In 1493
Cristopher Columbus claimed Nevis island for Spain and named it Isla de San Martin. But somebody messed up and on the
maps the name was given to what is now
Saint Martin Island.
Seven hundred years earlier
Arawak Indians had reached the island,
later followed by the war-loving Caribs.
The Dutch settled here early in the 17th century, later followed by French colonists.
Instead
of fighting for it, they had a drink and decided to split the island between them by treaty of 1648.
In the history
roller coaster that followed, Saint Martin saw French, English and Dutch taking control, but in 1816 the French and
Dutch zones were restored.
Both sides imported huge quantities of slaves to work on the sugarcane plantations. After slavery
was abolished the island tumbled in a deep and long lasting recession.
From 1950 onwards tourism became the
main source of income, starting on the Dutch side. The Princes Juliana Airport is one of the busiest in the Caribbean and scores
of cruiseships call port at Philipsburg in St. Maarten.
In 2017
Hurricane Irma scored a full hit, killing
several, causing devastating damage to houses and schools and crippling the infrastructure, including the airport and the
cruiseship terminals.
Irma's aftermath toppled the St Maarten government.
The 2020 Covid-19 pandemic effectively stopped
the economic recovery on the island.
