Dutch Quarter is one of the larger residential districts on the Dutch side of St. Maarten. It is located between Philipsburg and French Quarter and is a main access point along the road from the Dutch side’s capital toward the northeastern side, including destinations such as Orient Bay. The area also sits close to the transition between the Dutch and French sides of the island.
Along the main road through Dutch Quarter, visitors can find one of the island’s older plantation houses, the Belvedere Plantation. The property consists of a main house, which is still occupied and a series of ruins mainly located west of the house. The exact date the plantation was built is unknown. The complex survived both the post-slavery period and the modern period.
Dutch Quarter is also associated with Alec “The Butcher”, whose statue stands on a roundabout near the border between the Dutch and French sides. Alexander Lionald Richardson was known for farming and selling fresh meat.
The same roundabout features statues of Jean-Frederique Brooks, known as Tata the Bus Driver, and Florian Eulalie Duzanson, known as Lalie. Visit St. Maarten notes that many considered all three national heroes.
Belvedere Plantation and the monuments are located within the Dutch Quarter taxi zone. The Belvedere Plantation is also close to the busy Philipsburg–Dutch Quarter bus route, making public transportation an option for visitors exploring the area.
Dutch Quarter can be included in an island tour when traveling from Philipsburg toward French Quarter and the northeastern part of St. Maarten. Along this route, visitors can combine the area’s historical landmarks with other destinations, including Orient Bay for a broader look at the island’s history, culture and scenery.
Find the Dutch Quarter area on the map below!
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