For centuries, Simpson Bay Lagoon was not connected to the sea. It was an inland lake until a hurricane in 1819 breached the natural isthmus in the area that is now Pelican/Billy Folly. This created a natural waterway that was later bridged by a wooden bridge in 1933. In the meantime, ferries connected the now-isolated village of Simpson Bay with the rest of the Dutch side of St. Maarten. The Halley sisters, who operated the ferry service, became closely associated with this short but important shipping route.
A stone bridge followed in 1950, but by then the natural channel had nearly dried up, allowing a road to be constructed alongside it. In 1970, a new channel was dug between the sea and the lagoon, spanned by the Sidney Lejuez (Simpson Bay) Bridge. On the French side, a channel was dug around the same time through the Sandy Ground isthmus. These openings allowed yachts to enter the lagoon and encouraged the growth of the island’s marine industry.
The dredged sand from the excavations on the Dutch side was used to create Snoopy Island, an artificial island in the lagoon between Simpson Bay and Cole Bay, which is currently used by IGY Marinas.
As Princess Juliana International Airport expanded, additional parts of the lagoon were reclaimed at various times to create more land for longer and larger runways.
In January 2015, the Simpson Bay Lagoon Causeway was opened across the lagoon, providing a shorter route between Cole Bay, Marigot, and Princess Juliana International Airport.
Stretching from the Simpson Bay area towards the Lowlands and Marigot, one finds the Simpson Bay Lagoon. Next to a recreation, this area has a mangrove forest area near Mullet Bay Beach.
Simpson Bay Lagoon is in the Pelican taxi zone. See the overview of St. Maarten taxi rates to check what pricing applies from your place of departure.
Buses make a practical alternative to taxis. The lagoon is situated on the Philipsburg–Maho line, with regular service.
