Philipsburg, Netherlands Antilles
Encyclopedia
Philipsburg is the main town and capital of the country of Sint Maarten, on a narrow stretch of land between Great Bay and the Great Salt Pond. It functions as the commercial center of Saint Martin
island, whereof Sint Maarten encompasses the southern half. , it has 1,338 inhabitants.
It was discovered by Christopher Columbus
on 11 November 1493 but there was already an Arawak settlement there before he made the discovery. Philipsburg was founded in 1763 by John Philips, a Scottish captain in the Dutch navy, and soon became a bustling centre of international trade. Two historic forts bear witness to Philipsburg's strategic importance in St. Maarten's history: Fort Amsterdam
and Fort Willem.
The main shopping district, Front Street, is in the heart of the city. Philipsburg has a port that is home to many cruise liners, ships like Celebrity Solstice, Crown Princess, Disney Magic, and in 2010 Oasis of the seas will call there.
(IATA: SXM, ICAO: TNCM), west of Philipsburg, has become for many a reason in itself to visit Sint Maarten.
Due to its short runway (2,180 metres, 7,200 ft), airplanes on approach for Runway 09 have to fly at unusually low altitudes, overflying mere 10-20 metres (30-60 ft.) over nearby Maho Beach
.
Jet blast
from departing aircraft is also another 'attraction' as it creates artificial waves. However, jet blast is an actual hazard and people need to exercise caution; local authorities placed a warning on the airport's fence to warn people of the dangers of jet blast.
Saint Martin
Saint Martin is an island in the northeast Caribbean, approximately east of Puerto Rico. The 87 km2 island is divided roughly 60/40 between France and the Kingdom of the Netherlands ; however, the Dutch side has the larger population. It is one of the smallest sea islands divided between...
island, whereof Sint Maarten encompasses the southern half. , it has 1,338 inhabitants.
It was discovered by Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
on 11 November 1493 but there was already an Arawak settlement there before he made the discovery. Philipsburg was founded in 1763 by John Philips, a Scottish captain in the Dutch navy, and soon became a bustling centre of international trade. Two historic forts bear witness to Philipsburg's strategic importance in St. Maarten's history: Fort Amsterdam
Fort Amsterdam (Sint Maarten)
Fort Amsterdam is a historic fort on the island of Saint Martin, near the Sint Maarten town of Philipsburg. The fort was built by the Dutch in 1631. Located near Great Bay and Little Bay, it was soon captured by the Spanish who occupied it as a military post until 1648. In that year the partition...
and Fort Willem.
The main shopping district, Front Street, is in the heart of the city. Philipsburg has a port that is home to many cruise liners, ships like Celebrity Solstice, Crown Princess, Disney Magic, and in 2010 Oasis of the seas will call there.
Princess Juliana International Airport
World famous for its close-proximity photographs of landing aircraft, Princess Juliana International AirportPrincess Juliana International Airport
Princess Juliana International Airport serves the Dutch part of the island of Sint Maarten. In 2007, the airport handled 1,647,824 passengers and 103,650 aircraft movements. The airport serves as a hub for Windward Islands Airways and is the major gateway for the smaller Leeward Islands,...
(IATA: SXM, ICAO: TNCM), west of Philipsburg, has become for many a reason in itself to visit Sint Maarten.
Due to its short runway (2,180 metres, 7,200 ft), airplanes on approach for Runway 09 have to fly at unusually low altitudes, overflying mere 10-20 metres (30-60 ft.) over nearby Maho Beach
Maho Beach
Maho Beach is a beach on the Dutch side of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin, in the country of Sint Maarten. It is famous for the Princess Juliana International Airport adjacent to the beach....
.
Jet blast
Jet blast
Jet blast is the phenomenon of rapid air movement produced by the jet engines of aircraft, particularly on or before takeoff.A large jet-engined aircraft can produce winds of up to 100 mph up to 200 feet behind it at 40% maximum rated power...
from departing aircraft is also another 'attraction' as it creates artificial waves. However, jet blast is an actual hazard and people need to exercise caution; local authorities placed a warning on the airport's fence to warn people of the dangers of jet blast.