7 Unique Facts about St. Maarten
St. Maarten / St. Martin has always had a great appeal for visitors due to amongst others its natural beauty, cosmopolitan vibe and many things to do. But did you know there is a variety of things that makes St. Maarten / St. Martin truly unique?
1. Smallest Island Shared by Two Countries in The World
As a visitor you will barely notice the St. Maarten / St. Martin border when you crossed it. But the unique fact remains that the northern part of the island is French. the southern part is an autonomous country in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
2. St. Maarten / St. Martin has Most Beaches Per Square Mile
37 Beaches on 37 square miles – the math is easy. Not just world famous beaches like Mullet Bay Beach, Orient Bay Beach and Maho Beach have established St. Maartens / St. Martins reputation as one of the best known islands for its beaches, but also the many lively and tranquil ones there to discover.
3. Most Restaurants per Square Mile
As “Culinary Capital of the Caribbean” St. Maarten / St. Martin is alleged to boast the most restaurants per square mile of any landmass in the world. Those tastes stretch well beyond Caribbean, French and Dutch specialties – just as a small sample, take our unique Louisianan , Indonesian Fusion, Lebanese, Mediterranean and Austrian on offer.
4. Largest Cruise Port in the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Amsterdam and Rotterdam might be historic port cities and get cruise ships, the same with Aruba and Curacao, but St. Maarten is not just the biggest cruise port in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, but also the most popular. It has been awarded many prizes for being the most popular cruise port in the Caribbean. Amongst many reasons are its shopping and activities on land, water and below.
5. Most Multinational Options as Island Hopping Hub of the Caribbean
The many frequent visitors of St. Maarten / St. Martin know that our binational island consists of an autonomous country within the Dutch Kingdom and a part of the French republic. However, as Dominos Pizza noticed well before it set the world record for serving pizzas to the most countries under 30 minutes, that is not where the diversity of nationalities ends in this corner of the Caribbean. Anguilla at only seven kilometres away from the island is part of the United Kingdom. Saba and Statia are municipalities of the European Netherlands. St. Kitts & Nevis is an independent country. All above and French St. Barths can be reached by ferry from St. Maarten / St. Martin as well as by island airliner Winair, making the island ideal for Island Hopping base in the Caribbean.
6. Yachting Hub of the Caribbean
It is not just the large natural harbor of the Simpson Bay Lagoon, or the island’s strategic location in the Caribbean that makes St. Maarten / St. Martin a main focal point of yachting in the Caribbean. It is also the amount of amenities available for sailors and ships, and last but not least its landmark sailing events. The St. Maarten Heineken Regatta is the largest regatta in the region, also drawing many megayachts to witness the spectacle. As a sailor, also pay close attention to St. Maartens second and rapidly growing Caribbean Multihull Challenge!
7. Oldest Open Border in the World
Long before the European Union, there was St. Maarten / St. Martin. The treaty of Concordia led to a division of the island, but also to few restrictions for travel over the border. This makes the island having a uniquely open border for almost all the time since.
For these fun facts, more information on St. Maarten / St. Martin and other interesting knowledge about the island, see our Fun Facts & About St. Maarten / St. Martin page !
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