St. Martin and Sint Maarten are neighboring countries located in the West Indies and is the neighboring Island next to Anguilla. Also known as “The Friendly Island”, both coun
How is the island split between two countries? Well the Treaty of Concordia , issued and signed on March 23, 1648, is an agreement between both the Kingdom of France and The Dutch Republic that divided the Island to both countries. St. Martin, the northern region, is occupied by France and its capital is Marigot. Sint Maarten, the southern region, is occupied by the Netherlands and its capital is Philipsburg.
According to Folk lore, the border between the two countries was determined by two people who represented their side. One French and One Dutch. It is said that the two were put back to back and told to walk in the opposite direction creating the line that split the Island. Apparently the French walker had walked longer than the Dutch walker which is why St. Martin is bigger.
The Official languages are English and Dutch. Weird considering that one is occupied by a France but French is not the official language. The Population of both Sint Maarten and St. Martin are both similar with the French counterpart leading with a population of around 77,000 while the Dutch counterpart having a population of around 37,000. The Demographics of the Island is pretty diverse being populated by a mixture of Asian, African, Amerindian, European, and Indian peoples.
Looking for an Island getaway? Being regular vacation spot of the Caribbean, the Dutch side is known for its festive night life and drinks while the French side is known for its Nude Beaches and shopping. Both sides offer fun for visitors making the island a popular vacation destination. Although be careful when planning dates as the late summer and early fall is hurricane season!
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