On this island, your limits are the sky in one direction and the bottom of the sea in the other. Sail the yacht that won the America’s cup. Motor a catamaran along the mythical line separating the Atlantic Ocean from the Caribbean Sea. Charter a fishing vessel and set out for giant marlin. Dive. Fish. Hike. Climb historic Mount Concordia. Do it all. See it all. For here there are no limits other than the boundaries of nature itself.
Often referred to as the crossroads of the Caribbean, St. Maarten is located at the northern end of the Lesser Antilles, approximately 150 miles southeast of Puerto Rico. The island is just three hours from New York City and two hours forty-five minutes from Miami.
The 37-square-mile island of St. Maarten was first settled by the Arawaks and was discovered by Christopher Columbus on behalf of Spain in 1493. Columbus sighted the island on November 11th, the holy day of St. Martin of Tours, and so named the island after him. For the next 150 years the island was passed between Holland, England, France and Spain. The old stone forts that guard many of the island’s inlets are proof of the island’s turbulent past. In 1648 St. Maarten was peacefully divided between Holland and France, and today is the smallest landmass in the world to be shared by two sovereign nations.
You can explore the island by kayak and venture into its numerous secret coves and calm inlets. You can rent a Sunfast 20 and enjoy a leisurely sail in the Simpson Bay lagoon. In fact, you can rent just about any form of water transportation you can think of at most beach resorts, from Hobie Cats, to motorboats, to canoes. And for windsurfers, on the windward northeast side of St. Maarten are two beaches divided by a peninsula. On one side the flat waters of Coconut Grove are ideal for beginners, and on the other side, the wilds of Orient Beach are perfect for more advanced sailors.
For more information visit www.vacationstmaarten.com
Events & Festivals
March: Heineken Regatta
April: Carnival
June: The Fishing Event
Marriage Requirements:
- Unmarried persons must present a declaration of marital status not older than 3 months
- Persons must be 18 years of age
- Address of both parties
- Names of parents and maiden name of mother
- Date and Place of birth of parents
- Professions of bride and groom and of parents
- 6 (six) witnesses if the marriage is performed outside of the Marriage Hall. Non-Dutch witnesses must present a valid passport or a birth certificate with a picture I.D.
- If widow(er), a death certificate
- If divorced, a divorce certificate or a final judgment decree
- In the event persons are not of Dutch nationality, a valid passport is required
- Original documents other than Dutch or English need to be translated into the Dutch language (i.e. a French or Spanish document must be translated into Dutch, not English).
- The price for contracting a marriage depends on your choice of location and the day of the ceremony and will be a minimum of US$ 178.00 and a maximum of US$ 410.00. Prices are subject to change without notice.
* We try to keep this info as current as possible so please contact the local tourism office for any changes.
Top 5 Things to See and Do in St.Maarten
1. Swim at Maho Beach.
2. Kayak to numerous secret coves and calm inlets.
3. Bike your way around St.Maarten.
4. Sail on a yacht or catamaran.
5. Enjoy a Meal at Firehouse bar & restaurant.
Start Planning Today!
Find a wedding vendor in St.Maarten
Get inspired with real destination weddings in the Caribbean
Ready to book? Chat with our preferred destination wedding specialist.