St. Maarten is a culturally diverse nation, famously known for being shared by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and France. The union is upheld by the Treaty of Concordia signed in 1648. The Dutch side is 16 square miles and the French 21 square miles but interestingly, English is the mother-tongue of the entire island. St. Maarten’s two-state offering is beyond any two-for-one special you can think of. The Friendly Island, as it’s affectionately referred to, was a rural destination before its urbanization. Scenes of the past are seen in the multiple historical sights, buildings, and rich traditions of people today.