Fort Amsterdam, Philipsburg

Fort Amsterdam is a site in the beginnings of restoration of a 1700’s port defense fort. An amazing piece of history but the restoration has a long way to go. This piece of history is now - and certainly when restoration makes it farther along - will be a telling piece of the sea battle history of the Caribbean.

Great place to see old historic items and learn more history of this fort. You will walk through a gate, and then up a slight hill to get to this place. There are several boards detailing the history of the different houses still at this for. Great place to see cannons and amazing views. Brings sunscreen, hat and some water.

A historical location of the old Dutch, Spanish, English held fort during colonial times. To get there you have to go through a resort, which may or may not allow you to park there. Once you walk through the resort, which is mostly uphill, you can walk around freely and check out what is left of the old fort structures and cannons. There are no tickets or cost to get in. It is rocky, so wear appropriate shoes. You may see some wildlife, like iguanas in the bushes, they are harmless. The whole thing probably takes 30 mins to check out plus walking time.

This very well may have been our favorite part of Sint Maarten. No trip would be complete without coming here. The cliffs are breathtaking and the old Dutch forts and cannons really bring you back to a different time. One thing to note is that if you're not a guest at the nearby resort, you need to park your car outside the boom gate at the entrance of the resort. The parking there is wretched, so you can scratch your bumper or the bottom of your car if you're not careful. Choose a safe spot to park in. Otherwise, totally worth it and a nice opportunity to get some exercise, sunshine and history!

After a small hike up the hill you are greeted by the ruins of Fort Amsterdam. There is a beautiful view of the sea and city. Flip flops might not be okay for some as the hike can be steep.