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.

The 37 square miles of island 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.

     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 90 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 350 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.

A.T. Illidge Road, #38,  Philipsburg,   St. Maarten,    Netherlands Antilles    Phone: 011-599-542-5358     Fax: 011-599-542-3979     info@shipwreckshops.com