St. Martin is not a big island, about 35 square miles total. You wouldn’t think there could be so much bureaucracy in one small place.
According to our “Lonely Planet Caribbean Islands” guide, the Dutch were the first Europeans to take advantage of the land but the French came along and fought for control as well. As legend has it, they partitioned the island with the Dutch side, Sint Maarten and the French, Saint Martin. Lonely Planet reports that when they partitioned the island the Dutch were drinking some “dodgy gin” and had to “sleep off the ill effects” thereby getting a smaller portion Than the French. Both sides received separation from their homelands in the early 2000’s and rule their part of the island separately.