For the past 350 years, St. Maarten has been the Dutch side of the smallest partitioned island in the world. The border between the French and Dutch sides are almost unnoticeable, and people go back and forth freely between the two sides. St. Maarten is more developed than the French side, and also more informal. Philipsburg is the vibrant capital of Dutch St. Maarten, where you can enjoy great prices on goods from jewelry to tobacco and liquor.