St Maarten vs. St Martin: What First-Time Visitors Get Wrong
If you’ve booked a trip here and you’re seeing both “St Maarten” and “St Martin” on your confirmation emails, your map app, and half the websites you’ve looked at — you’re not losing your mind, and you haven’t booked the wrong island. It’s one island with two names, because it’s actually two countries.
It’s one island, split since 1648
The island has been divided between France and the Netherlands since the Treaty of Concordia was signed in 1648, with the border finalized in 1817. The French side — Saint-Martin — covers roughly 60% of the island’s land area to the north. The Dutch side — Sint Maarten — covers the remaining 40% to the south. Same island, same beaches in some cases, two different countries.
You can cross the border without a passport
Here’s the part that surprises most first-time visitors: there’s no border checkpoint, no passport control, and nothing stopping you from driving from one side to the other whenever you want. A small monument marks the official border, but in practice it’s an open crossing — you can have breakfast on the Dutch side and dinner on the French side without anyone checking your papers in between.
What actually changes when you cross
A few real differences worth knowing before you go:
Currency. The Dutch side’s official currency is the Caribbean Guilder, but U.S. dollars are accepted virtually everywhere. The French side uses the Euro, though dollars are widely accepted there too. Cards work on both sides, so this matters less than people expect — but it explains why prices on menus sometimes look different from one side of the island to the other.
Language. English is spoken and understood everywhere on the Dutch side. The French side’s official language is French, though English is common in restaurants, shops, and anywhere tourists actually go.
Capital cities. Philipsburg is the Dutch side’s capital — it’s where you’ll find the cruise port, the boardwalk, and most of the casinos. Marigot is the French side’s capital, generally known for a quieter, more boutique, food-forward feel.
The airport. Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM), where almost everyone flies in, is on the Dutch side. If you’re staying on the French side, you’ll still likely land here first and then head north.
Does it matter which side you stay on?
Not as much as people worry it will. Both sides have great beaches, good restaurants, and villas worth the trip — it really comes down to whether you want a livelier, more built-up feel (Dutch side) or a quieter, more relaxed one (French side). The good news, if you’re planning to book a massage during your stay: we come to you on either side of the island, so it’s one less thing to factor into where you stay.
Planning a trip and want a massage that comes to your villa, hotel, or Airbnb — Dutch side or French side? See our current pricing and availability here.