Philipsburg is situated between Great Bay and the Great Salt Pond.
Philipsburg was founded in 1763 by a Scottish captain in the Dutch navy : John Philips.
To protect the settlement that became an international trade center, 2 forts were built : Fort Amsterdam and Fort Willem.
The main st maarten shopping center is Front Street in Philipsburg. It's the heart of the city along with the boardwalk and Back street so the town is perfect to do your st maarten shopping.
Beside being the capital of St Maarten, Philipsburg is also its port.
The port of st maarten (aka Philipsburg) is visited daily by many cruise liners and its tourists. It's also a cargo port and a regional hub.
