Every days’ life
This section gives you some essentials that will help you to get quickly acquainted with the island. As St. Martin / Sint Maarten is a 2 nation island, it features all major information sources, administrational systems, health care system and everything else 2-fold. 2 official Tourist Offices, 2 electrical systems, 2 official hospitals - Visiting St. Martin/Sint Maarten is 2 vacations in one – you really do change country when crossing the invisible border.
Marigot’s Tourist Office is responsible for the French side, and Philipsburg’s for the Dutch side.
The ‘Louis Constant Fleming Hospital’ is located in Concordia, French, and the ‘St. Maarten Medical Centre’ is in Cay Hill, Dutch. To be admitted to the Dutch hospital, a proof of insurance must be presented. Both sides do have drop-in medical centers for non-emergencies, as well as emergency services.
The colorful local markets with its tropical fruits, vegetables and spices, flowers, fishes are based at the waterfront in Marigot (French) and in Philipsburg next to the Court House. Small local markets are flourishing on both sides. A Rastafarian farm invites the public next to Bellevue (French) to discover their harvest.
Each side has its own electrical system. The French side is set up with the European system, 220 V / 60 Hz, European plugs. The Dutch system has 110 V / 60 Hz, and US style plugs. Some villas are set up with both of the electrical systems.
The island has no natural springs, and water is rare and expensive. Desalination plants are producing potable water; bottles water is though everywhere purchasable.
St. Martin has their Gendarmes, their Border Police, their Fire Department, and the Cross-Sea Rescue, and so has SInt Maarten. The governmental services are not connected and completely independent from each other.