Sint Maarten

Sint Maarten is a small island country in the Caribbean part of North America. It is one of the countries in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The island is only 34 square kilometers big and has about 58,500 people living there. The main city is Philipsburg.

Sint Maarten is the southern part of the island called Saint Martin. The northern part belongs to France and is named Saint Martin. Before 2010, Sint Maarten was known as the Island Territory of Sint Maarten and was part of the Netherlands Antilles.

In September 2017, a big storm named Hurricane Irma hit the island. The storm damaged many buildings and roads. Even though Sint Maarten is not part of the European Union, it is linked to groups of countries outside Europe.

Etymology

Early maps sometimes mixed up this island with another one called Nevis. Because of this mix-up, people named it after Saint Martin of Tours. This happened because Christopher Columbus saw Nevis on the saint's special day, November 11, 1493.

The name "Sint Maarten" means Saint Martin in the Dutch language.

History

See also: History of Saint Martin and Dutch Caribbean

Pre-colonial

Sint Maarten was home to people for many years. The first people were the Arawak who lived there long ago. Later, the Kalinago came and stayed.

Arrival of Europeans

People think Christopher Columbus named the island after Saint Martin of Tours, but he named a different island. Spain first claimed the island. Then the French and Dutch wanted it too.

The Dutch built a fort in 1631, but Spain took it in 1633. After Spain left in 1648, the Dutch and French settled again. They agreed to split the island, with the Dutch in the south and the French in the north.

18th–19th centuries

The French and Dutch brought many people from Africa to work on farms. Later, enslaved people were freed on both sides of the island.

20th century

After farming declined, the economy was hard until 1939. Then Sint Maarten allowed goods to be sold without extra taxes. Tourism grew, and the airport became very busy.

21st century

In 2010, Sint Maarten became its own country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Effects of Hurricane Irma

Hurricane Irma hit in 2017 and caused damage. The airport reopened soon to help with relief. Aid came from many places. The island began to rebuild, and tourism started to grow again by 2018.

Geography

Sint Maarten is on the southern part of the island of Saint Martin in the Leeward Islands. The northern half of the island belongs to the French territory of Saint Martin. Nearby, you can find the British territory of Anguilla to the north, and the French island of Saint Barthélemy to the southeast.

The country covers an area of 34 km² (13 sq mi). It has hilly land with its highest point, Mount Flagstaff, standing at 383 meters tall. Some parts, like the area near the airport, are flatter. There are also several small islands just off the coast of Sint Maarten.

Sint Maarten has a tropical savanna climate, which means it is warmer and drier than many other Caribbean islands. The driest time of year is from January to July, while the rainiest months are September to November. During this wetter season, hurricanes sometimes affect the island.

Government and politics

Main article: Politics of Sint Maarten

Status within the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Sint Maarten is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The monarch of the Netherlands is the head of state and is represented by a governor. In 2010, Sint Maarten became its own country within the kingdom. It controls its own affairs, while the Netherlands handles foreign affairs and defense. The first woman to lead the government was Gracita Arrindell, elected in 2010.

Relation to the European Union

Sint Maarten is a special territory linked to the European Union but is not part of it. It works with the EU on projects but does not follow all EU rules.

Foreign policy and defence

The Netherlands handles foreign relations and defense for Sint Maarten. There is a small group from the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps and sometimes a ship from the Royal Netherlands Navy in the area.

Environmental laws

Sint Maarten has rules to keep its beaches safe and enjoyable for visitors. There are also rules for building to protect the natural landscape.

Corruption

In the past, there have been concerns about unfair practices on the island. Some leaders faced charges for dishonest behavior.

Ecology

Sint Maarten has many special plants such as hibiscus, yellow sage, flamboyant trees, mahogany, and cacti. There are about 522 wild plants, including some that only grow on the island.

Mullet Pond is an important area with many mangroves that help protect the coast and provide a home for young fish. It was protected in 2016.

The island faces challenges from climate change. Rising temperatures and natural disasters have harmed coral reefs and seagrass beds.

Demographics

Sint Maarten's population has grown over the years. In 2011, there were 33,609 people, and by 2017, this number increased to 40,535. By 2023, the population had reached 58,477.

People in Sint Maarten come from many different places. Most of them were born in another country. The main groups are from Sint Maarten itself, followed by the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, and Saint Martin. Other groups include people from Guyana, Dominica, Curaçao, Aruba, Saint Kitts and Nevis, India, the Netherlands, the United States, Suriname, Saint Lucia, and Anguilla.

English is the main language spoken in Sint Maarten, used in everyday life and as the first language for most people born there. Many also speak a local version of Virgin Islands Creole in informal settings. Dutch is an official language but is mostly used as a second language and in government communications with the national government. The island is a place where many languages are spoken, including Spanish and French.

Economy

Sint Maarten, like Curaçao, uses two types of money: the Netherlands Antillean guilder and the Caribbean guilder. The United States dollar is also commonly used. The island's economy mainly relies on tourism. Many people work in tourism, either staying for long periods or visiting on cruise lines that stop at Philipsburg Harbour. There is some farming, but most food comes from other places.

In 2017, a big storm caused problems for the economy. By 2019, the island's money value dropped and prices went up because fewer tourists came and businesses had a hard time.

Culture

See also: Culture of Saint Martin

Sint Maarten's culture is a mix of African, European, and North American influences. The island does not have a strong Dutch cultural identity.

Festivals

Every year, Sint Maarten holds a big boat race that lasts three days and ends in March. The island has many talented artists, such as Isidore "Mighty Dow" York, a singer, and Roland Richardson, a painter. There are also dancers, painters, poets, and musicians. The big carnival starts in April and ends in May, with the largest parade on the Dutch side. In June, there is a book fair where authors come to share their work.

Sport

Popular sports in Sint Maarten include baseball, basketball, volleyball, cricket, and soccer. Many people enjoy fishing, golf, and water sports like diving, kayaking, snorkeling, and yachting. The soccer team first played in 1989 and used to play home games at the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex. Interest in soccer grew again in 2016 when the team returned to compete internationally.

Cricket is also popular, and Sint Maarten's cricket team is part of the Leeward Islands Cricket Association. Some players from Sint Maarten have played for bigger teams.

Volleyball has been growing in popularity.

Popular culture

Sint Maarten is famous for the runway at Princess Juliana International Airport, where planes fly very close to the beach at Maho. Many people visit just to watch the planes land. The island is also known for its lively nightlife, beautiful beaches, delicious food, and many places to visit. Some well-known artists and writers have visited or been inspired by Sint Maarten.

Media and telecommunications

Sint Maarten got its first radio station, the Voice of St. Maarten, on December 23, 1959. People from nearby islands could hear it too. In the early days, it had only two announcers and mostly played religious programs.

Television started in May 1963, first in Philipsburg. The TV signals came from a station in Fort Willem because the other spot in French Quarter did not work well. Work began on March 21, 1963, to set up an automatic telephone system.

Education

Sint Maarten used to send its students to nearby islands like Aruba or Curaçao for secondary education. Before 1976, there were only two schools: John Phillips School and Pastoor Nieuwen Huis School. These schools merged in 1976 to form MPC.

Today, there are private schools like the Caribbean International Academy, which opened in 2003. It helps students prepare for university in Europe, Canada, and the United States. Another school, Learning Unlimited Preparatory School, also operates in Sint Maarten.

Many students from Sint Maarten go to universities in Curaçao or Europe. There are also medical schools on the island, such as the American University of the Caribbean, which moved there after a volcano eruption on Montserrat. The University of St. Martin is located in Philipsburg.

The main library in Philipsburg, called Philipsburg Jubilee Library, closed after Hurricane Irma in 2017. It has reopened in a temporary location while waiting for funds to rebuild.

Transportation

See also: Port of Philipsburg

Sint Maarten has Princess Juliana International Airport, which has flights to many places in the Caribbean, North America, France, and the Netherlands. The airport is famous because planes fly very low over Maho Beach when they land. Winair has its main office at the airport.