SintMaartens

Sint Maarten is a Dutch constituent country comprising the southern part of the island of Saint Martin in the Caribbean. The northern part of the island is the French Collectivity of Saint-Martin. Sint Maarten is located about 300 kilometers (190 mi) east of Puerto Rico. The country consists of an area of 34 square kilometers (13 sq mi). The capital is Philipsburg. The official language is Dutch and the common language is English. The currency is the United States dollar. The population is approximately 43,000.

The island was first inhabited by the Arawak people, followed by the Carib people. The first European contact was made by Christopher Columbus in 1493. The island was claimed by both France and the Netherlands. In 1648, the Treaty of Concordia divided the island between the two nations. Sint Maarten has a tropical climate with average temperatures of 27.5 °C (81.5 °F) year-round. The economy is primarily based on tourism, with a focus on luxury resorts, casinos, and duty-free shopping. The island is also a popular destination for cruise ships. Sint Maarten is a parliamentary democracy. The head of state is the monarch of the Netherlands, represented by a Governor. The head of government is the Prime Minister. The country is a member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.