St Martin’s Day, every 11 November, is when Sint Maarten and Saint-Martin celebrate being one island shared by two nations. The modern celebration dates from 1959, and the two sides take turns hosting the official programme. Here are the recent years we could verify, newest first. Going this year? See our St Martin’s Day 2026 guide.
At a glance
| First celebrated | 1959 |
|---|---|
| Where | Island-wide on Sint Maarten (Dutch side) and Saint-Martin (French side), centred on the Border Monument at Bellevue / Belle Plaine |
| Organisers | Government of Sint Maarten (Department of Culture) and the Collectivité de Saint-Martin, alternating as host |
| Editions | The 2025 celebration was billed as the 66th annual St Martin Day |
| Official pages | Government of Sint Maarten (Facebook) · Collectivité de Saint-Martin (Facebook) |
Host side by year
| Year | Official host | Main celebration venue |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Dutch side | Festival Village, Philipsburg |
| 2024 | French side | Quartier d’Orléans (French Quarter) |
| 2023 | Dutch side | Festival Village, Philipsburg |
Year by year
2025: 66th celebration
Held under the theme “Sankofa”, the day began with the Joy Bells at 7:30am, followed by a motorcycle procession from the Bellevue Border Monument and a wreath-laying ceremony. The National Cultural Parade set off at noon for the Jocelyn Arndell Festival Village, with official speeches and a cultural evening to close. The French Quarter held its own celebration at the Thelbert Carti stadium car park, with football, a fashion show and the Nuff Respect Band.
2024
The French side led the official programme, starting with an ecumenical service at Tabernacle Methodist Church and wreaths at the Border Monument. A parade followed along the RN7, then speeches and a friendship toast at the Thelbert Carti stadium car park, and free entertainment until the Nuff Respect Band closed the night.
2023: 64th celebration
The bells rang at 7:30am before an ecumenical service at St. Martin of Tours Roman Catholic Church in Philipsburg. The Governor, the Préfet, the Prime Minister and the Collectivité’s Vice-President laid wreaths at the Bellevue Border Monument, and a uniformed parade marched to the Festival Village for drills, speeches, a maypole dance and the toast. The afternoon Smaatin National Cultural Parade, a Tradition Wear Display and a cultural concert rounded off the day.
The early years: 1959 onwards
St Martin’s Day was first celebrated in 1959, originally to mark Columbus’s naming of the island on 11 November 1493, the feast of St Martin of Tours. Tradition credits Claude Wathey in the South and Dr Hubert Petit in the North with starting it. From the 1980s the focus shifted to unity and the 1648 Treaty of Concordia, and a 1984 decree made the day a public holiday on the Dutch side. The island song, “O Sweet Saint Martin’s Land”, was written by Gerard Kemps in 1958.
FAQ
When was St Martin’s Day first celebrated? In 1959. The 2025 celebration was billed as the 66th.
Why is it on 11 November? It is the feast of St Martin of Tours, the day Columbus is said to have named the island in 1493.
Who hosts the celebration? The Dutch and French sides take turns. The Dutch side hosted in 2023 and 2025, and the French side in 2024.
What is the Treaty of Concordia? The 1648 agreement between France and the Netherlands that divided the island while allowing free movement across it. It is still in force.
Going this year? Read our St Martin’s Day 2026 guide, see what else is on in the Caribbean Events Calendar, or browse more Caribbean event histories.
Sources
- Government of Sint Maarten: 66th St Martin Day (2025)
- Le Pélican: 2025 programme; 2024 programme
- The Daily Herald: French side hosts (2024); 64th celebration (2023)
- Pearl FM: history of St Martin Day
- St. Maarten Tourist Bureau: culture and history
- Wikipedia: O Sweet Saint Martin’s Land
Last checked: November 2026. We include only years we could verify. Know a year we’re missing? Let us know.