Philipsburg, capital of Sint Maarten

Postcard

Philipsburg is the main town and capital of the country of Sint Maarten. The town has a population of about 1,400. Sint Maarten is a ‘constituent country’ of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Sint Maarten and its French counterpart Saint Martin are both sides of the same island.

Stamp

Allure of the Seas is the world's largest passenger cruise ship. With a capacity of about 6,000  passengers (16 passenger decks!) and 2,300 crew. 

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The map of Sint Maarten | Dutch Caribbean

Postcard

“The term Dutch Caribbean refers to all of the islands of the Kingdom of the Netherlands that are located in the Caribbean, regardless of their legal status in Dutch law” (thank you Wikipedia).

The legal status of St Maarten is a “constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands”. A country within a country, sort of.

Stamp

A Lesser Nighthawk. The stamp is part of a set of 12 bird stamps, issued 2015. 

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Orient Bay | Baie Orientale St Martin but sent from Sint Maarten

Postcard

A view of the Orient Bay, a popular beach on the French side of the island of Saint Martin in the Caribbean. The only beach on St. Martin with a large number of beach bars and restaurants directly located on the beach.     

Orient Bay, or in French "Baie Orientale", sweeps around a blue cove, facing east, as the name suggests. The 2 mile long, white powdered sand beach is protected from the Atlantic waves by a reef, and the bottom has a very gradual slope.

Stamps

(left) One more from the Department of Tiny Stamps. Very small stamp picturing St Maarten Harbour.  

Thx Olga!

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Two nations, one Island: Saint Martin - Sint Maarten

Postcard

Saint Martin is an overseas collectivity of France located in the Caribbean. Sint Maarten is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It encompasses the southern half of Saint Martin.

Going clockwise we see:

Marigot, the main town and capital on the French side of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin.

Orient Bay, a coastal community and beach on the French side of the island.

Grand Case Bay also known as "Gourmet Beach".

Pinel Island, a little island just off the coast of St. Maarten / St. Martin.

Thx Pat!

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The Friendly Island: St-Martin / St Maarten

Postcard

Saint Martin is an overseas collectivity of France located in the Caribbean. Sint Maarten is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It encompasses the southern half of Saint Martin.

It is the smallest island in the world ever to have been partitioned between two different nations. The border is almost imperceptible and people cross back and forth without ever realizing they are entering a new country. 

Princess Juliana International Airport serves both the Dutch and the French part of the island. It is named after crown princess Juliana of the Netherlands in 1944, the year after the airport opened. The airport is famous for its short landing strip which is barely enough for heavy jets. Because of this, the planes approach the island flying extremely low, right over Maho Beach.
It’s a spectacular sight!

Stamp

From a set of three stamps issued 2011 about tourism.

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A postcard from the West Indies: Sint Maarten

Postcard

Saint Martin is an overseas collectivity of France located in the Caribbean. Sint Maarten is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It encompasses the southern half of Saint Martin.

It is the smallest island in the world ever to have been partitioned between two different nations. The border is almost imperceptible and people cross back and forth without ever realizing they are entering a new country. 

Princess Juliana International Airport serves both the Dutch and the French part of the island. It is named after crown princess Juliana of the Netherlands in 1944, the year after the airport opened. The airport is famous for its short landing strip which is barely enough for heavy jets. Because of this, the planes approach the island flying extremely low, right over Maho Beach.
It’s a spectacular sight!

Stamp

From a set of three stamps issued 2011 about tourism.

Read More