This page is dedicated to the Belair / Cay Hill area. See for more general information our Dutch Side and About St. Maarten / St. Martin pages.
This area in Cay Hill was named after the plantation with the same name of which only ruins remain nowadays. Plantation “Welgelegen” was owned by the first medical doctor in the Dutch side Mr. Rijgersma. He was sent to the island by Dutch King Willem III in 1863 after the official abolition of slavery. Rijgersma’s task was to look after the health and wellbeing of the entire population of 2819 persons. Of those were 1878 that had just gotten their freedom. Some of them stayed on Sint Maarten, cultivating their land, while others migrated to surrounding islands in search for a better life. With such a small population, the doctor had ample time to research the flora and fauna he encountered. From those he painted aquarels and sent them to universities and institutes in the Netherlands, Sweden and the USA. A century later, those treasures, were compiled by a Dutch scientist Mr. Hennie Coomans in two books that are available in the library for the reading public. “Welgelegen” means that the plantation was well situated with a nice view, good breezes, good soil and a large pond. Hotel l’Espérance can be found right in the middle.
Find the Belair / Cay Hill area on the map below!
• Visit Rainforest Adventure Park
• Spend a day on the water with Eagle Tours
• Spend a day at Little Bay Beach, take a one day Divi Little Bay Resort pass and/or enjoy a meal at Gizmo’s or PureOcean!
• Take a pirate history tour at the Rusty Parrot! Enjoy the true history of buccaneers during a unique visual experience.
• Take the Philipsburg Mural tour!
• Do an active Philipsburg Tri-Sport tour!
• Explore St. Maarten’s underwater paradise with Dive Sint Maarten.
• Explore the waters of Sint Maarten with Aqua Manias Boat Tours
• Take a look at the brand new UnderSXM dive and snorkel park!
• Go and visit Yoda Guy Movie Exhibit. It’s a small non-profit museum with a lot of movie (Starwars) history packed inside.
• See our national symbol the Courthouse!
• Make an AMAsterdam bar selfie in an Amsterdam streetcar or “red light district”!
• Visit Fort Amsterdam
• Visit the Heritage Museum
• Spend a beach day at Great Bay Beach, and don’t forget to take lunch at the Ocean Lounge.
• Try a rum of local manufacturer guavaberry made of namesake fruits that grow on the island.
• Watch your favorite sports match while enjoying a cold drink at St. Rose Café & Bar.
• Emilio’s
• Aziana
• The Pier Beach Bar & Restaurant
• Amsterdam Cheese & Liquor Shop
• Le Dutch
• Divi Little Bay Beach Resort
See our overview of St. Maarten taxi rates what pricing is in place from Belair / Cay Hill to your place of departure.
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