| INTRODUCING
ST MAARTEN - ST MARTIN |
A
fact
so charming, it always has to be 
mentioned
first: The island of Sint Maarten-Saint Martin is the smallest land mass in
the world to be shared by two different nations. Only 37 square miles are
owned by France and the Netherlands Antilles. The French territory covers
about two thirds of the island and is technically a part of Europe and the
European Community. The Dutch side is a member island of the Netherlands Antilles
and part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, but not considered European territory.
There is no real border, just modest monuments and signs. 
The
island is known as an almost perfect holiday environment; beaches and nightlife
are spectacular, shopping and dining the best in the Caribbean.
To
get a feel of the area covered by St. Martin, multiply 6 miles by 6
miles. You got already 36 square miles... But not to worry, this is the biggest
small island in the world. Without visiting, its impossible to imagine the variety
of landscape, cultures and entertainment to be found here. St. Martin just doesn't
FEEL that small... Its central mountain range provides for a rugged and interesting
terrain, with winding roads up and down the hills, through small villages and
still plenty of untouched land.
The Caribbean's largest lagoon is the Simpson Bay Lagoon, landlocked
with the exception of two narrow channels with draw bridges. The Lagoon is large
enough to have a real sail and is home to a giant fleet of yachts, which are
either berthed in one of the luxury marinas or anchored in the sheltered waters.
St. Maarten has become the yachting center of the Caribbean, home port to some
of the world's most outrageous megayachts.
St. Martin is the ultimate micro cosmos, home to residents from over 90 different nations. The island broke out of the Antillean group of third-world economies and societies and became the exiting, active, bustling economic center of the Northeastern Caribbean. To be sure, there are problems associated with its rapid growth, but there are also stunning success stories to be told.
One is the Concordia Agreement: The Dutch and the French side
agreed more than 350 years ago that residents of either side of the island can
be commercially active on the other side without any Red Tape or border difficulties.
This contract of peaceful coexistence turns out to be the oldest active, undisputed
treaty on our planet!
St. Martin entered the "Big Time" during the Eighties when investor friendly policies on the Dutch side lead to a rapidly developing tourism industry. The French side soon followed with special tax incentives for French citizens to invest into tourism and charter boats
Read more about our island through the quality web links we have selected for you. And once you have completed our survey, you will receive the most complete information package covering St. Maarten ever produced within days by mail.
 |
 |