When Britain lost the American War of Independence, the new country's allies, the French, threatened Britain's Caribbean Empire but off Les Saintes the English navy decisively defeated the French in 1782.
Philipsburg, the Dutch capital of St. Marteen, was founded in 1736. This is a quiet and beautiful city marked by narrow streets and some buildings that bring back memories of the Dutch rule of yesteryear. With the kindness of its people and a rich cultural diversity in tow, this is no doubt an ideal spot to enjoy your vacations. In the city and its surroundings, you could have tons of fun in an assorted tourist infrastructure made up of shopping malls, hotel compounds, nightclubs, restaurants and lots of sightseeing locations that bring you closer to the history of this island. Some must-sees include Fort Willem, the Palace of Justice, the Botanical Garden and superb beaches like Gran Playa de Bahia, Dawn (northeast of the city), Guana and Bahia Simpson (east of the island), and Cupecoy. All of these beaches are equipped with ideal conditions to practice any kind of sport, especially nautical ones. From Philipsburg you can stare at huge cruises that dock in these quite and turquoise-water Caribbean beaches. Air connections include abundant flights that take you in and out of this destination.
When Britain lost the American War of Independence, the new country's allies, the French, threatened Britain's Caribbean Empire but off Les Saintes the English navy decisively defeated the French in 1782.
