After nearly 400 years of ambiguity, the Netherlands and France are set to formally establish a border on the Caribbean island of Sint Maarten. The French parliament approved a 2023 proposal on Thursday that legally defines the roughly 10-kilometer boundary between the Dutch territory of Sint Maarten and the French territory of Saint-Martin.
The open border has long separated the self-governing Dutch territory—part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands along with Aruba and Curaçao—from French Saint-Martin. Residents cross freely every day despite separate customs, immigration, and tax systems. However, the lack of a precise line fueled disputes over land use, law enforcement, and environmental management, particularly around the village of Oyster Pond and a contested bay.
The push for a clear border intensified after Hurricane Irma struck in 2017, destroying more than 95 percent of buildings on the island. French lawmaker Bertrand Bouyx, who guided the legislation through parliament, stated: “France can be proud of the fact that it has resolved one of its oldest territorial disputes.” The Kingdom of the Netherlands must still ratify the agreement for it to take effect.
Article and image source: nltimes.nl
