What country does St Maarten belong to?
What country does St Maarten belong to? Sint Maarten, country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Lesser Antilles, northeastern Caribbean Sea. It occupies the southern third of the island of Saint Martin. The northern two-thirds of the island constitutes the French overseas collectivity of Saint-Martin.
Is St. Martin a safe place to travel?
The main tourist areas are generally safe, but you should take sensible precautions. Avoid remote areas at night. Do not take valuables to the beach. Make sure purses and handbags are closed and not easy to snatch.
Which is better Dutch or French side of St. Martin?
The Dutch side is known for having nightlife with plenty of bars, clubs, and casinos. The French side has plenty of restaurants, but that is where the night ends. VERDICT: If nightlife matters, the Dutch side is the clear winner.
Does St Maarten count as a country?
Sint Maarten is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean. The country is 16 miles² (41 km²) and occupies the southern part of an island shared with the French overseas collectivity of Saint Martin.
Can you travel between the Dutch and French side of St. Martin?
There is no physical border between the French and Dutch sides of the island and people and goods may travel freely between the two.
Why is St. Martin half French and half Dutch?
Between 1627 and 1631, Holland decided to send settlers to St. Martin, to exploit the island's natural salt reserves. The French and the Dutch signed the Treaty of Concordia, also known as the Partition Treaty, on March 23, 1648. So the island was split into two parts and shared by France and Holland.
Why is Saint Martin divided between 2 countries?
The Spanish finally relinquished Saint Martin to the French and Dutch, who divided it between themselves in 1648. Friction between the two sides caused the border to frequently fluctuate over the next two centuries, with the French eventually holding the greater portion of the island (about 61%).
Do people speak French in St Maarten?
Martin. The island of Saint Martin / Sint Maarten hosts two overseas European territories. French is the official language in French St. Martin, the northern half of the island, while Dutch is spoken in Sint Maarten, the southern half.
Do people in St Maarten speak Dutch?
Dutch is the official language of Sint Maarten, used in legal documents and throughout the court system. To confuse matters a little further, the language of the Dutch West Indies with the larger islands to the South of Aruba and Curaçao is Papiamento.
Does St Maarten belong to the US?
Sint Maarten is a semi-autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.