Best Beaches in St Maarten Dutch Side: A Local Guide (2026)
The best beaches in St Maarten, Dutch side, are Mullet Bay for calm swimming, Maho for plane spotting, Simpson Bay for long sandy walks, and Great Bay by the Philipsburg cruise pier. The Dutch south runs on US dollars, generally charges no annual property tax, and connects to the French side beaches with no border checkpoint to cross.
- Mullet Bay is the widest, calmest swimming beach on the Dutch side, with free access and natural shade.
- Great Bay in Philipsburg is the St Maarten beach nearest the cruise port, an easy walk along the harbor from the pier.
- The Dutch side has no annual property tax, and buyer closing costs generally run about 4 to 6 percent. Confirm your own numbers with your notary.
- You can drive from Dutch-side Maho to French-side Orient Bay without stopping at a border checkpoint, because there is not one.
What are the best beaches in St Maarten on the Dutch side?
The best beaches in St Maarten on the Dutch side are Mullet Bay, Maho Beach, Simpson Bay, Great Bay in Philipsburg, and Dawn Beach. Mullet Bay has the calmest water and the softest sand, Maho sits directly under the airport approach, and Great Bay gives you the shortest walk from the cruise pier.
I live on the Dutch south, and these are the beaches I actually take buyers to when they visit. Mullet Bay, next to the old Mullet Bay golf grounds, is my first stop for anyone who just wants to swim. The water is usually flat, the sand is pale and fine, and the sea grape trees give enough shade that you do not need to rent a chair. When a north swell rolls in, the same beach picks up rideable waves and the surfers arrive.
Living in Simpson Bay puts you on a long, straight run of sand with restaurants and marinas at your back. Dawn Beach on the east coast faces the sunrise and a reef, so it rewards a mask and fins more than a lazy float. Great Bay curves around Philipsburg, the capital, and it is the beach most cruise visitors see first.
| Beach | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Mullet Bay | Calm swimming, some surf | Free access, natural shade, limited parking |
| Maho Beach | Plane spotting, beach bars | Small and busy under the flight path |
| Simpson Bay | Long walks, sunset dinners | Wide beach, easy to reach, near the marina |
| Great Bay, Philipsburg | Cruise days, boardwalk | Closest beach to the cruise pier |
| Dawn Beach | Snorkeling, sunrise | Reef offshore, water less calm |
Which St Maarten beach is closest to the cruise port?
Great Bay is the St Maarten beach nearest the cruise port. From the cruise pier in Philipsburg it is a short walk along the harbor to the Great Bay boardwalk and its sand. Maho and Mullet Bay sit farther west and need a taxi or a car.
Great Bay works well if you are here for a few hours off a ship. The boardwalk runs the length of the beach, with bars, chair rentals, and duty-free shops one street back. The trade-off is crowds: on a heavy cruise day the sand near the pier fills fast.
On a heavy cruise day I skip Great Bay and drive over to Mullet Bay, or cross to the French side. If you are off a ship and short on time, the boardwalk is fine, but the water is calmer and clearer a little way out of town.
A Philipsburg address is loud on ship days and quiet in the low season. I walk buyers through that trade-off regularly.
What are the best things to do and excursions in St Maarten?
The best things to do in St Maarten mix beach time with water. Popular picks include snorkeling at Creole Rock, a day sail to Tintamarre or over to Anguilla, watching jets land over Maho Beach, and eating through Grand Case on the French side. Most of the best excursions in St Maarten leave from Simpson Bay or Oyster Pond, where the border between the two sides runs.
Here is what I send visitors to first:
- Maho Beach plane spotting. Jets pass low over the sand on their approach to the SXM airport. It is loud, it is free, and every first-timer wants to see it. More on the area is in the Maho neighborhood guide.
- Snorkel and boat trips. Half-day catamaran runs to Tintamarre, Creole Rock, or the reefs off the east coast are the easy win. Take an early slot, because the trade winds build through the day.
- Island drive. With no border checkpoint you can start with breakfast in Simpson Bay and be in Grand Case, the dining village, or Marigot on the French side the same morning.
- Butterfly farm, forts, and Loterie Farm. A break from the sand.
For a working resident the appeal is that these are not once-a-year trips. They are Tuesday afternoons.
Dutch side vs French side beaches: how do they compare?
On St Maarten, the Dutch side beaches are livelier and easier to reach, while the French side beaches like Orient Bay and the quiet coves of Terres Basses feel more open. There is no border checkpoint, so you can drive from a Dutch-side beach to a French one without stopping.
The St Maarten Dutch vs French side question comes up on almost every buyer call. The Dutch south has the airport, the marinas, and most of the nightlife, and it runs on the US dollar. The French north is quieter, with the dining village of Grand Case and wider beaches, some of them clothing-optional, and it runs on the euro. Money and rules differ too, which matters if you plan to buy.
The Dutch side is generally cheaper to buy and to hold. I am an agent, not a notary or a tax advisor, so confirm your numbers with your notary.
| Item | Dutch side (Sint Maarten) | French side (Saint-Martin) |
|---|---|---|
| Currency in daily use | US dollar | Euro |
| Signature beaches | Mullet Bay, Maho, Simpson Bay | Orient Bay, Grand Case, Terres Basses |
| Buying closing costs | Generally about 4 to 6 percent | Often 7 to 8 percent |
| Annual property tax | None on the Dutch side | Yes, French and EU rules apply |
You do not have to choose one side. I live on the Dutch south for the dollar, the airport, and no annual property tax, and I drive north for lunch.Wei Landgraf, Dutch-side resident agent
If you want the full breakdown, I wrote a longer piece on how the Dutch side and French side compare.
How much does it cost to live near the beach in St Maarten?
Living near the beach in St Maarten is generally cheaper to buy and to hold on the Dutch side than on the French side. Buyers pay about 4 to 6 percent in closing costs, there is no annual property tax on the Dutch side, and daily life runs on US dollars. Your real ongoing costs are electricity, water, and insurance.
When people ask about the cost of living in St Maarten, they picture rent or a mortgage. The surprise line item is utilities. Electricity is one of the bigger monthly costs here, so an air-conditioned beach condo can run a real bill. Ask the building manager what a unit costs to run over a full year. Imported groceries add up too. That is the honest side of the Sint Maarten cost of living that a glossy listing will not show you.
On the buying side, a civil-law notary is mandatory. The notary handles the title search, the deed, escrow, and registration, which is why buyers here do not use US-style title insurance. The range is roughly 4 percent transfer tax plus about 1 to 1.5 percent notary fee, and the seller usually pays the agent commission. Confirm the figures with your notary and your tax advisor, because I do not give legal or tax advice.
One more honest note: St Maarten sits inside the hurricane belt. Hurricane Irma hit in September 2017 and standards improved afterward, so ask how any beach property was built or repaired. For a fuller picture, see my rundown of the cost of living in St Maarten.
Is St Maarten one of the best Caribbean islands to retire near the beach?
St Maarten ranks among the best Caribbean islands to retire near the beach if you want direct flights, US dollars, and no annual property tax on the Dutch side. It suits people who want an active island rather than a sleepy one. Retirees should confirm residency, tax, and health coverage with the right advisors.
The case for retiring here is practical. Princess Juliana airport on the Dutch side is a major regional hub with direct routes to the US and Europe, so family visits are easy. You spend in dollars, foreign buyers can own freehold, and the island is only about 87 sq km, so nothing is far away.
The trade-offs are real. The island sits inside the hurricane belt, unlike Aruba, so insurance and build quality matter. Visitors from the US, Canada, the UK, and the EU generally arrive on a passport with no visa for up to 90 days, and staying longer means a residence permit. Check the current rule with immigration before you rely on it. If you are weighing the move, start with my guide to what moving to SXM actually involves.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best beach in St Maarten for swimming?
Mullet Bay is the best St Maarten beach for swimming on the Dutch side. The water is usually calm and the sand is soft and pale. Access is free, though parking is limited, so I get there early on busy days.
Which St Maarten beach is nearest the cruise port?
Great Bay, the beach that wraps around Philipsburg, is nearest the cruise port. From the cruise pier it is a short walk along the harbor. It has a boardwalk with bars, chair rentals, and shade. On a heavy cruise day it fills up quickly, so Mullet Bay is the calmer option.
Can you drive between the Dutch and French sides of St Maarten?
Yes. There is no border checkpoint on St Maarten, so you drive freely between the Dutch south and the French north. From a Dutch-side beach like Maho you can be at Orient Bay the same afternoon, traffic depending. Keep your passport for flights, not for the drive.
Is there property tax on beachfront homes in St Maarten?
On the Dutch side of St Maarten there is no annual property tax, which is one reason buyers compare it favorably with the French side. Buyer closing costs generally run about 4 to 6 percent, and a civil-law notary handles the deed and registration. Confirm your situation with your notary.
Is St Maarten a good place to retire near the beach?
St Maarten is a strong choice to retire near the beach if you want direct US and European flights, US dollars in daily life, and no annual property tax on the Dutch side. It sits inside the hurricane belt, so factor in insurance and build quality. Stays beyond 90 days need a residence permit, so verify current rules with immigration.
What are the best excursions in St Maarten?
The best excursions in St Maarten include snorkeling at Creole Rock, day sails to Tintamarre or over to Anguilla, and the plane-spotting scene at Maho Beach. Most boats leave from Simpson Bay or Oyster Pond. On a cruise day, a beach-and-snorkel combo gives you the most island in the least time.
