Lifestyle sets St Maarten/St Martin apart from other Caribbean islands. And no; it is not only the luxury of grocery stores overflowing with gourmet products from around the world, the more than four hundred restaurants, the vibrant nightlife and the fabulous, frequently clothing optional beaches. More importantly, the island is home to a truly multicultural community, with little ethnic boundries and a wonderful level of tolerance and respect amongst its members. Eighty different nationalities living peacefully together on 37 square miles – the most cosmopolitan little island on earth. St Maarten/St Martin is an active place, not a dreamy backwater, a destination with attractions to suit almost everybody's taste and desires.

Languages
English is the language most widely spoken, with vastly different accents. Many of the native residents on the French side speak English at home – unique within French borders. It is the 'metropolitans' from continental France maintaining the island's French identity. The original language of the Netherlands Antilles is Papiamento, used mostly by residents with ties to Curacao. Dutch is used on Sint Maarten in schools and by the administration. Spanish has become common with a wave of immigrants from the Dominican Republic. The East-Indian merchants are conversing amongst each other in a variety of Indian tongues.

Orient Beach Village

Standard of Living
This island is not part of the third world, even though the appearance of some neighborhoods seems to be in conflict with this statement. In general terms, many of the island's natives live a comfortable middle or even upper class life. The economic success of tiny St Maarten with a policy of open borders turned it into a magnet for Antilleans from neighboring islands, all looking for jobs to create a better life for their families at home. The majority of residents on St Maarten/St Martin are expatriates. Most plan to stay only a short time, a year or two. There is no desire to beautify a temporary residence, used only for sleeping after a 16 hour workday. Now, many of these folks find themselves in the same spot twenty years later and will never leave the island. But it is this feeling of a transient live which leads to neglect of some of the Caribbean quarters. Both sides of the island have proper minimum wage legislation, social services, mandatory insurance and labour protections laws.

There are good professional opportunities on the island and especially qualified people can benefit from the booming economy.