Saint Martin (island)

Saint Martin is an island in the northeastern Caribbean split between the French Collectivity of Saint-Martin in the north and the Dutch constituent country of Sint Maarten in the south. The land border dates back to the 17th century, and each side maintains its own government, legal system, and currency usage.

Beaches, coastal resorts, and duty-free shopping are the principal draws, with many small bays, snorkeling spots, and a lively hospitality sector concentrated around towns such as Marigot on the French side and Philipsburg on the Dutch side. The airport on the Dutch side is one of the island’s busiest entry points and is famous for aircraft approaching low over a public beach.

European colonial competition and local commerce have shaped the island’s modern development; tourism is the dominant economic activity and both sides maintain extensive visitor services, restaurants, and marine activities.

Geographically the island sits in the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean Sea and covers about 87 square kilometers.

• Political division: The island is divided between French and Dutch administrations under a boundary agreed in 1648; the two sides operate separate legal, fiscal, and administrative systems.
• Size and tourism: The island covers about 87 square kilometers and is a year-round tourist destination known for beaches, duty-free shopping, and airport-adjacent resort development on the Dutch side.

What to See #

• Saint-Martin (French side): The northern part administered by France as the Collectivity of Saint-Martin, with the main town Marigot and French legal and administrative systems in place.
• Sint Maarten (Dutch side): The southern part administered as Sint Maarten, a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with the main town Philipsburg and Dutch Caribbean administration.