Which Caribbean island has a Dutch side?

One island and two countries! Between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, St. Martin is half French, half Dutch. But this pocket island is more than that: a real cultural melting pot!



Saint Martin is the unique Caribbean island that is divided between two nations: the northern French side (Saint-Martin) and the southern Dutch side (Sint Maarten). This division dates back to the Treaty of Concordia in 1648. The Dutch side, Sint Maarten, is known for its vibrant nightlife, duty-free shopping in the capital of Philipsburg, and the famous Maho Beach, where planes fly low over tourists to land at Princess Juliana International Airport. Despite being two separate territories with different cultures and languages, there is no hard border between the two sides, allowing travelers to move freely between the French and Dutch parts of the island.

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One island and two countries! Between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, St. Martin is half French, half Dutch.

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There is no physical border between the French and Dutch sides of the island and people and goods may travel freely between the two.

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While St Barts is smaller, chicer, and more geared towards couples, St Martin has much more variety and makes for an incredible family destination. That said, you can easily ferry between the two for day trips, which is why, for many, the decision ultimately comes down to which island is home to the villa they prefer.

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I live on SXM and absolutely love St Lucia. It is probably the most beautiful island in the Caribbean. That said, SXM has nicer beaches and a more international flavor and definitely better restaurants. If you love beaches and great food, then St Maarten is the choice for you.

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Dutch is the official language of Sint Maarten, used in legal documents and throughout the court system. To confuse matters a little further, the language of the Dutch West Indies with the larger islands to the South of Aruba and Curaçao is Papiamento.

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In 1986 Aruba pulled out of the Netherlands Antilles - a federation of Dutch Caribbean territories - and obtained separate status within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Dutch government controls defence and foreign affairs while the island's government handles local matters.

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On October 10, 2010, Curaçao and Sint Maarten became—like Aruba, which had separated from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986—countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The head of state is the Dutch monarch, represented by a governor, and the head of government is the prime minister.

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Barbados was first occupied by the British in 1627 and remained a British colony until internal autonomy was granted in 1961. The Island gained full independence in 1966, and maintains ties to the Britain monarch represented in Barbados by the Governor General. It is a member of the Commonwealth.

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The official hurricane season is July to November, and although the risk of hurricanes is very small, there are also tropical storms in the Caribbean region in this period. April and May are often great times to visit as prices are much lower than earlier in the year but the weather is still very similar.

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Lucia is much safer for the traveler than Jamaica. We found the weather to be awesome. We always go the week before Christmas and in St. Lucia the temperature was perfect with a nice breeze always keeping it cool with the sun not sooo intense.

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Barts ranks among the most expensive getaways on the planet. One reason is that everything from hats to hankies has to be shipped in, sometimes from places as far away as France. But the big reason is because the island caters to an upscale clientele who can afford things like $20,000-a-night stays in posh villas.

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The island's weather is pleasant year-round, but these are times when rain showers are less likely. Summer and early fall are not good for a vacation; many hotels close in this offseason and there's a chance of hurricanes. Also avoid visiting in winter and early spring (mid-December to April) if you can.

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If you want to talk about worst area, then we can talk about Sandy Ground and Agrement (both in Marigot). Best Area : The French Low lands, Orient Bay residencial Park and Oyster Pond..

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The dry season, from December to April, is the most pleasant. This is also the peak season for tourists who come to enjoy the agreeable weather and summer temperatures. The sunshine is almost constant during this period, with hardly any rain.

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