GENERAL INFORMATION

Population

The population of Sint Maarten is approximately 60,400 as of the end of 2016 comprising of more than 150 nationalities. Apart from persons born on Curacao, Aruba, Saba, St. Eustatius, Bonaire, Sint Maarten and Dutch nationals, the 10 countries with the highest populations on the Dutch side of the island are: Dominican Republic, Haiti, Dominica, Jamaica, Guyana, India, Great Britain, France, St. Kitts & Nevis, and St. Lucia according to statistical information provided by the Civil Registry Department.

Time Zone

St. Maarten is on Atlantic Standard Time, which is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) minus four (4) hours.

Languages

The official languages are Dutch and English as stated in the Constitution of Sint Maarten.

Currency

The official currency of Sint Maarten at this time remains the Netherlands Antillean Florin (Guilder; Naf./Fls.) and is fixed to the U.S. Dollar at an exchange rate of 1.79 and 1.82. The official currency of the North side of the island is the Euro. No official rate exists. The Euro value depends on the international exchange rate and is between 1.25 and 1.40 US$. The US Dollar is widely accepted on both sides of the

Electricity

110 volts A.C. (50 cycles) on the Dutch side or 208/220 volts (60 cycles) on the French side.

Telecommunications

Telephone service is all over as well as cellular phone and internet service. The island is well connected with the international community.

2023 Public Holidays

All government offices and businesses are officially closed on the following annual public holidays:

New Year’s Day Sunday, January 1st, 2023

Good Friday Friday, April 7th, 2023

Easter Sunday Sunday, April 9th, 2023

Easter Monday Monday, April 10th, 2023

King’s Day Thursday, April 27th, 2023

Labour DayMonday, May 1st, 2023

Carnival DayTuesday, May 2nd, 2023

Ascension Day Thursday, May 18th, 2023

Whit Sunday Sunday, May 28th, 2023

Emancipation DaySaturday, July 1st, 2023

Constitution Day Monday, October 9th, 2023

Sint Maarten Day Saturday, November 11th, 2023

Christmas Day Monday, December 25th, 2023

Boxing Day Tuesday, December 26th, 2023

Copies of these National Public Holidays Schedules may be obtained via the Government website www.sintmaartengov.org