Philipsburg is the capital of Dutch St. Maarten, a Caribbean island divided into Dutch and French (Saint Martin) sides. Famed for its blend of French and Dutch culture, St. Maarten offers brerathtaking beaches, exciting nightlife, and fabulous duty-free shopping.
Philipsburg is built on a narrow strip of sandy land between the sea at Great Bay and a shallow lake that was once a salt pond, Great Salt Pond. The town began as a lively center of international commerce and even today retains its stature as a leading duty-free port.
The town is quite enchanting with its colonial architecture, lively shopping streets, cafes, and hotels and the forts around Philipsburg are reminders of its one-time strategic importance. The town's many restaurants, cafes and nightclubs offer entertainment from late evenings through the night. The town offers accommodations to suit every need, from modern resorts to intimate guesthouses.
Philipsburg has two main streets, the Front Street and the Back Street, and a ringroad built on land reclaimed from the salt pond. All these roads run parallel to Great Bay Beach. Front Street is full of shops that offer great duty-free goods ranging from Italian leather goods and Japanese cameras to native crafts.
Narrow alleyways lead in either direction to arcades and courtyards lined with flowers. You will find traditional West Indian architecture here including characteristic pastel-colored houses with second-story verandas looking out over the street. Back Street contains low cost clothes shops and low budget Chinese restaurants.
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