island.
It wasn’t until 1644 when the Dutch and the French decided to divide the island so it could be easier to govern its people. However, no real boundaries were set in place until 1817. Even nowadays you can easily cross from one side of the island to the other.
Would you like to know a cool fact about this island? St. Maarten or St. Martin is the smallest territory in the whole world to be governed by two different and sovereign nations.
So, you may be asking yourself, are these parts of the island different? Or is it all one big island? Well, the honest answer is, there isn’t a yes or no answer as the two sides of the island have similarities and differences!
For starters both St. Martin and St. Maarten are something like a paradise for beach lovers. They also have plenty of water sports for you to try out, so you can go underwater and do some snorkel, jet ski or even kayak!
Another similarity is that both sides are known for being a great place to shop. Not only they are great duty-free spots for doing some shopping, but you will also be able to find the most sought-after designer clothes for a lesser price!
The great St. Maarten
Sint-Maarten, or as it is often abbreviated St. Maarten, is a small island that you can find in the Caribbean. Its total surface area is of 34 km², and locals are known as Sint Maartiners.
St. Maarten’s capital is called Philipsburg. There you will be able to find the Parliament and other important administrative buildings. You will also see lots of bright buildings within the colonial streets, in a truly Caribbean fashion.
St Maarten used to be a colony of the Netherlands, but what’s really interesting about this island is that in October 2010 it became a country within the Dutch Kingdom.
And this means that the Dutch government is still responsible for St. Maartens defence administration and international politics, even though it also has an autonomous status that claims this island is a country on its own.
The Caribbean and the Netherlands are combined
What’s truly mesmerizing about St. Maarten (of course, apart from the colors of the sea), is that you can feel like you are in the Netherlands wherever you go.
For example, if you go to the Front Street (Voorstraat) you will find some bars that sell traditional Dutch beer.
There is also a famous Museum in this island called the Sint Maarten Museum. And is very impressive how busy it gets at times, especially during raining days, so beware of this.
This Museum is run by the Sint Maarten National Heritage Foundation and if you go you will see objects from the pre-Columbian era to the story of Hurricane Luis which was one of the strongest hurricanes that hit the island back in 1995.
What about the Virgin Islands?
The Virgin Islands are also located in the Caribbean, in fact, they are around 40 to 50 miles away from Puerto Rico or about 1100 miles southeast of Miami, Florida, in case you wanted to know the exact numbers.
What’s more, did you know you can easily fly into St. Maarten from New York as it’s only a three-and-a-half-hour flight from the city? It is also a neighbor island to Anguilla, Saba, Nevis, Saint Kitts, and St. Barts.
Know your numbers
Some tourists consider St. Maarten as heaven on earth. Not only because of its sandy beaches, but also because this island is the only one in the Caribbean that has a 100 percent duty-free shopping availability.
This is why individuals go over and over again as more than 400 stores will sell you luxury items with up to a 50% discount, which is definitely something you won’t find in the Netherlands.
Because we love to travel
If you end up going to St. Maarten you will be happily surprised at how easy it is to make amazing plans in no time. This island is known for having little hidden gems all around it! Just make sure you take your time to discover them.
One of these gems is called Pinel Island which is inside the St. Maarten Maine Park. Are you tired of being on the Dutch side of St. Maarten? Are you tired of being on the French side of St. Martin? No problem!
You can easily solve this by going to Pinel Island on a ferry. You can spend your day however you like, but I would definitely recommend you to try some kayaking as it is one of the greatest places on earth to do this type of activity.
If kayaking sounds like too much effort for you, then you can still sit down, relax and enjoy the sun in one of the three beach bars that this smaller Island has to offer.
And if you are feeling a little bit more adventurous then you can find your own way to a deserted beach where swimsuits are optional. That’s right.
Impossible to miss
One of St. Maarten’s greatest events is the Carnival. This yearly gathering coincides with the birthday of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. During the Carnival, you can see some live reggae shows or calypso competitions, now how awesome is that?
One more thing…
Even though St. Maarten is not part of the Virgin Islands, you should still give it a chance and visit this lovely island at least once in your life. Not only you will be in the heart of the Caribbean, but you will also enjoy a laid-back atmosphere with beautiful sunsets.
You will also be able to enjoy two different cultures is pretty much the same place as the Dutch and the French parts of the Island are next to each other. You will surely find an amazing restaurant, great bars and exciting nightlife on this dual-governed island.
Oh, and another great thing? You can easily pass from the Dutch side to the French side and vice-versa, so it’s like having two holidays in one, what’s not to love about that?