Saint Martin is a small island in the northeastern Caribbean, uniquely divided between France and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Its history dates back to the Indigenous Arawak and Carib peoples before Christopher Columbus spotted the island in 1493, naming it for the feast day of Saint Martin of Tours. Over the following centuries, Saint Martin became a contested site among European powers, particularly the Dutch and French, who established settlements and eventually agreed to divide the island in the Treaty of Concordia in 1648. This peaceful split remains today, with the northern part being the French Collectivity of Saint-Martin and the southern part a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands called Sint Maarten. Historically reliant on agriculture and salt production, Saint Martin’s economy now thrives on tourism, attracting visitors with its beautiful beaches, vibrant culture, and fusion of European and Caribbean influences.