Sint Maarten vs Saint-Martin: Two Countries, One Island

Sint Maarten and Saint-Martin are two halves of the same island. The southern third is Dutch — Sint Maarten, a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The northern part is French — Saint-Martin, an overseas collectivity of France and part of the EU. The whole island is only about 37 square miles (87 km²), which makes it the smallest landmass on Earth shared by two sovereign nations.

Why is the island split between two countries?

The line was drawn in 1648 under the Treaty of Concordia, and it has held — give or take some history — ever since. The practical result today is unusual: there is no hard border. You can drive straight from one side to the other, and the only thing marking the change is a roadside monument and, often, a shift in the road signs from kilometers to a more French style of doing things. No passport check, no gate, no fuss. Driving is on the right on both sides.

From our counter in Simpson Bay, on the Dutch side, the French villages feel close enough for a morning errand. That is the strange charm of this place: two countries you can experience in a single afternoon.

What is different on the Dutch side?

The Dutch side, Sint Maarten, has its capital at Philipsburg, wrapped around Great Bay with its long boardwalk and the duty-free shops of Front Street. The official currency since 31 March 2025 is the Caribbean guilder (XCG), though the US dollar is accepted almost everywhere. English is the everyday language, alongside Dutch as an official one. This is also the side with Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM), Maho Beach, Mullet Bay, Cupecoy, and the marinas and superyachts around Simpson Bay Lagoon — one of the largest inland lagoons in the Caribbean.

If you flew in, you landed here. The strip around the lagoon is where a lot of the island's evening energy lives.

What is different on the French side?

Cross north and you are in France. Saint-Martin uses the euro (€), and while English is widely understood, French is the official language and you will hear and see more of it. The capital is Marigot, home to a waterside market and Fort Louis looking down over the harbor. Grand-Case is known across the island for its restaurants. Orient Bay (Baie Orientale) is the long, beloved beach on the Atlantic side, and from the northeast you can reach quieter spots like Pinel Island, Tintamarre, Happy Bay, and Friar's Bay.

Does the food and atmosphere change when you cross?

It does, gently. The French side leans into café culture, markets, and long lunches; the Dutch side runs a little more international and lively, with the casinos and the lagoon scene. Neither is better — they are two moods of the same island, and most people end up loving the fact that they can have both in one trip.

Do I need a passport to cross between the sides?

For the crossing itself, no — there is no border control between Sint Maarten and Saint-Martin. You will, of course, have cleared immigration when you first arrived on the island. Once you are here, moving between the two sides by car or on foot is as ordinary as driving between two neighborhoods.

One small practical note worth keeping in mind: because you are technically moving between two countries with two currencies, it helps to carry a bit of both, or to lean on cards and US dollars, which travel well across the line.

How should I plan a trip across both sides?

The easiest approach is to base yourself somewhere central — Simpson Bay is a natural choice, close to the airport and the lagoon — and treat the whole island as your map. A French-market morning in Marigot, an afternoon on a Dutch-side beach, dinner in Grand-Case: all of that fits comfortably into a day.

When we send guests off to explore, we usually press a few pastries and a baguette into their hands first. A border crossing goes down better with something good to eat in the passenger seat, and from our spot in Simpson Bay you are well placed to wander in either direction.