Climate
The Antillean economy is characterized by its smallness, geographic fragmentation, poor natural resources endowment and openness. The Netherlands Antilles covers an area of 800 square km divided over five islands (Curacao, Bonaire, Sint Maarten, Saba and Sint Eustatius) of which Sint Maaten is 16 square miles. The average population density is 1537 persons per square km and an average wind speed of 4.1 m/s. The average temperature of St. Maarten is 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius) in the winter and 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius) in the summer. The sun shines for approximately 8 hours a day. The average rainfall yearly is 40 inches. The water temperature is approximately 78 degrees Fahrenheit (25.6 degrees Celsius). Gentle trade winds keep the humidity low.

Population
The population of St. Maarten at last census count for 2000, was 42728 people of various nationalities. The average growth rate in 1999 was 2.3 %.

Time Zone
St. Maarten is on Atlantic Standard Time, which is Greenwich Mean Time minus four hours.

Languages
Dutch is the official language of Dutch St. Maarten and French of French St. Martin. English is widely spoken on both sides of the island. Papiamento, a dialect that is made up of Spanish, Portuguese and Creole, can also be heard as well as German, Portuguese, Italian and Spanish.

Currency
The official currency of St. Maarten is the Netherlands Antilles Florin (NAF/Fls) is fixed to the US$ at an exchange rate of 1.79. The official currency of St. Martin is the Euro. No official rate could be given due to the fact that the Euro stays mostly in the range of 1.15 Euro to 1 US$. The US dollar is widely accepted but can also be used in stores at a rate between 1.80 and 1.82.

Electricity
110 volts A.C. (50 cycles) on the Dutch side or 208/220 volt (60 cycles) on the French side.

Public Holidays
All government offices are officially closed on the following days.
All hotel facilities, certain stores, most restaurants, car rentals and airlines remain operating:

* Easter Sunday
* Easter Monday
* April 30 (Queen’s Birthday)
* May 1 (Labor Day)
* May 2 (Carnival Day)
* Ascension Day
* December 26 (Boxing Day)

It is mandatory for all government offices, stores and most businesses (except hotels, the airport and car rentals) to be closed on the following holidays:

* January 1 (New Year’s Day)
* Good Friday
* November 11 (St. Maarten’s Day)
* December 25 (Christmas Day)