History of St. Maarten
St. Maarten is a small tropical island located in the northeast Caribbean. The island is divided between France and Netherlands Antilles; it is known to be the smallest island to be divided between two different countries. However, what St. Maarten is really known for is its superb beaches and its pleasant climate. The island has risen in its popularity as a tourist destination since the last few years.
Not many people who come to St. Maarten know of its history and background. Those who are planning to get St. Maarten all inclusive packages booked should first learn a little bit about the history of the island for better understanding of its culture.
The first inhabitants to come to the island were the Arawaks which migrated here a thousand years ago. Very soon, the Caribs followed them to the island. The Caribs were warriors and they pushed the Arawaks off the island and then later lost it to the Europeans. It was in 1493 that Christopher Columbus had first sighted the island, the same day the island was claimed for Spain.
However, until the 1620s the island was forgotten by the Spanish since they were busy with the conquests of South America and Mexico. During the same time the Dutch began exporting salt from the island to Netherlands. In 1633 the Spanish realized the commercial value of the island and drove the Dutch off the island, building a fort to protect it.
In 1644, a fleet of Dutch soldiers tried to take the island but failed. However, with the end of the war between the Netherlands and Spain the Spanish soon left St. Maarten. It was claimed later by the French and the Dutch. In 1648 a treaty was signed between the two nations which divided the island between them.
The French and the Dutch did not coexist on the island peacefully in the earlier years, and the territory had been divided and exchanged several times till 1816 between both the nations. Soon the Dutch side of the island became an important commercial center for various products like tobacco, cotton and salt. Soon the sugar plantations were set up on the island where the slaves were made to work.
In the 19th century, when slavery was abolished, the plantations on the island closed down. The island soon plummeted into poverty and its prosperity ended for the next hundred years. It was only in 1939 that things began to change for St. Maarten when it became a free port. All the export and import taxes were rescinded. The international airport on the island was opened in 1943 and four years later the first hotel opened its doors to tourists, the Sea View.
In the next few years, St Maarten not only established itself as an important center for international trade but also as an important tourist location. The Dutch part of St. Maarten today is one of the most visited places in the Caribbean today. Plenty of resorts have been built on the island in the recent years, all of them offering St. Maarten all inclusive packages to their guests. The island continues to attract thousands of visitors each year.
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