The border issue on the tiny Caribbean island of St. Martin/Sint Maarten, which is shared by the Dutch and French governments, has been settled with the signing of a new agreement by officials from the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the French Republic.

Published 11 months ago

In announcing the agreement, Ms. Silveria Jacobs, the Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs for Sint Maarten who signed on behalf of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, said the outcome filled her with satisfaction and optimism for the future.

“Through diplomatic dialogue and collaboration, we have achieved a mutually beneficial agreement that fosters peace, stability, and cooperation with Saint-Martin,” she said.

“This treaty’s signing is not a means of division or just a symbolic gesture; it is a testament to dialogue, compromise, and unity. It signals an era of cooperation, where map lines no longer divide us.”

Minister of Interior Gerard Darmanin signed the agreement on behalf of the State of France.

Background to the Issue

France and the Netherlands have shared the island since the signing of the Treaty of Concordia in 1648.

Since 2014, there have been disagreements related to the border on the island which came about when the French contested the Dutch claim over all the water in Oyster Pond.

In December 2017, the French filed a petition with the United Nations, signalling the existence of an international border dispute on the island.

“November 2021, saw the Government of Sint Maarten adopt a more compromise-driven approach, that would prove to advance discussions and move the island closer towards the end goal, hence we are here today,” said Prime Minister Jacobs.

Changes to the Border

The changes mainly concern public areas and as such individuals are not impacted. The largest change is in Oyster Pond with the border now running through the middle of the pond, thereby giving an equal share of the water to both sides.

The southern part of Oyster Pond will be retained by Sint Maarten (Kingdom of the Netherlands) and the northern part to Saint-Martin (French Republic).

The border along the road in Cupecoy will shift north in favour of the Dutch as does the border along the Marigot Hill Road. Sint Maarten confirms Dutch sovereignty, that is authority over Higher Bethlehem.

The border along the road in Belle Plaine will shift west in favour of the French. The border along the road leading to Oyster Pond will shift north in favour of the Dutch.

Impact on Visiting Yachts

With Oyster Pond now bisected by the border, it is unclear how vessels will decide which country to check into if arriving from other islands, or if this will be a port-of-entry for either.

Cruisers will be hoping that the agreement will now see re-development of the businesses and hotels that were ravaged during Hurricane Irma in September 2017 and remained in ruins while the border disagreement remained unsettled.

“Following nine years of deliberation, we will finally put to rest the border issue on Saint Martin. Technical experts are working diligently to finalise the new iteration of our map, as there are 348 points that need to be transformed and placed on the map,” said Prime Minister Jacobs.

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Related News:

• New Border Treaty Signed for St. Martin/Sint Maarten (Government of Sint Maarten Press Release
• Border Issue Finally Settled (Loop News)
• Saint Martin’s Border Clarified for the Sake of Diplomatic Peace and Economic Health (Le Monde)

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Related Links:

• Government of Sint Maarten
• St. Martin Local Authority
• St. Martin Visitor Guide
• Sint Maarten Visitor Guide

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