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 exemption 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.
Martin is the ultimate micro cosmos, home to residents
from over 9O different nations. The island has broken 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 35o years
ago that residents of either side of the island can be commercially
active on the other side without any Red Tape. 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 followed
soon with special tax incentive for French citizen to invest
into tourism and charter boats.
