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Sint Maarten

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This article is about the island country. For other uses, seeSint Maarten (disambiguation).

Sint Maarten(Dutch pronunciation:[sɪntˈmaːrtə(n)]ⓘ) is aconstituent countryof theKingdom of the Netherlandslocated in theCaribbean regionofNorth America.[8]With a population of 58,477[9][2]as of June 2023 on an area of 34 km2(13 sq mi), it encompasses the southern 44% of thedivided islandofSaint Martin,while the northern 56% of the island constitutes the Frenchoverseas collectivityofSaint Martin.Sint Maarten'scapitalisPhilipsburg.[10]Collectively, Sint Maarten and the otherDutch islandsin theCaribbeanare often called theDutch Caribbean.

Sint Maarten
Constituent country in the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Flag of Sint Maarten
Flag
Official seal of Sint Maarten
Coat of arms
Motto:
"Semper progrediens"(Latin)
(English:"Always progressing")
Anthem:"O Sweet Saint Martin's Land"
Royal anthem: "Wilhelmus"
(English:"William of Nassau")
Location of Sint Maarten
Location of Sint Maarten inNorth America
Sint Maarten is located on the southern half of the island of Saint Martin.
Sint Maarten is located on the southern half of
the island ofSaint Martin.
Sovereign stateKingdom of the Netherlands
Before separationNetherlands Antilles
Country status10 October 2010
CapitalPhilipsburg
18°02′N63°03′W/ 18.033°N 63.050°W/18.033; -63.050
Largest cityLower Prince's Quarter
Official languages
Ethnic groups
(2011)
  • note:population by nationality
  • Saint Maarten 29.9%
  • Dominican Republic 10.2%
  • Haiti 7.8%
  • Jamaica 6.6%
  • Saint Martin 5.9%
  • Guyana 5%
  • Dominica 4.4%
  • Curacao 4.1%
  • Aruba 3.4%
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis 2.8%
  • India 2.6%
  • Netherlands 2.2%
  • US 1.6%
  • Suriname 1.4%
  • Saint Lucia 1.3%
  • Anguilla 1.1%
  • other 8%
  • unspecified 1.7%[1]
Religion
Demonym(s)Sint Maartener
GovernmentParliamentaryrepresentative democracywithin aconstitutional monarchy
Willem-Alexander
Ajamu Baly
Luc Mercelina
LegislatureParliament of Sint Maarten
Area
• Total
34[2]km2(13 sq mi) (191th)
Highest elevation
383 m (1,257 ft)
Population
• 2023 estimate
58,477[3](187th)
• Density
1,221/km2(3,162.4/sq mi) (11th)
GDP(PPP)2018 estimate
• Total
$1.436 billion[4]
• Per capita
$35,342[4]
GDP(nominal)2018 estimate
• Total
US$1.185 billion[5]
CurrencyNetherlands Antillean guilder(ƒ,ANG) is official; U.S. dollar (USD) andeuro(EUR) also widely used[6][7]
Time zoneUTC-4:00(AST)
Mains electricity120 V–60 Hz
Driving sideright
Calling code+1-721
ISO 3166 code
Internet TLD.sx

Before 10 October 2010, Sint Maarten was known as the Island Territory of Sint Maarten (Dutch:Eilandgebied Sint Maarten), and was one of six (from 1986 five)island territories(eilandgebieden) that constituted theNetherlands Antilles.[10]Sint Maarten has the status of an overseas country; it is not part of theEuropean Union,but is a member of theOverseas Countries and Territories Association.

On 6 and 7 September 2017, the island was hit byCategory 5Hurricane Irma,whichcaused widespread and significant damageto buildings and infrastructure.[10]

Etymology

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Due to confusion on early maps, the island accidentally got the nameChristopher Columbushad given in honor ofSaint Martin of Tours,when he first sightedNevison the saint's feast day on 11 November 1493.

"Sint Maarten" isSaint Martinin Dutch.

History

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See also:History of Saint MartinandDutch Caribbean

Pre-colonial

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Sint Maarten had been inhabited by theAmerindianpeoples for many centuries, with archaeological finds pointing to a human presence on the island as early as 2000 BC.[11]These people most likely migrated from South America.[11]The earliest identified group were theArawakpeople who are thought to have settled around the period 800 BC – 300 BC.[11]Circa 1300–1400 AD they began to be displaced with the arrival of theKalinagopeople.[11]

Arrival of Europeans

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The 1633 Spanish capture of Saint Martin, as painted by Juan de la Corte

It is commonly believed thatChristopher Columbusnamed the island in honor ofSaint Martin of Tourswhen he encountered it on his second voyage of discovery. However, he actually applied the name to the island now calledNeviswhen he anchored offshore on 11 November 1493, the feast day of Saint Martin. The confusion of numerous poorly charted small islands in theLeeward Islandsmeant that this name was accidentally transferred to the island now known as Saint-Martin/Sint Maarten.[12][13]

Nominally Spanish territory, the island became the focus of the competing interests of the European powers, notablyFrance,Britain, and the Netherlands. While the French wanted to colonize the islands betweenTrinidadandBermuda,the Dutch foundSan Martína convenient halfway point between their colonies inNew Amsterdam(present dayNew York) andNew Holland.Meanwhile, the Amerindian population began to decline precipitously, dying from introduced diseases to which they had no immunity.

The Dutch built a fort (Fort Amsterdam) on the island in 1631; Jan Claeszen van Campen became its first governor and theDutch West India Companybegan mining salt on the island. Tensions between the Netherlands and Spain were already high due to the ongoingEighty Years' War,and in 1633 the Spanishcaptured St Martinand drove off the Dutch colonists. At Point Blanche, they built what is now Old Spanish Fort to secure the territory.[citation needed]The Dutch underPeter Stuyvesantattempted towrest back controlin 1644, but were repulsed.[14]However, in 1648 the Eighty Years' War ended and the Spanish, no longer seeing any strategic or economic value in the island, simply abandoned it.

With Saint Martin free again, both the Dutch and the French jumped at the chance to re-establish their settlements.[11]Dutch colonists came fromSt. Eustatius,while the French came fromSt. Kitts.After some initial conflict, both sides realized that neither would yield easily. Preferring to avoid an all-out war, they signed theTreaty of Concordiain 1648, which divided the island in two.[15]During the treaty's negotiation, the French had a fleet ofnavalships off shore, which they used as a threat to bargain more land for themselves.[citation needed]In spite of the treaty, relations between the two sides were not always cordial. Between 1648 and 1816, conflicts changed thebordersixteen times. The entire island came under effective French control from 1795 when Netherlands became apuppet stateunder theFrench Empireuntil 1815. In the end, the French came out ahead with 53 km2(20 sq mi; 61%) against 34 km2(13 sq mi; 39%) on the Dutch side.

18th–19th centuries

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To work the new cotton, tobacco, and sugarcane plantations, the French and Dutch began importing large numbers of African slaves, who soon came to outnumber the Europeans.[11]The slave population quickly grew larger than that of the land owners. Subjected to cruel treatment, slaves staged rebellions, and their overwhelming numbers made it impossible to ignore their concerns. In 1848, the Frenchabolished slaveryin their colonies including the French side of St. Martin. Slaves on the Dutch side of the island protested and threatened to flee to the French side to seek asylum. The local Dutch authorities then freed the colonies' slaves. While this decree was respected locally, it was not until 1863 when the Dutch abolished slavery in all of their island colonies that the slaves became legally free.[16][11]

20th century

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Statue of Claude Wathey inPhilipsburg

After the abolition of slavery, plantation culture declined and the island's economy suffered. In 1939, Sint Maarten received a major boost when it was declared aduty-freeport. In 1941, the island was shelled by aGermanU-boatas part of theBattle of the Atlantic.[citation needed]

Tourism began growing from the 1950s onward, andPrincess Juliana International Airportbecame one of the busiest in the Eastern Caribbean. For much of this period, Sint Maarten was governed by business tycoonClaude Watheyof theDemocratic Party.[17]The island's demographics changed dramatically during this period as well, with the population increasing from a mere 5,000 people to around 60,000 people by the mid-1990s. Immigration from the neighbouring Lesser Antilles,Curaçao,Haiti,theDominican Republic,the United States, Europe, and Asia turned the native population into a minority.[18]

Sint Maarten became an "island territory" (eilandgebiedinDutch) of theNetherlands Antillesin 1983. Before that date, Sint Maarten was part of the island territory of the Windward Islands, together withSabaandSint Eustatius.The status of an island territory entails considerable autonomy summed up in theIsland Regulation of the Netherlands Antilles.During this period Sint Maarten was ruled by an island council, an executive council, and a lieutenant governor (Dutch:gezaghebber) appointed by the Dutch Crown.

Hurricane Luisin late August and early September 1995 hit the island, causing immense destruction and resulting in 12 deaths.[11]

21st century

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In 1994, theKingdom of the Netherlandsand France had signed theFranco-Dutch treaty on Saint Martin border controls,which allows for joint Franco-Dutch border controls on so-called "risk flights". After some delay, the treaty was ratified in November 2006 in the Netherlands and subsequently entered into force on 1 August 2007. Though the treaty is now in force, its provisions are not yet[when?]implemented as the working group specified in the treaty is not yet installed.[citation needed]

On 10 October 2010 Sint Maarten became aconstituent country(Dutch:Land Sint Maarten) within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, making it a constitutional equal partner withAruba,Curaçao,and the Netherlands proper. Constitution Day (10 October) is celebrated annually as apublic holiday.[19]

Sint Maarten has been assigned theISO 3166-1 Alpha -2country codes of SXM and SX,[20]and the.sxInternetccTLDbecame available to register on 15 November 2012.[21]

Effects of Hurricane Irma

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The port in Sint Maarten before Hurricane Irma
Damaged buildings in the wake of Hurricane Irma
Ground view of Hurricane Irma's damage

Hurricane Irmamade landfall on 6 September 2017, causing extensive damage. Four deaths were ultimately reported, and there were 11 serious injuries out of a total of 34.[22]Princess Juliana Airport was extensively damaged but reopened on a partial basis in two days to allow incoming relief flights and for flights to take evacuees to other islands.[23]By 8 September, "many inhabitants [were] devoid of basic necessities" and looting had become a serious problem.[24]Reports on 9 September indicated that 70% of the infrastructure on the Dutch part had been destroyed.[25]A survey by the Dutch Red Cross estimated that nearly a third of the buildings in Sint Maarten had been destroyed and that over 90% of structures on the island had been damaged.[26]

The prime minister of the Netherlands,Mark Rutte,told the news media on 8 September that the airport in Sint Maarten was ready to receive emergency flights and that aid, as well as police officers and military personnel, were on their way.[27]The prime minister of Sint Maarten,William Marlin,had already asked the Dutch government for extended relief assistance which began to arrive on 8 September. The government issued a tropical storm warning on 8 September since the category fourHurricane Josewas approaching.[28]

In the aftermath of the hurricane, the extensive damage led officials to predict dramatic economic impacts. A statement by Marlin summarized the situation on 8 September: "We've lost many, many homes. Schools have been destroyed. We foresee a loss of the tourist season because of the damage that was done to hotel properties, the negative publicity that one would have that it's better to go somewhere else because it's destroyed. So that will have a serious impact on our economy."[29]At the time, preparations were being made asHurricane Joseapproached the island.[30]The government estimated that on 9 September, 70% of houses were badly damaged or destroyed and much of the population was living in shelters ahead of the arrival of Jose. Fortunately, this second hurricane did not have a significant impact on the island.[31]

Widespread looting and violence erupted in the wake of the recovery, and a state of emergency was announced. Two hundred and thirty soldiers from the Netherlands were sent in to stabilize the situation, with additional troops arriving in the coming days.[32]By 10 September, approximately 1,200 Americans had been evacuated toPuerto Ricoby military aircraft. On that date,Royal Caribbean Internationalsaid that the company was sending itsAdventure of the Seasto Sint Maarten and to St. Thomas to provide supplies and to offer evacuation services.[33]The ship arrived on the island on 10 September with water, ice, garbage bags, clothing, and canned food, and evacuated 320 people.[34]By 11 September, King Willem-Alexander had already arrived in Curaçao and was scheduled to visit Sint Maarten, St. Eustatius, and Saba.[35]When Willem-Alexander visited Sint Maarten for the first time post-hurricane, he was shocked by the destruction. He immediately called for support from the European Union so the island could recover swiftly. Later in the month, it was revealed that the EU would allocate €2 billion in emergency funds for immediate disaster relief to restore basic essentials on Sint Maarten, such as drinking water and sanitation.[36]In addition to the EU's contribution, Red Cross, the government of the Netherlands, and Dutch citizens of the mainland raised money via donations and crowdfunding for the recovery efforts.[37]

Post hurricane rebuilding

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On 10 October 2017, Princess Juliana International Airport re-commenced commercial flights[38]using temporary structures, pending repairs.[39]

A report in late March 2018 indicated that the airport was able to handle some flights and some service had resumed from the US, Canada, and Europe. A new departure lounge was being used during rebuilding of the original facility. The General Aviation building was being used for passengers arriving on the island.

A little over a year after Hurricane Irma, St Maarten's cruise industry had recovered to the extent that in 2018, more than 1 million cruise passengers visited the island.[40]

Telecommunications, including Wi-Fi, had been restored on the island, 95% of customers were receiving electricity and drinking water was readily available on the island. Some tourist accommodations were open, with 27 operating and 36 said to be ready sometime later this year. Cruise ships were arriving; a full 14 were accommodated the week of 18 February 2018.[41]

Geography

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Map all coordinates usingOpenStreetMap

Download coordinates as:

Detailed map showing Sint Maarten

Sint Maarten occupies the southern part of the island ofSaint Martinin theLeeward Islands;the northern half forms the French territory ofSaint Martin.To the north across theAnguilla Channellies the British Overseas Territory ofAnguilla,to the south-east of the island lies the French island ofSaint Barthélemy,and further south are the Dutch islands ofSabaandSaint Eustatius.

Sint Maarten is 34 km2(13 sq mi).[10]The terrain is generally hilly, with the highest peak beingMount Flagstaffat 383m, which lies directly on the island's international border.[10]The area to the west around the airport is flatter, and contains the Dutch section of theSimpson Bay Lagoon.TheGreat Salt Pondlies to north of Philipsburg. Several small islands lie off the coast. Little Key lies in the Simpson Bay Lagoon.

There are ten total islands in Sint Maarten, including:[42]

Climate

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Sint Maarten has atropical savanna climate(KöppenAw),[43]and is drier than most parts of the northeastern Caribbean because of arain shadowfrom the island's mountains, drying thetrade winds.The driest months are from January to July, and the wettest from September to November, whenhurricanescan strike the island.

Climate data for Philipsburg, Sint Maarten (Princess Juliana Airport) 1971–2000
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 32.7
(90.9) 		31.6
(88.9) 		32.6
(90.7) 		33.6
(92.5) 		33.5
(92.3) 		33.9
(93.0) 		34.2
(93.6) 		35.1
(95.2) 		34.8
(94.6) 		34.3
(93.7) 		33.9
(93.0) 		32.1
(89.8) 		35.1
(95.2)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 28.6
(83.5) 		28.7
(83.7) 		29.2
(84.6) 		29.8
(85.6) 		30.4
(86.7) 		31.3
(88.3) 		31.6
(88.9) 		31.7
(89.1) 		31.6
(88.9) 		31.2
(88.2) 		30.2
(86.4) 		29.2
(84.6) 		30.3
(86.5)
Daily mean °C (°F) 25.5
(77.9) 		25.4
(77.7) 		25.7
(78.3) 		26.5
(79.7) 		27.4
(81.3) 		28.2
(82.8) 		28.3
(82.9) 		28.6
(83.5) 		28.5
(83.3) 		28.2
(82.8) 		27.3
(81.1) 		26.1
(79.0) 		27.2
(81.0)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 23.2
(73.8) 		23.1
(73.6) 		23.5
(74.3) 		24.1
(75.4) 		25.1
(77.2) 		25.2
(77.4) 		26.1
(79.0) 		26.2
(79.2) 		26.0
(78.8) 		25.7
(78.3) 		24.9
(76.8) 		23.9
(75.0) 		24.8
(76.6)
Record low °C (°F) 18.6
(65.5) 		19.2
(66.6) 		19.5
(67.1) 		19.3
(66.7) 		20.2
(68.4) 		22.3
(72.1) 		22.1
(71.8) 		21.4
(70.5) 		22.0
(71.6) 		22.1
(71.8) 		21.2
(70.2) 		20.0
(68.0) 		18.6
(65.5)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 66.0
(2.60) 		50.7
(2.00) 		45.2
(1.78) 		64.0
(2.52) 		93.3
(3.67) 		61.8
(2.43) 		71.6
(2.82) 		98.8
(3.89) 		139.6
(5.50) 		113.0
(4.45) 		149.3
(5.88) 		93.8
(3.69) 		1,047.1
(41.22)
Average rainy days(≥ 1.0 mm) 11.9 9.3 9.0 11.8 10.3 8.4 12.2 13.9 13.5 13.8 14.8 13.3 142.0
Averagerelative humidity(%) 74.7 74.1 73.6 75.0 75.9 75.1 74.8 75.4 76.3 76.8 77.4 76.6 75.5
Mean monthlysunshine hours 257.2 235.2 271.6 265.4 251.0 245.1 257.2 288.1 232.4 244.6 235.0 246.7 3,009.4
Percentpossible sunshine 73.5 72.7 72.2 70.6 62.4 62.0 63.2 67.7 62.8 67.0 68.3 71.4 67.8
Source: Meteorological Department Curaçao[44]

Government and politics

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Main article:Politics of Sint Maarten
The European Union and the UK (prior to the latter's departure) in the world with overseas countries and territories and outermost regions

Status within the Kingdom of the Netherlands

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Sint Maarten is aconstituent countryof theKingdom of the Netherlands,and as such themonarch of the Netherlandsis head of state, represented locally by agovernor.[10]Following the dissolution of theNetherlands Antilles,theConstitution of Sint Maartenwas unanimously adopted by the island council of Sint Maarten on 21 July 2010. Elections for a new island councilwere held on 17 September 2010,since the number of seats was increased from 11 to 15. The newly elected island council became theEstates of Sint Maartenon 10 October.[45]Sint Maarten is largely autonomous in internal affairs, with the Netherlands responsible for foreign diplomacy and defence.[10]The first woman to be the president of Sint Maarten wasGracita Arrindell,who was first elected in 2010.[46][47]

There currently is a movement in Sint Maarten aiming forthe unification of island of Saint Martin,[48]which has its own flag.[49]

Relation to the European Union

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Sint Maarten is classified as anOverseas Country and Territory(OCT)[50]inAnnex IIof the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).[51]This annex lists all the territories that have special relationships with theEuropean Uniondue to their connection with EU member states but are not part of the Union itself.

Being classified as an OCT Sint Maarten is not part of the European Union. The status of Sint Maarten is outlined in Article 355(2)[52]in conjunction with Part Four —Articles 198 to 204— of the TFEU. Key points include:

  • Article 198states that the European Union maintains special relationships with the OCTs, which are under the sovereignty of EU member states but are not part of the EU.[53]
  • Article 199specifies that these OCTs have a special status, meaning they are not part of the EU’s internal market or customs union but benefit from special cooperation and development aid.[54]

This classification means that while Sint Maarten benefits from economic and developmental cooperation with the EU, it does not participate in EU institutions or policies as full member states do.[55]

Foreign policy and defence

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The Kingdom of the Netherlands has overarching responsibility for foreign relations, defence and Dutch nationality law in the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom.[56]A detachment of theRoyal Netherlands Marine Corpsis present on Sint Maarten and theRoyal Netherlands Navydeploys a guardship, normally aHolland-classoffshore patrol vessel,in the Caribbean on a rotational basis together with the support vesselHNLMSPelikaanwhich operates out of Curacao.[57]Additionally, theDutch Caribbean Coast Guard,directed by the commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy in the Caribbean, operates throughout the Caribbean and is funded by the four constituent countries of the Kingdom.[58]

Environmental laws

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The beach policy (as of 1994)[59]views the beach from the perspective of being anecosystem servicefor recreational activities. This is because the economy on Sint Maarten is tourism-driven, and many tourists come to the island to enjoy the 37 beaches on the island. The policy has three main points: the beach must be usable for everyone, developments negatively affecting recreational use will be prevented, and beaches should be protected against human influences that could impair their recreational function. The policy's main purpose is to protect the recreational value of the beach. The laws do not consider the protection and ecological value of this habitat in regard to protecting nestingsea turtles,preserving the beach line, or preserving the plants that live in and along the beach line.

The hillside policy, as of 1998,[59]is mainly concerned with residential development. On the hillside, only residential development is permitted, certain hillsides with important "visual impact" are protected and conserved for their general landscape. A natural park is projected for the following hills: Cole Bay Hill, Sentry Hill, St. Peters Hill, Concordia Hill, Marigot Hill, Waymouth Hill, and Williams Hill. The policy stated the main objective was to conserve and maintain the green hillside and restore any natural habitats if needed. However, as of 2020, these natural parks had not yet been established.

Corruption

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In 1978, the government of theNetherlands Antillesinstalled a Research Committee on theWindward Islands(Dutch:Commissie van Onderzoek Bovenwindse Eilanden) to investigate claims of corruption in the island government. Even though the report issued by this commission was damaging for the island's government, measures were not put into place to curb corruption, arguably because the government of the Netherlands Antilles depended on the support of Wathey's Democratic Party in theEstates of the Netherlands Antilles.In August 1990, the public prosecutor of the Netherlands Antilles started an investigation into the alleged ties between the island government of Sint Maarten and theSicilian Mafia,and in 1991 theCourt of Auditof the Netherlands Antilles issued a report which concluded that the island government of Sint Maarten was ailing.[60]

In the government and parliament of the Netherlands, the call for measures became louder. With Dutch pressure, the government of the Netherlands Antilles installed thePourierCommission tasked with investigating the state of affairs of the island government of Sint Maarten in December 1991. Its report concluded that the island was in a severe financial crisis, that rules of democratic decision-making were continuously broken, and that the island government constituted anoligarchy.In short, the island government failed completely according to the report. After long negotiations, theKingdom governmentenacted a General Measure of Kingdom Administration (Dutch:Algemene Maatregel van Rijksbestuur) in early 1993, placing Sint Maarten under direct supervision of the Kingdom. Although originally meant for one year, the Order-in-Council for the Kingdom was eventually extended until 1 March 1996.[61]

Though much has changed since,[citation needed]allegations of criminal activities continue to plague Sint Maarten. In 2004, the Minister of Justice of the Netherlands Antilles asked the Scientific Research and Documentation Centre (Dutch:Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek- en Documentatiecentrum(WODC)) of the Dutch Ministry of Justice to conduct research into organized crime in Sint Maarten. The report concluded thatmoney launderingand cocaine trade are widespread on Sint Maarten. It also alleged that money from the island was used to financeHamas,its associateHoly Land Foundation,and theTaliban.[17][62]

In April 2009, former Commissioner Louie Laveist was convicted, and sentenced to an 18-month prison sentence, by the Sint Maarten Court-of-First-Instance, on account of forgery, fraud, and bribery.[63]He was later acquitted of forgery and of fraud by theCommon Court of Justice of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba,but not of bribery.[64]

Ecology

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Plants

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Sint Maarten is home to many distinctive plants such ashibiscus,yellow sage (seen on the flag),flamboyant trees,mahogany, and cacti. An estimated 522 wild plants are present, mainly being seed plants and a few ferns. TheCalyptranthes boldinghgiiandGalactia nummelariaare "island-endemic",and it is suspected that they have already gone extinct. Much of the hilltops are semi-evergreen seasonal forests which are rare in the region.[65]

The categorization of native, introduced, and invasive plant species is not as well documented for the island. Some of the introduced plant species include: manila grass (Zoysia matrella), Spanish bayonet (Yucca aloifolia), Singapore almond (Terminalia catappa), true aloe (Aloe vera). Some of the native species are west Indian holly (Tunera ulmifolia), spiny amaranth (Amaranthus spinosus), bell pepper (Capsium pulcherrima), salt heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum), bay rum tree (pimento racemose), and sourbush (pluchea carolinesis). One of the invasive species on the island is crowfoot grass (Dactyloctenium aegyptium).[66]

Mullet Pond

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Mullet Pond, a section of the inland lagoonSimpson Bay Lagoon,is home to 70% of Sint Maarten's mangrove population on the Dutch side of the island.Mangrovesare a nursery for many young fish and during hurricane season they provide coastal protection. The area, however, is at risk due to dredging, tourism activities, and the yacht industry on the island.

Mullet Pond is the 55thRamsar sitesince 2016[67]and therefore protected according to the Ramsar Treaty, a global commitment to protect ecologically significant wetland areas.

Challenges

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The effects ofclimate changeare felt on Sint Maarten. According to the Netherlands Antilles Coral Reef Initiative, the coral reefs were fragmented due to a temperature rise to 30 °C in 2005.[68]Twenty years ago [when?], the sea grass beds were much larger. Natural disasters (hurricanes), development, and the tourist industry caused a significant decrease over the years. Theseagrass bedsare important for anchoring the sand in place, as well as for hurricane protection.[68]Without the seagrass bed, sand can be moved easily by a hurricane, resulting in the loss of beaches or sand accumulates in one area, affecting marine life.

Demographics

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Catholic Church St. Martin of Tours in Philipsburg

In the 2011 Netherlands Antilles census, the population of the island territory was 33,609.[69]In the 2017 census the total population of the country was 40,535.[70]In 2023 a total of 58,477 persons had been registered in the country’s Department of Civil Registry.[9]

Sint Maarten is one of the most international and diverse islands of the Caribbean. With over 120+ nationalities,[71]and 2/3 of Sint Maarten's population being foreign born.[72]

Sint Maarten's population is descended from various people groups including Afro-Caribbeans, Europeans,Latin-Americans,Levantine Arabs,East Indians,Jews,South-East Asiansand many others.[73]

Settlements

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  • Philipsburg(1,894 inhabitants)
  • Lower Prince's Quarter(10,833 inhabitants)
  • Cul de Sac (8,588 inhabitants)
  • Cole Bay (7,194 inhabitants)
  • Upper Prince's Quarter (4,595 inhabitants)
  • Little Bay (Fort Amsterdam) (5,581 inhabitants)
  • Simpson Bay (1,142 inhabitants)
  • Lowlands (708 inhabitants)

Structure of the population

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Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.I.2018):[74]
Age Group Male Female Total %
Total 19 759 20 855 40 614 100
0–4 1 349 1 265 2 614 6.44
5–9 1 437 1 336 2 773 6.83
10–14 1 387 1 354 2 741 6.75
15–19 1 360 1 361 2 721 6.70
20–24 1 139 1 025 2 165 5.33
25–29 1 142 1 324 2 466 6.07
30–34 1 432 1 651 3 083 7.59
35–39 1 510 1 832 3 342 8.23
40–44 1 651 1 895 3 546 8.73
45–49 1 665 1 806 3 471 8.55
50–54 1 727 1 719 3 446 8.48
55–59 1 348 1 447 2 795 6.88
60–64 1 091 1 132 2 223 5.47
65-69 759 813 1 573 3.87
70-74 431 450 881 2.17
75-79 207 223 430 1.06
80-84 93 125 217 0.53
85-89 18 61 79 0.19
90+ 11 36 47 0.12
Age group Male Female Total Percent
0–14 4 173 3 955 8 128 20.01
15–64 14 067 15 192 29 259 72.04
65+ 1 519 1 708 3 227 7.95

Religion

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Religions of Sint Maarten[75]
Religions percent
Roman Catholic
 
 33.1%
Pentecostal
 
 14.7%
Methodist
 
 10.0%
None
 
 7.9%
Seventh-day Adventist
 
 6.6%
Hindu
 
 5.2%
Christian
 
 4.1%
Baptist
 
 4.7%
Anglican
 
 3.1%
No response
 
 2.4%
OtherProtestant
 
 2.8%
Jehovah's Witness
 
 1.7%
Evangelical
 
 1.4%
Other (includesBuddhist,Sikh,Rastafarian)
 
 1.3%
Islam/Jewish
 
 1.1%

Languages

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Primary Languages of Sint Maarten[75]
Languages percent
English
 
 67.5%
Spanish
 
 12.9%
Creole
 
 8.2%
French
 
 6.6%
Dutch
 
 4.2%
Other
 
 3.5%
Papiamento
 
 1.5%

Englishis the everyday language of communication in Sint Maarten, and the first language of native Sint Maarteners.[10]A local variety ofVirgin Islands Creoleis spoken in informal situations by Sint Maarteners between themselves. Though it holds official status,Dutchis learned by most Sint Maarteners as a second language, and generally used only when communicating with other Dutch speakers.

The government uses Dutch when in communication with the national government and also formerly did so with the Netherlands Antilles government. Local signage uses both Dutch and English.[76] Historically there were English-medium and Dutch-medium schools on Sint Maarten, but Dutch government policy towards St. Maarten and other SSS islands eventually promoted English-medium education.

Sint Maarten is apolyglotsociety, most aresimultaneously bilingualin Dutch and English, and among them are also speakers ofSpanishandFrench,the latter of which is official on the other side of the island (Saint-Martin). Linguist Linda-Andrea Richardson stated in 1983 that Dutch was a "dead language"in Sint Maarten.[77]

Some residents including Arubans, Curaçaoans and St. Maarteners who lived on theABC Islands,speakPapiamento.[78]Many Spanish speakers are from theDominican Republic.Dominicans make up the largest group of legal immigrants.[79]

Economy

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Many tourists come to use Sint Maarten's beaches.

Sint Maarten, along withCuraçao,uses theNetherlands Antillean guilderas its official currency. TheUnited States dollaris also widely used.[6]The economy is heavily dependent on tourism, either from long-stays or day-trippers from the manycruise linesthat dock in thePhilipsburgHarbour; around 80% of the workforce is employed in this sector.[10]Some limited agriculture occurs, however most food is imported.[10]

In 2014, St. Maarten had more gaming machines per resident than any other country in the world.[80]

Hurricane Irma severely affected the economy in 2017. In a 2019 report, it was revealed that the island's GDP had dropped by 4.7%, with an increase in inflation.[81]This drastic hit to the economy was due to lessened tourism, real estate, trade, and business activities.[82]

Culture

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See also:Culture of Saint Martin
Courthouse on Sint Maarten

Sint Maarten's culture is a mix of African, European and North American influences. Ank Klomp wrote inSaint Martin: Communal Identities on a Divided Caribbean Islandthat Sint Maarten lacked a Dutch cultural identity.[76]

Festivals

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An annualregattais held over three days culminating in the first weekend in March. Among the leading cultural artists of the island are Isidore "Mighty Dow" York (kaisonian,panman), Roland Richardson (Impressionistpainter),Nicole de Weever(dancer, broadway star), Ruby Bute (painter, storyteller, poet), Clara Reyes (choreographer), Susha Hien (choreographer),Lasana M. Sekou(poet, author, independence advocate),Drisana Deborah Jack(visual artist, poet), and Tanny and The Boys (string band music group). The annual St. Maarten Carnival starts in April and ends in May. The Grand Carnival parade that takes place on the Dutch side is the largest parade of the island's two carnivals. The annual St. Martin Book Fair takes place during the first weekend of June, featuring emerging and famous authors from the island, the Caribbean region, and from around the world.[83]

Sport

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Popular team sports in Sint Maarten includebaseball,basketball,volleyball,cricket,andsoccer.Recreational fishing,golf,andwater sports(includingdiving,kayaking,snorkelling,andyachting) are popular amongst tourists.[84]

TheSint Maarten Soccer Associationwas founded in 1986. The organisation is not a member ofFIFA,but became an associate member ofCONCACAFin 2002, and a full member in 2013.[85]The national football teamdebuted in 1989, and plays its home games at theRaoul Illidge Sports Complex,which has a 3,000-spectator capacity. After an initial period of popularity during the 1990s, including an appearance at the1993 Caribbean Cup,interest in football declined, with the national team playing its last official match in 2000 (againstDominica).[86]However, Sint Maarten returned to international competition in March 2016, for the2017 Caribbean Cup qualificationtournament.[87]

The Sint Maarten Cricket Association is a member of theLeeward Islands Cricket Association(LICA), which is, in turn, a member of theWest Indies Cricket Board( now known as Cricket West Indies)WICB). With rare exceptions (for instance, theStanford 20/20),the national cricket teamplays only against other LICA members, though Sint Maarteners may go on to play for theLeeward Islands teamat regional level and are eligible for both theWest Indiesand theNetherlandsinternationally likeKeacy Cartywas when he made international cricket debut first for theWest Indies Under-19and then ultimately for theWest Indies.The primary venue for cricket is theCharles Vlaun Cricket Field.[88]Colin Hamerwas the first Sint Maartener to playfirst-class cricket,[89]whileDaniel Doramwas the first islander to play at international level, debuting for the Netherlands against Ireland in theIntercontinental Cupin July 2013 at the age of 15, also becoming the first St. Maartener to take a first-class five-wicket haul. In 2016Keacy Cartybecame the first St Maartener to play representative cricket for the West Indies (for theWest Indies under-19s).[90]Carty was the man of the final at the2016 Under-19 World Cup,and was later described by theprime minister,William Marlin,as having "brought the name of St Maarten to international acclaim".[91]

Prior to cricket becoming popular, baseball was preferred. No national team existed, although Sint Maarteners were eligible to play for theNetherlands Antilles baseball teambefore its dissolution.[92]Several Sint Maarteners have passed through theAmerican baseball system,playing atcollege levelor in theminor leagues.Allen Halley played college baseball for theSouth Alabama Jaguarsand was drafted by theChicago White Soxin the 30th round of the1995 draft,reachingClass A-Advancedin the minor leagues. Three others, Rene Leveret, Marc Ramirez, and Rafael Skeete, were signed asfree agentsbymajor leagueteams during their careers, but played only in the minor leagues.[93]

Sint Maarten Volleyball Association is part of theEastern Caribbean Volleyball Association,which hosts championship qualifiers with countries within its zone. Countries that are part of the ECVA are: Anguilla, Antigua, Bermuda, Virgin Islands, Dominica, Dutch St.Martin, French St.Martin, Grenada, Montserrat, Saba, St. Eustatius, St.Kitts, St.Lucia, and St. Vincent & the Grenadines.[94]Over the past 8 years, volleyball in St.Maarten on a National level has been developing and showing results. In 2016, the Sint Maarten Men's National Team went on to win the championship in their pool for the round 1 World Championship Qualifiers winning the gold along with many individual awards. The local awardees were; Nicholas Henrietta (Best Setter); Leonardo J Jeffers (Best Outside Hitter); Stephan Ellis (Best Middle); Allinton Augustine (Best Defence); Riegmar Valies Courtar (Best Opposite), and Riegmar Valies Courtar (Best Scorer) andMVPMost Valuable Player.[95]

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Tourists watch a low flying plane over the beach

The island is famous for itsrunwayatPrincess Juliana International Airport,in whichlandingaircraft pass within 35 metres (38 yd) ofMaho Beachbelow, due to the close proximity of the runway to the ocean. The planes appear to land dangerously close to beach goers so the beach and airport have become a popular place for people to view aeroplane landings. In July 2017, a New Zealander died from head injuries after being propelled backwards from a jet engine blast.[96]

Sint Maarten is also known for its festive nightlife, expansive beaches, precious jewelry, traditional cuisines, and plentiful casinos.[97]

Media and telecommunications

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Sint Maarten's first radio station, theVoice of St. Maarten(PJD-2), was founded on 23 December 1959 and was also heard in neighbouring islands. During its first several years, it employed two announcers and broadcast leased religious programming for most of its daily schedule. Television services were introduced to the territory in May 1963, starting in the Phillipsburg area and served by a relay station in theFort Willem[nl]area which received programs from Puerto Rico; the Fort Willem site was chosen over the originally proposed one inFrench Quarterthanks to the latter's reception issues. Starting on 21 March of that year, groundwork was laid for an automatic telephone system.[98]

Education

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Previously[when?]residents had to complete secondary studies inArubaorCuraçao.[77]Prior to 1976, Sint Maarten had two secondary schools: the government secondary school John Phillips School and the Catholic secondary school Pastoor Nieuwen Huis School. Philips was both a MAVO/ETAO school while Huis was a MAVO school. The foundationStichting Voortgezet Onderwijs van de Bovenwindse Eilanden,established on 20 February 1974,[99]was created as the neutral governing body for a new school created by the merger of Phillips and Huis schools.[100]MPC, the merged school, opened on 17 August 1976.[99]

TheCaribbean International Academy(CIA), founded in 2003 is a preparatory private boarding and day school on the island of St. Maarten. Catering to children from Kindergarten to Grade 12, CIA is also the only school offering Canadian/Ontario High School Diploma (OSSD) and 90% of their graduates go on to attend universities in Europe, Canada and the United States.[101]Learning Unlimited Preparatory School (LUPS) is an American accredited institution, that established a Caribbean location in St.Maarten in 1991.[102]The school is accredited by theSouthern Association of Independent Schoolsand theSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools.[103]

Most residents who attend tertiary institutions do so in Curaçao or the European Netherlands.[76]

TheAmerican University of the CaribbeanSchool of Medicine (AUC), founded in 1978, was previously located onMontserrat.Because of the eruption of theSoufrière Hills volcanoin 1995, AUC moved its campus to St. Maarten later that year. A permanent campus was completed in 1998 inCupecoy.[citation needed]

TheUniversity of St. Martinis located in Philipsburg. TheUniversity of Sint Eustatius School of Medicine,founded in 1999, was previously located onSint Eustatius.In September 2013, the University of Sint Eustatius moved its campus to Cole Bay, St. Maarten.[citation needed]

Philipsburg Jubilee Library in Philipsburg was the most prominent library in Sint Maarten.[104]However, after Hurricane Irma hit the island in 2017, the library was forced to shut down. As of February 2019,Philipsburg Jubilee Library still lacks the funding necessary for it to be rebuilt,[105]but has recently reopened in a temporary location until further notice.[106]

Transportation

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See also:Port of Philipsburg
Landing at the airport

Sint Maarten is served byPrincess Juliana International Airport,serving destinations across the Caribbean, North America and France and the Netherlands. It is well known for its very lowfinal approachlandings close to the popularMaho Beachat the end of the runway.[107][108]Winairhas its headquarters on the grounds of the airport.[109]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^"Sint Maarten".The World Factbook.Central Intelligence Agency.Retrieved19 November2024.
  2. ^ab"Waaruit bestaat het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden?"[What are the different parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands?] (in Dutch). Ministry of General Affairs, Government of the Netherlands. 19 May 2015.Retrieved6 July2021.
  3. ^"Population Estimates and Vital Statistics 2023"(PDF).Sint Maarten Department of Statistics.2021.Retrieved10 June2023.
  4. ^ab"Sint Maarten".The World Factbook.Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  5. ^"Sint Maarten (Dutch part) | Data".data.worldbank.org.Retrieved9 August2021.
  6. ^abUnited States State Department, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (11 November 2023)."U.S. Relations With Sint Maarten".
  7. ^The currency of St-Martin... Or rather, the currencies of St-Martin
  8. ^"Sint Maarten",The World Factbook,Central Intelligence Agency, 2 August 2022,retrieved30 August2022
  9. ^abDept, Editorial (7 June 2023)."58,477 persons listed in Civil Registry, parliamentary seats to remain at 15".The Daily Herald.Retrieved13 September2024.
  10. ^abcdefghij"CIA World Factbook – Sint Maarten".Retrieved24 July2019.
  11. ^abcdefgh"History of Saint Martin".Retrieved24 July2019.
  12. ^Hubbard, Vincent K. (2002).A History of St Kitts.MacMillan Caribbean. p.13.ISBN0333747607.
  13. ^Morison, Samuel Eliot (1974).The European Discovery of America, The Southern Voyages.Oxford University Press. pp.108-109.
  14. ^Caribbean: The Lesser AntillesKarl Luntta
  15. ^Henocq, Christophe (15 March 2010),"Concordia Treaty, 23rd March 1648",Heritage,6:13,retrieved17 September2018
  16. ^Lampe, Armando (2001).Mission Or Submission?: Moravian and Catholic Missionaries in the Dutch Caribbean During the 19th Century.Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. p. 154.ISBN9783525559635.
  17. ^abNRC.nl -Sint Maarten bloeit, politici leven in luxeArchived2010-07-21 at theWayback Machine
  18. ^Oostindie 1998:126-127
  19. ^"Building the Nation, Investing in our Future, selected theme for Constitution Day 2021".SXM IslandTime.7 October 2021.Retrieved30 January2022.
  20. ^"ISO 3166-1 decoding table".International Organization for Standardization.Retrieved16 December2010.
  21. ^123-reg Blog -Let's talk about.SX!
  22. ^"Netherlands PM: Death toll from Irma on Dutch Saint Martin rises to four".Reuters.10 September 2017.Retrieved23 January2019.
  23. ^"St. Martin's famous airport badly damaged by Hurricane Irma".ABC News.7 September 2017.Retrieved16 September2017.
  24. ^Davies, Caroline (8 September 2017)."Caribbean islanders fear another battering after Irma wreaks havoc".The Guardian.Retrieved16 September2017.
  25. ^"After Irma, fearful islands await Hurricane Jose".Ph.news.yahoo.Retrieved16 September2017.
  26. ^"Third of buildings on Dutch St. Martin destroyed".Cbsnews.12 September 2017.Retrieved16 September2017.
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  28. ^"The Latest: Irma regains strength to Category 5 hurricane".ABC News.Archived fromthe originalon 13 September 2017.Retrieved16 September2017.
  29. ^ANIKA KENTISH; MICHAEL WEISSENSTEIN (9 September 2017)."After raking Caribbean, Irma gains strength, targets Florida".Itemonline.Retrieved16 September2017.
  30. ^"The Latest: Irma regaining strength over bathtub-warm water".Miami Herald.Archived fromthe originalon 12 September 2017.Retrieved16 September2017.
  31. ^"Hurricane Jose spares storm-ravaged French Caribbean islands".The Telegraph.10 September 2017.Archivedfrom the original on 11 January 2022.Retrieved16 September2017.
  32. ^Weissenstein, Anika Kentish and Michael (9 September 2017)."Irma turns Caribbean island paradises into nightmares".Washington Post.Archived fromthe originalon 10 September 2017.Retrieved16 September2017– via washingtonpost.
  33. ^"Over 1,200 Americans evacuated from St. Maarten amid reports of violence".Nbcnews.10 September 2017.Retrieved16 September2017.
  34. ^"Royal Caribbean dispatches cruise ships to help with hurricane relief".ABC News.12 September 2017.Retrieved16 September2017.
  35. ^Hilary Clarke; Samantha Beech (11 September 2017)."European leaders step up Irma relief effort in Caribbean".Cnn.Retrieved16 September2017.
  36. ^Gordon Darroch (12 September 2017)."Willem-Alexander: Sint-Maarten destruction 'worse than any war zone'".Dutchnews.nl.Retrieved13 March2019.
  37. ^Janene Pieters."DUTCH KING VISITS SINT MAARTEN; FIRST EVACUEES ARRIVE IN NETHERLANDS".Nltimes.nl.Retrieved13 March2019.
  38. ^SXM Airport (22 October 2017)."SXM Airport Temporary Facilities Operating Smoothly".Team SXM.Retrieved20 August2018.
  39. ^SXM Airport (23 March 2017)."SXM Airport Opens Temporary Arrival Pavilion Friday".SXM Airport.Retrieved20 August2018.
  40. ^"St Maarten Tops 1 Million Cruise Passengers".Caribbean Journal.12 October 2018.Retrieved28 June2019.
  41. ^"Updated: Mapping what's open and closed in the Caribbean: Travel Weekly".Travelweekly.Retrieved28 June2019.
  42. ^"Islands of Sint Maarten".GeoNames.Retrieved1 October2021.
  43. ^"Philipsburg, Sint Maarten Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)".Weatherbase.
  44. ^"Summary of Climatological Data, Period 1971-2000"(PDF).Meteorological Department Curaçao. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2 July 2013.Retrieved22 September2016.
  45. ^RNW.nl -Eilandsraad Sint Maarten unaniem achter staatsregeling
  46. ^"Arrindell elected president of first parliament of St. Maarten"(PDF).The Daily Herald.11 October 2010. p. 4. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 4 June 2016.
  47. ^"Gracita Arrindell back as President of the Parliament"(PDF).The Daily Herald.25 June 2013. pp. 1, 10. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 26 November 2016.
  48. ^Badejo, Fabian Adekunle (25 December 2004)."The reunification of St. Martin: A pipe dream or an inevitable choice?".House of Nehesi Publishers.
  49. ^"12th anniversary of St. Martin's" Unity Flag "observed Saturday on Conscious Lyrics; students raise money for unity bumper stickers".House of Nehesi Publishers. 29 August 2002.
  50. ^"Overseas Countries and Territories".European Commission.Retrieved2 December2024.
  51. ^Consolidated text: Consolidated versions of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
  52. ^Article 355 TFEU
  53. ^Article 198 TFEU
  54. ^Article 199 TFEU
  55. ^"Status Caribisch gebied".netherlands.representation.ec.europa.eu(in Dutch).Archivedfrom the original on 23 December 2023.Retrieved2 December2024.
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  60. ^Oostindie and Klinkers 2001:188-189
  61. ^Oostindie and Klinkers 2001:189-191
  62. ^NRC.nl -Sint Maarten vrijhaven voor criminele geldenArchived2008-12-24 at theWayback Machine
  63. ^NRC.nl -Gedeputeerde Sint Maarten veroordeeld voor corruptieArchived2009-04-30 at theWayback Machine
  64. ^The Daily Herald -Louie Laveist partially vindicated on appealArchived2013-02-24 at theWayback Machine
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  67. ^"Mullet Pond in Sint Maarten becomes the Netherlands' 55th Ramsar Site | Ramsar".ramsar.org.Retrieved26 February2020.
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  75. ^ab"Central America and Caribbean::SINT MAARTEN".CIA The World Factbook. 14 November 2022.
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  77. ^abDijkhoff, Marta, Silvia Kowenberg, and Paul Tjon Sie Fat. Chapter 215 "The Dutch-speaking Caribbean Die niederländischsprachige Karibik." In:Sociolinguistics / Soziolinguistik.Walter de Gruyter,January 1, 2006.ISBN3110199874,9783110199871. Start: p.2105.CITED: p.2108.
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  89. ^Colin HamerArchived2013-12-21 at theWayback Machine– Biggin’ Up We Island. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
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  91. ^(19 February 2016)."Keacy Carty gets a fitting hero’s welcome"–Today(Sint Maarten). Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  92. ^(5 September 2009).Netherlands Antilles reveal final Baseball World Cup Roster– Mister Baseball. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
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  96. ^Roy, Eleanor Ainge (14 July 2017)."New Zealand woman dies after jet blast at world's 'scariest' airport".Theguardian.Retrieved28 June2019.
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  98. ^Jeffry, Daniella (2012) [2003].1963: A Landmark Year in St. Martin.Xlibris.pp. pos. 70-71.ISBN978-1-4771-0261-9.Retrieved30 May2024– viaGoogle Books.
  99. ^ab"History."Stichting Voortgezet Onderwijs van de Bovenwindse Eilanden. Retrieved on March 3, 2018.
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  101. ^"Caribbean International Academy:: Top Boarding & Day School in SXM".Archived fromthe originalon 11 August 2015.
  102. ^"Mission and Accreditation – Learning Unlimited Preparatory School".Luprepschool.Archived fromthe originalon 1 June 2019.Retrieved28 June2019.
  103. ^"Contact Us – Learning Unlimited Preparatory School".Luprepschool.Retrieved28 June2019.
  104. ^"Contact Us."Philipsburg Jubilee Library. Retrieved on February 28, 2018." Our Address: Ch. E.W. Vogestreet 12 Philipsburg, St. Maarten. "
  105. ^"Library on Sint Maarten still closed: 'Everyone has good intentions, but nothing is happening'".Caribisch Netwerk.6 February 2019.Retrieved28 June2019.
  106. ^"Jubilee Library to reopen in temporary location Monday - St Maarten Philipsburg Jubilee Library".Stmaartenlibrary.org.Retrieved28 June2019.
  107. ^Lazo, Luz (7 September 2017)."Irma devastates world-famous St. Martin airport".Washington Post.Retrieved25 December2017.
  108. ^Buckley, Julia (13 July 2017)."St Maarten: Tourist Killed by Jet Blast at Notorious Caribbean Airport".The Independent.Retrieved25 December2017.
  109. ^"Directory: World Airlines."Flight International.30 March–5 April 2004.96.

References

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  • Gert Oostindie (1998)paradijs overzee: de 'Nederlandse' Caraïben en Nederland.Amsterdam: Bert Bakker.
  • Gert Oostindie and Inge Klinkers (2001)Knellende koninkrijksbanden: het Nederlandse dekolonisatiebeleid in de Caraïben, 1940–2000.Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press.
  • Joseph H. Lake, Jr. (2004)Friendly Anger - The rise of the labor movement in St. Martin.St. Martin: House of Nehesi Publishers.[1].
  • Lasana M. Sekou, ed. (1997, Third printing)National Symbols of St. Martin - A Primer.St. Martin: House of Nehesi Publishers.
  • Louis Duzanson (2000, 2003)An Introduction to Government - Island territory of St. Maarten.St. Martin: House of Nehesi Publishers.[2].
  • Richardson, Linda-Andrea. "The socio-linguistic situation in St. Maarten." In: Carrington, Lawrence D. (editor).Studies in Caribbean Language.Society for Caribbean Linguistics, 1983. p. 63-69..
  • Rhoda Arrindell (2014)Language, Culture, and Identity in St. Martin.St. Martin: House of Nehesi Publishers.Language Culture and Identity in St Martin.
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Wikisourcehas the text of the1911Encyclopædia Britannicaarticle "St Martin".

Government

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Organizations

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Universities

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Secondary education

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Tourism

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News and opinion

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