Capital - Phillipsburg




Population - 41,000
Language - Dutch
Climate - Low 80s
Currency - Netherland Antilles florin
Departure tax - 20.00us




Sint Maarten is the smaller, Dutch part of a beautiful and lively Caribbean island shared peacefully with France. It's the world's smallest island on which two separate nations, with two very different characters and sets of laws and customs, co-exist on either side of a border marked only by welcome signs.

The Dutch section of the island - only 17 square miles (44 sq km), of which five lay under the waters of lagoons and salt ponds - has become one of the Caribbean's most popular vacation and shopping destinations.

Not only can visitors hop across the invisible border to get a taste of French Caribbean life - although the excellent cuisine in Sint Maarten is cosomopolitan - they can also enjoy the advantages of shopping in one of the world's few completely tax-free ports.

In Philipsburg, the capital, there are more than 500 stores in pastel-coloured, clapboard Dutch-style buildings selling luxury goods at 25 to 50 per cent below normal prices. Goods to the value of US$600 can be taken home duty-free from Sint Maarten by American citizens, many of whom arrive in Caribbean cruise ships putting in for one-day shopping trips. For truly local shopping with a Caribbean flavour, do not miss Philipsburg's Saturday market.

The island's fascinating history - although owned by the Netherlands and France since 1648 it has also been occupied by Spain and Britain - can be glimpsed in Philipsburg's museum and at the ruins of colonial forts, one of which, at Great Bay Harbour, was the first military base built by the Dutch in the Caribbean.

For rest and relaxation after shopping expeditions, sight-seeing trips and
nights on the town, there are superb beaches offering safe swimming,
the full range of watersports from surfing and scuba-diving to parasailing
and jet-skiing and fine ocean-side restaurants.Electricity is 110v, 60 cycles
Weddings contact St. Maarten Tourist Board at 800-786-2278

For more information go to St. Maarten



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