The most prominent physical feature in St Maarten is the thickly wooded Mount Flagstaff, an extinct volcano, but the most important is undoubtedly the excellent beach that follows the south and west coasts. Beach activities and shopping at duty free centers satisfy most tourists but there are several places of interest for the more enterprising visitor.
PhilipsburgThe only town of any size, Philipsburg is situated on a sand bar that separates Great Salt Pond, an
étang or salt marsh, from the ocean. The entire town consists of two streets,
Voorstraat (Front Street) and
Achterstraat (Back Street), running the length of the isthmus and joined by short, narrow alleys. Land has been reclaimed from the marsh for the construction of a ring road; local wits have suggested that this should be called
Nieuwstraat (New Street) to preserve the Dutch feel of the place. Indeed, many buildings do date back to the early colonial era, and despite the multitude of duty-free shops, Philipsburg retains a predominantly colonial atmosphere. The nine shingled churches and the Queen Wilhelmina Golden Jubilee Monument are worth seeing. Nearby is Fort Amsterdam, dating from the time of the earliest settlers. Inland are the picturesque ruins of several plantation mansions, set in the wooded hills around Mount Flagstaff, and the Border Monument, celebrating 300 years of co-operation between the French and the Dutch. Across the border (no passports are required) is the charming market town of Marigot. Small boats are available for various watersports and fishing.
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