The capital of Sint Maarten is the central point for shopping and the local cultural scene. Tucked in the southeastern part of the island between Great Bay and Great Salt Pond, the city has been a major commercial hub for the island since the 17th century.

This extravagantly decorated clandestine church built centuries ago when Catholicism was considered a crime is hidden in plain sight behind an unassuming front door in the city centre. Those walking down Juffrouw Idastraat would never imagine that within one of the typical terraced houses lies the enormous Parish of Saints James and Augustine where Catholics used to practice their faith in secret. Nobody is quite sure who built the church, but the stunning baroque plastering seems to suggest that it was the famous architect and artist Daniel Marot or one of his students. Book a free tour which takes you through the church and the attic to the more recent Bishop’s Chamber which is full of some of the original features and furniture that were used in the 1700s.

The only place in the world where you can directly cross the border between Holland and France! Back in 1648, the French and Dutch signed a contract dividing the island into two parts. Since then, the two sides have lived in peace and harmony. Apart from the language, the only indicator of the border is a border obelisk marking 300 years of peaceful coexistence by the two nations.