1. St. Martin is the smallest island in the world divided between two countries, France and the Netherlands. The island is 34 square miles in total size,
2. The northern French part of the island is known as St. Martin and is an overseas collectivity of France. The southern Dutch part is known as St. Maarten and is one of four constituent countries that form the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
3. The land mass of St. Martin is split roughly 60/40 with the larger French side covering about 20 square miles.
4. Slightly more people, however, live on the Dutch side of the island (where the estimated population is 39,689) while 31,754 people reside on the French side. Philipsburg is the biggest city of the Dutch side while Marigot is the capital of the French side.
5. The division of the island between the Netherlands and France dates to March 23, 1648, under the Treaty of Concordia. Local folklore indicates that the division of land began with walking contest between a Frenchman and a Dutchman. Before they started, the Frenchman drank wine while the Dutchman drank the stronger jenever (Dutch gin), allowing the Frenchman to cover more territory and claim more land. (The Dutch say he cheated.)
6. Before the French or the Dutch arrived, Christopher Columbus claimed the island for Spain on November 11, 1493. Since that day was celebrated as St. Martin Day, he named it Isla de San Martín after Saint Martin of Tours. Spain did not make settling the island a priority.
7. Wanting the island’s salt, the Dutch founded a settlement in 1631, erecting Fort Amsterdam as protection from invaders. Jan Claeszen Van Campen became its first governor, and the Dutch East India Company began their salt mining operations. French and British settlements sprang up on the island as well.
8. Peter Stuyvesant was a major figure in the early history of New York City. Before he came to New York, however, Stuyvesant (born in the Netherlands in 1612) was director of the Dutch West India Company’s colony of Curacao from 1642 to 1644.
In 1644, Stuyvesant led an attack on the Spanish-held island of St. Martin. A cannonball injured Stuyvesant’s right leg, causing it to be amputated below the knee. When his leg was replaced with a wooden peg, and he became known as “Peg leg Pete.” A year later, in May 1645, Peg leg Pete Stuyvesant was selected by the Dutch West India Company as Director-General of the New Netherland colony, which became New York City.
9. Despite its short runway that is located between a large hill and a beach, major airlines fly large jet aircraft into St. Martin’s Princess Juliana International Airport. This scene results in spectacular photo ops of aircraft directly above sunbathers on Maho Beach.
10. There is no physical border between the Dutch and French sides of the island but there are 37 white sandy beaches to enjoy.
Planning to Visit St. Martin? Check out these resources:
The Island Hopping Digital Guide To The Leeward Islands – Part I – Saint Martin and Sint Maarten
Fodor’s In Focus St. Maarten/St. Martin, St. Barth & Anguilla
Check out these other Fun Facts posts:
- 33 Fun Facts About Turks and Caicos Islands
- 40 Fun Facts About Mauritius
- 40 Fun Facts About Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- 15 Fun Facts About Malaga, Spain
- 25 Fun Facts About the Azores
- 20 Fun Facts About Colombo, Sri Lanka
- 32 Fun Facts About Barcelona, Spain
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