Language: Dutch and French are the official languages, but English is widely spoken. Locals commonly use a language known as Papiamento, a mixture of Portuguese, African, Spanish, Dutch and English.
Currency: On the Dutch side the currency is the
Netherlands Antilles Guilder or Florin (ANG), where one guilder is divided into 100 cents, but US Dollars are also widely accepted and prices are usually quoted in Dollars as well as Guilders. On the French side of the island the Euro (EUR) is the local currency, although establishments will also accept US Dollars. There are numerous
bureaux de change and banks throughout the island and ATMs in the main towns in both national sectors; travelers cheques and major credit cards are widely accepted.
Time: GMT -4.
Electricity: 110/220 volts, 60Hz. Standard, flat, two and three pronged plugs, as found in the
United States, are used.
Communications: The country code for
St Maarten, as part of the Netherlands Antilles, is +599. The code for French St Martin is +590. To dial Dutch St Maarten dial 599-54 plus a five-digit number, and to dial French St Martin dial 590-590 plus a six-digit number. Phoning from one side of the island to the other is considered to be an international call. The outgoing code for both sectors is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the
United Kingdom). City/area codes are not in use. GSM 900 and 1800 mobile network coverage extends across both parts of the island. Internet access is available at Internet cafes, and in most resorts.
Duty Free: Arrivals in St Maarten/St Martin will not have to pay customs duty on a reasonable amount of goods for their own use. Reasonable constitutes about 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco, 2 liters of alcohol and gifts to the value of ANG100. .
Tourist OfficeSt
Maarten Tourist Office, Philipsburg: +599 (0)5 22337 or www.st-maarten.com
EmergencyEmergencies: 911.
Embassies
Royal
Netherlands Embassy,
Washington DC, United States: +1 202 244 5300.
Royal Netherlands Embassy,
London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7590 3200.
Royal Netherlands Embassy,
Ottawa,
Canada: +1 613 237 5030.
Royal Netherlands Embassy,
Canberra,
Australia: +61 (0)2 6220 9400.
Royal Netherlands Embassy,
Pretoria,
South Africa: +27 (0)12 425 4500.
Royal Netherlands Embassy,
Dublin,
Ireland: +353 (0)1 269 3444
Royal Netherlands Embassy,
Wellington,
New Zealand: +64 (0)4 471 6390.
American Consulate-General,
Willemstad,
Curacao (also responsible for St Maarten/St Martin): +599 9 461 3066.
British Consulate,Willemstad, Curacao (also responsible for St Maarten/St Martin): +599 9 747 3322.
Canadian Consulate, St Maarten, +599 543 6261.
South
African High Commission,
Kingston, Jamaica (also responsible for St Maarten/St Martin): +876 978 3160/4457.
