The 120 United Nations Of French Saint Martin
One island, two countries.
That covers the basics about St. Maarten/St. Martin. (Learn how the border was determined between these united nations here.) Once you pay this special island a visit, though, you’ll quickly realize that national pride is split in many more ways than just two.
There are, in fact, people representing more than 120 different nationalities living on the French side alone!
Many of the myriad nationalities are West Indian, as you might image. It’s said that you can find people and cuisine from every corner of the Caribbean in Sandy Ground, the same area where you can find one of the best organic eateries anywhere in the islands.
People from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Central and South America, Australia, New Zealand, and much of Europe populate the French side as well, many of them drawn here by the same sweet beaches and cultural charms that keep us coming back again and again.