Country
Sint EustatiusStatia
First trip: one base in Oranjestad for 4–5 nights of diving and a hike up The Quill, reached by a short flight from Sint Maarten.
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Key facts
- Best months
- Nov–Jun by month →
- Currency
- US dollar (USD)
- Language
- Dutch official
- Plugs
- A · B · 110 V
- Time zone
- UTC−4 all year
Rules in force · 3Several islands (Turks and Caicos above all, also the Bah…
- Caribbean ↗Several islands (Turks and Caicos above all, also the Bahamas and Jamaica) jail visitors for a single stray bullet or cartridge in their luggage; empty every bag and pocket before you pack.
- Caribbean ↗From August to October keep a free last day before your flight home and check the national hurricane centre daily; airports close when a named storm approaches.
- Caribbean ↗Wearing camouflage clothing is illegal for civilians in several islands, including Barbados, Antigua, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Grenada, Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica; leave it at home, children's clothes included.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
Understand in one strip
- Capital
- Oranjestad (Upper Town on the cliff, Lower Town on the bay)
- Status
- Special municipality of the Netherlands (Caribbean Netherlands, with Bonaire and Saba)
- Language
- Dutch official; English is the everyday language
- Currency
- US dollar (USD)
- Plugs
- Types A and B; 110 V 60 Hz (check)
- Driving
- Right-hand side; narrow roads, goats and cows loose
- Emergency
- 911
- Time zone
- UTC−4 all year
Sint Eustatius (Statia) is a special municipality of the Netherlands, part of the Caribbean Netherlands with Bonaire and Saba, so Dutch entry rules for the Caribbean part of the kingdom apply rather than Schengen rules. It is tiny, quiet and reached mainly by small planes from Sint Maarten, which makes weather and connections the main risk. Book the connecting flight with a buffer and keep hurricane season (June–November) in mind.
About Sint Eustatius
A 21 km² volcanic island of about 3,300 people. In the 18th century Statia was one of the busiest free ports in the world — 'the Golden Rock' — trading with the rebel American colonies; its salute to a US ship in 1776 is claimed as the first foreign recognition of the United States. Today it is a quiet special municipality of the Netherlands with an oil terminal and a marine park.
Where's good this month
Statia Day on 16 November; season restarts.
- Whole islandOranjestad, The Quill, BovenPoorPoorwet: daily rain
Warm year-round (27–31 °C (81–88 °F)), trade winds; drier December–May; hurricanes mainly August–October (Irma and Maria both hit in 2017).Warm year-round (81–88 °F (27–31 °C)), trade winds; drier December–May; hurricanes mainly August–October (Irma and Maria both hit in 2017).
Holidays and festivals in November
- Statia Day · 16 Nov — Marks the 1776 salute to the US flag; ceremonies at Fort Oranje.
Pick a route
Dive and hike
- Oranjestad, 6 nightsArrival + day plans
- Sint Maarten buffer, 1 nightsNo guide yet
No diving the day before flying.
Statia and Saba
- Oranjestad, 5 nightsArrival + day plans
- Saba, 4 nightsNo guide yet
- Sint Maarten buffer, 1 nightsNo guide yet
Winair links the islands; ferries only occasionally.
Northern Leewards
- Saint-Martin, 4 nightsGuide
- Oranjestad, 5 nightsArrival + day plans
- Saba, 4 nightsNo guide yet
- Sint Maarten buffer, 1 nightsNo guide yet
Add Anguilla or St Barth by ferry from Saint-Martin.
Top destinations in Sint Eustatius, ranked
Everything is within 15 minutes of town.
Oranjestad
Arrival + day plansForts, museum and Lower Town.
4–7 nights in Oranjestad · Best Dec–Jun
The Quill
No guide yetCrater rainforest hike.
Day hike nights in The Quill · Best Dec–May
Marine park
No guide yetQuiet diving.
Dive days nights in Marine park · Best All year
Decide the trip
What the country is like, who it suits and how long to give it
Open Decide the tripClose Decide the trip7 partsUnderstand in one strip · At a glance · Understand · First vs second trip · Good for · Time math · Fit my nights
Understand in one stripCapital · Status · Language · Currency · Plugs · Driving · Emergency · Time zone
- Capital
- Oranjestad (Upper Town on the cliff, Lower Town on the bay)
- Status
- Special municipality of the Netherlands (Caribbean Netherlands, with Bonaire and Saba)
- Language
- Dutch official; English is the everyday language
- Currency
- US dollar (USD)
- Plugs
- Types A and B; 110 V 60 Hz (check)
- Driving
- Right-hand side; narrow roads, goats and cows loose
- Emergency
- 911
- Time zone
- UTC−4 all year
Sint Eustatius: open now, and what is next
1 region planned
On this page
- 1 of 2 regions open, with where to sleep and for how long
- 1 trip line with arrival paths and day plans
- How to split 3, 5, 7 days
- Money: cash, cards and ATMs
- Safety notes and the rules that apply on every page below
Coming as the guide grows
- The Quill and Boven National Parks — Dormant volcano crater hike and northern hills; day trips · day trips nights
Meanwhile
At a glance
Each bar is 1 to 5. Green means the score makes the trip easier, amber is middling, red is harder; the words next to each score say what that end of the scale means, so colour is never the only signal.
Moderate beds, pricey imported food and flights.
USD cash useful; cards in hotels and dive shops.
English is everyday speech.
Mobile data fine in town; Wi-Fi at guesthouses.
No buses; car, taxi or walking.
Very low crime.
Hot, humid, breezy.
Understand
A 21 km² (8 sq mi) volcanic island of about 3,300 people. In the 18th century Statia was one of the busiest free ports in the world — 'the Golden Rock' — trading with the rebel American colonies; its salute to a US ship in 1776 is claimed as the first foreign recognition of the United States. Today it is a quiet special municipality of the Netherlands with an oil terminal and a marine park.A 8 sq mi (21 km²) volcanic island of about 3,300 people. In the 18th century Statia was one of the busiest free ports in the world — 'the Golden Rock' — trading with the rebel American colonies; its salute to a US ship in 1776 is claimed as the first foreign recognition of the United States. Today it is a quiet special municipality of the Netherlands with an oil terminal and a marine park.
- People
- About 3,300; mostly of African descent, with Dutch and other residents.
- Government
- Public body (special municipality) of the Netherlands since 2010; Dutch direct supervision was introduced in 2018 (check current arrangements).
- Economy
- Oil storage terminal, government and small-scale tourism.
History that still shows on the ground · 6 dates
| When | What happened | Where you meet it today |
|---|---|---|
| 1636 | Dutch settlement | Fort Oranje and the town layout. |
| 1700s | Free-port boom — the 'Golden Rock' | Ruined warehouses of Lower Town, now dive sites. |
| 16 Nov 1776 | Salute to the Andrew Doria | Statia Day and US links. |
| 1781 | Sacked by British admiral Rodney | The end of the boom. |
| 1863 | Abolition of slavery in the Dutch colonies | Emancipation Day, 1 July. |
| 2010 | Netherlands Antilles dissolved | Statia becomes a Dutch public body. |
Read or watch before you go
- The First Salute — Barbara Tuchman.
First trip vs second trip
| Trip | Go to | Why | Leave for later |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dive week (5–7 nights) | Oranjestad base, 8–10 dives, one Quill hike | Wrecks, reefs and quiet sites. | Tight SXM connections home. |
| Short add-on (2–3 nights) | From Sint Maarten | History walk and the crater. | Weekends when flights are few. |
Good for…
Verdict is how well Statia works for that traveller.
Easy but very quiet; the connection is the hard part.
- 1Oranjestad — walkable town.
- 1Oranjestad — local plates only.
- 1Oranjestad — guesthouses and self-catering.
- 1Oranjestad — safe, snorkelling.
- 1Oranjestad — quiet diving escape.
- 1Oranjestad — dive groups.
- 1Oranjestad — calm, but steep streets.
- 1Oranjestad — no luxury resorts.
Steep town and small planes.
- 1Lower Town — flat waterfront.
Time math
- 3 days in total
- Oranjestad 3: one Quill hike, two dive or snorkel days
- 5 days in total
- Oranjestad 5 with four dive days and the crater walk
- 7 days in total
- Oranjestad 7 with a slower dive schedule
Which regions fit my nights?
Tick the regions you are weighing up. The nights are the ranges this guide gives for each region.
Tick the regions you are considering.
Cities
Regions, cities and the places between them
Open CitiesClose Cities5 partsRegions · Cities · Other destinations · See · Do
Regions
Dormant volcano crater hike and northern hills; day trips
day trips nights in this region
Cities
Other destinations
| Place | What | Getting there | Why go / verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Quill | Dormant volcano | Trail from town, 1 h to the rim | Rainforest crater with giant trees and crabs. |
| Boven National Park | Hills and trails | North of the airport | Dry-forest hikes and views. |
| Zeelandia Bay | Atlantic beach | 10 min by car | Wild, walking only — swimming dangerous. |
| Lower Town ruins | Historic waterfront | Walk down the Slave Path | Warehouses of the Golden Rock era, some underwater. |
| Statia National Marine Park | Dive sites | Dive boats | Wrecks, reefs, seahorses and old anchors. |
See
History
- Fort Oranje · Oranjestad
- Honen Dalim synagogue ruins · Oranjestad
- Lower Town warehouses · Oranjestad
A morning covers Upper and Lower Town.
Nature
- The Quill · South of town
- Marine park · West coast
Hike early; dive the rest.
Do
| Activity | Where | Best months | Cost (2026 estimate) | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scuba diving | Marine park | All year | US$110–140 two-tank — check | The main reason to come. |
| Crater hike | The Quill | Morning | Trail fee — check | Steep, 3–4 h round trip into the crater. |
| History walk | Oranjestad | Any day | Free–museum fee | Forts, churches, synagogue ruins. |
Connect the cities
Ready-made routes, the route builder and the legs between cities
Open Connect the citiesClose Connect the cities2 partsItineraries · Route builder
Itineraries by length
One base; the only choice is how many dive days.
7 days
Dive and hike
Sint Maarten → Oranjestad (dives, Quill) → Sint Maarten
- Oranjestad6n
- Sint Maarten buffer1n
No diving the day before flying.
10 days
Statia and Saba
Sint Maarten → Statia → Saba → Sint Maarten
- Oranjestad5n
- Saba4n
- Sint Maarten buffer1n
Winair links the islands; ferries only occasionally.
14 days
Northern Leewards
Saint-Martin → Statia → Saba → Saint-Martin
- Saint-Martin4n
- Oranjestad5n
- Saba4n
- Sint Maarten buffer1n
Add Anguilla or St Barth by ferry from Saint-Martin.
Build a route
Based on: Statia and Saba (10 days, itineraries by length)
- Oranjestad5 nightsTransfer not on file yet: check the A-to-B tool.
- Saba4 nightsTransfer not on file yet: check the A-to-B tool.
- Sint Maarten buffer1 night
Winair links the islands; ferries only occasionally.
What this route costs
- Oranjestad5 nights · city pricesUS$1,500
- Saba4 nightsUS$2,500
- Sint Maarten buffer1 nightUS$650
Total, 2 travelers
US$4,500
Per person per day: US$250
2026 estimate (check): rooms for two, food, local transport and sights; international flights, visas and insurance excluded. Tweak it in the budget calculator.
This month
Weather and crowds by month
Open This monthClose This month2 partsYear at a glance · Climate
Year at a glance
Every month in one list: how it rates, how busy and pricey it is, and which holidays land in it.
- Good value and quiet
- May, Jun
- Busiest or big holidays
- Jul, Aug, Nov
- Rated avoid
- Sep
Jan
GoodCrowds: lowPrices: mediumFeb
GoodCrowds: lowPrices: mediumMar
GoodCrowds: lowPrices: medium- Easter (low impact)
Apr
GoodCrowds: lowPrices: medium- King's Day (medium impact)
- Easter (low impact)
May
GoodCrowds: lowPrices: lowJun
GoodCrowds: lowPrices: lowJul
CautionCrowds: mediumPrices: medium- Statia Carnival (high impact)
- Emancipation Day (medium impact)
Aug
CautionCrowds: lowPrices: low- Statia Carnival (high impact)
Sep
AvoidCrowds: lowPrices: lowOct
CautionCrowds: lowPrices: lowNov
GoodCrowds: lowPrices: medium- Statia Day (high impact)
Dec
GoodCrowds: mediumPrices: medium- Christmas (medium impact)
Climate by region and month
| Zone | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole islandOranjestad, The Quill, Boven | best | best | best | best | best | ok | ok | storm | storm | storm | wet | best |
- Whole island
- Warm year-round (27–31 °C (81–88 °F)), trade winds; drier December–May; hurricanes mainly August–October (Irma and Maria both hit in 2017).Warm year-round (81–88 °F (27–31 °C)), trade winds; drier December–May; hurricanes mainly August–October (Irma and Maria both hit in 2017).
Diving visibility is good all year; swell can close Lower Town shore dives in winter north swells.
Cost
What a day costs, and how to pay
Open CostClose Cost4 partsMoney at a glance · Daily budget · Costs · Money & passes
Money at a glance
Currency and cash
US dollar (USD)
Card and cash both needed
ATMs
On landing: Withdraw USD in town.
A day, per person
- BudgetUS$100–180
- Mid-rangeUS$280–405
- ComfortUS$415–650
Per person per day, bed included
What that covers ↓Tipping
- Restaurants: 10–15% if service is not included.
- Dive crew: US$5–10 per dive day.
Money & passesCard, cash or ATM: the cheapest way to payTipping calculator
Budget per day, per person
Per person per day, sharing a room at mid and comfort. Flights excluded. 2026 estimate.
| Tier | Bed | Food | Transport | Sights | Extras | Total, bed included |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BudgetGuesthouse, self-catering, snorkel and hike | US$50–80 | US$30–45 | US$0–15 | US$10–20 | US$10–20 | US$100–180 |
| Mid-rangeSmall hotel, two dives, dinner out, car | US$80–130 | US$50–70 | US$25–35 | US$110–140 | US$15–30 | US$280–405 |
| ComfortBest rooms, private diving | US$130–200 | US$70–100 | US$35–50 | US$150–250 | US$30–50 | US$415–650 |
Costs per day
Budget
US$120–170
Guesthouse, self-catering, walking and snorkelling.
Per person per day · Includes a bed
Mid-range
US$200–300
Small hotel, two boat dives, restaurant dinner, car.
Per person per day · Includes a bed
Comfort
US$350+
Best hotel room, private diving, car.
Per person per day · Includes a bed
| Typical price | Amount |
|---|---|
| Two-tank boat dive | US$110–140 — check |
| Marine park diving fee | About US$50 per year — check |
| Trail (hiking) fee | About US$12 — check |
| Local lunch plate | US$12–18 |
| Beer | US$3–5 |
2026 estimate, per person. Food is imported; supermarkets are small.
Budget calculator
- Beds1 room × 10 nightsUS$1,500
- Food and drink2 × 10 daysUS$1,200
- Local transport2 × 10 daysUS$1,000
- Sights and tours2 × 10 daysUS$2,500
- Winair SXM – EUX (one way)2 × 1US$300
Trip total, 2 travellers
US$6,500
Per person per day: US$350
2026 estimate. Beds priced per room for two; international flights, insurance and visas excluded. Diving is the main extra; the park fee is paid once.
Money & passes
Cash necessity: 3/5 (5 means cash for most things)
- Currency is the US dollar (USD).
- Cards work in some places, but small shops, taxis and guesthouses may want cash; ATMs are few.
Before you fly: eSIM before you fly · Visas and entry
Getting in
Before you go, entry rules and the first day
Open Getting inClose Getting in5 partsBefore you go · Arrive · Entry · Documents · First 24 hours
Before you go
What to sort, and by when, before a trip to Sint Eustatius. Pick your passport and flight date; everything else follows.
Add your flight date to turn “weeks before” into dates.
US plugs fit
Sockets here: type A, B.
No visa needed: 90 days
Visa-free for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. Return or onward ticket required.
Passport valid long enough
90 days beforeValid for the length of your stay (6 months recommended).
Vaccines and medicines
30 days beforeSome vaccines need weeks or two doses; carry prescriptions in their boxes.
eSIM or roaming
2 weeks beforeLocal operators sell prepaid SIMs; eSIMs for the Dutch Caribbean are available — check coverage.
Cards and cash
2 weeks beforeCard and cash both needed (cash need 3/5). Cards work in some places, but small shops, taxis and guesthouses may want cash; ATMs are few.
Arrival card or e-arrival form
3 days beforeImmigration card or online ED card (check); tourist fee (check).
Lead times are Voykit's safe margins, not official deadlines (check the official portal). The full countdown with calendar reminders: Before-you-go countdown · Passport check.
Arrive
Entry: visas and borders
Statia follows Dutch rules for the Caribbean Netherlands, not Schengen. Passports exempt from Schengen visas are visa-free for up to 90 days; visa-required nationals need a Caribbean Netherlands visa, with exemptions for holders of some valid US, Canadian, UK or Schengen visas — check. You arrive via Sint Maarten, so Sint Maarten's own entry rules apply on the way. A return ticket, accommodation and funds may be asked; an online embarkation/disembarkation card applies in the Caribbean Netherlands — check.
Visa-free for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.
- Cost
- Free
- Form to fill
- Passport, return ticket, accommodation.
- Arrival card
- Immigration card or online ED card (check); tourist fee (check).
- Passport
- Valid for the length of your stay (6 months recommended).
- Onward ticket
- Return or onward ticket required.
| Who | Rule | Stay | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schengen-visa-exempt passports (US, UK, Canada, Australia, most of Latin America) | Visa-free | Up to 90 days in 180 | Sint Maarten rules apply in transit. |
| EU/EEA citizens | Free entry | Long stays possible (check) | Carry a passport; ID-card rules differ — check. |
| Visa-required nationals | Caribbean Netherlands visa or qualifying valid visa | As granted | Check the exemption list before flying. |
By land and river
| Crossing | To / from | Mode | Visa there | Trap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sint Maarten (SXM) – Statia (EUX) | Sint Maarten | Winair, about 20 min | Sint Maarten and Caribbean Netherlands rules | Few daily flights; bags over the weight limit wait for the next plane. |
| Ferry links (Saba, St Kitts) | Saba, St Kitts | Occasional ferries — check | Exit and entry checks | Schedules change often; do not rely on them for connections. |
- Do not fly within 24 hours of your last dive: Winair's hop counts.
Documents checklist
0/4 ready
First 24 hours
Do these on arrival.
Transfer: Taxi or hotel pick-up from EUX (5 min).
Few taxis.
Park tag: Buy the marine park and trail tags at STENAPA or your dive shop.
Required before diving or hiking.
Cash: Withdraw USD in town.
Few ATMs.
Groceries: Stock up before the weekend.
Shops close on Sunday.
Return flight: Reconfirm Winair and count 24 h from your last dive.
Small planes, schedule changes.
Getting around
Modes, times and the clock
Open Getting aroundClose Getting around2 partsGet around · Local time
Get around
| Mode | Oranjestad → Zeelandia beach | Cost | Use it when | What breaks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rental car | Anywhere on the island in 15 min | US$50–70 a day — check | Easiest way to reach trailheads and Zeelandia. | Few cars; book ahead; animals on the road. |
| Taxi | Airport – town 5 min | US$8–15 — check | Meet flights; call ahead otherwise. | Few drivers in the evening. |
| Walking | Upper to Lower Town 10 min (Slave Path) | Free | Town, forts and The Quill trailhead are walkable. | Steep hills and heat; carry water. |
| Dive boat | Sites 5–20 min | Included in dives | All dives go by boat or from Lower Town. | Park fee required first. |
Local time
What time it is there now, compared with the clock on your device.
Oranjestad
…
Checking your clock…America/Kralendijk
Practical
Money rules, safety, holidays, health, phones and phrases
Open PracticalClose Practical14 partsNext 90 days · Holidays · Safety & health · Safety · Safety by region · Health · Scams · Emergency card · Practical · Connect · Talk · Survival phrases · Cope · Who travels
Holidays in the next 90 days
Nov 16
in 15 days
Statia DayBig impact
Nov 16
Marks the 1776 salute to the US flag; ceremonies at Fort Oranje.
Dec 25
in 54 days
ChristmasSome impact
Dec 25–Dec 26
Closures.
The full holiday listHolidays on your datesFestivals by month
Holidays and festivals
| When | What | Impact | What it does to a trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar–Apr (varies) | Easter | low | Closures. |
| 27 Apr | King's Day | medium | Dutch national holiday, events in town. |
| 1 Jul | Emancipation Day | medium | Commemoration of the 1863 abolition of slavery. |
| Late Jul – early Aug (check) | Statia Carnival | high | Parades and parties; rooms fill. |
| 16 Nov | Statia Day | high | Marks the 1776 salute to the US flag; ceremonies at Fort Oranje. |
| 25–26 Dec | Christmas | medium | Closures. |
Safety and health at a glance
Emergency numbers
Where to take care
5/5 for a careful visitor · Very low crime.
- medium Atlantic coast (Zeelandia) · Dangerous currents — no swimming.
Tap water
Health
Main risks: Dehydration and falls, Decompression illness, Dengue, Medical care.
Top scams
- 1. Unofficial booking sites for Winair · Book on the airline site or through your hotel.
Safety
- Traffic drives on the right; roads are narrow and animals roam freely.
- Medical facilities are basic: carry insurance with evacuation cover, especially if you dive.
- Hike The Quill in the morning with water and sturdy shoes; the crater trail is steep and slippery.
- Hurricane season (Jun–Nov): follow local warnings and your airline; if a storm is forecast, leave early or shelter where your accommodation tells you.
Statia is a short hop from Sint Maarten, Saba and St Kitts.
What four governments say
Comparison not available yet for this country
Strikes and disruptions
Official notices for the next 90 days. Open the full calendar.
No official-source strike or disruption notices for the next 90 days
Safety by region
Crime is very low; storms, heat and the sea are the risks.
| Region | Risk | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Oranjestad | low | Steep streets, heat. |
| Atlantic coast (Zeelandia) | medium | Dangerous currents — no swimming. |
Stay healthy
| Risk | Where / when | Do this |
|---|---|---|
| Dehydration and falls | The Quill trail | Start early; boots; 2 litres of water. |
| Decompression illness | Diving | No flying for 24 h after diving; there is no recompression chamber on the island (check nearest). |
| Dengue | Island-wide | Repellent, especially after rain. |
| Medical care | Queen Beatrix Medical Center, Oranjestad | Evacuation for serious cases; insurance essential. |
Scams and overcharges
| Trap | Where | Defence |
|---|---|---|
| Unofficial booking sites for Winair | Search ads | Book on the airline site or through your hotel. |
Emergency card
Sint Eustatius emergency numbers — screenshot this card
Natural and on-the-ground hazards
| Hazard | When / where | Do this |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricanes | Aug–Oct | Follow local orders; leave early if advised. |
| Swell at Zeelandia | All year | Don't swim on the Atlantic side. |
Alerts and apps
- Airline app for Winair changes.
Police, embassies, paperwork
- Serious medical cases are flown to Sint Maarten, Curaçao or Colombia (check).
Emergency card · Sint Eustatius
- My passport
- — · find my embassy
- Insurance
- —
- Staying at
- —
Hospitals with emergency care
- The island's medical centre (check the current name) · Oranjestad, Oranjestad
- Dive medicine · Off island, Oranjestad
Practical
110 V · 60 Hz (check)
US plugs.
- Tap water
- Rainwater and desalinated tap water; many drink bottled — ask your host.
- Toilets
- In hotels, restaurants and the airport.
- Weekly closing days
- Shops close on Sundays and holidays; dive shops may close in September.
Tipping by situation
| Situation | What locals do |
|---|---|
| Restaurants | 10–15% if service is not included. |
| Dive crew | US$5–10 per dive day. |
Opening hours
| What | Typical hours | Watch |
|---|---|---|
| Shops | Mon–Sat 08:00–18:00Mon–Sat 8:00 AM–6:00 PM | Sunday closures. |
| Museum | Weekdays, check hours | Short hours. |
Connect
- Local operators sell prepaid SIMs; eSIMs for the Dutch Caribbean are available — check coverage.
- Numbers
- Country code +599 (3 for Statia).
Talk
English is what you hear; Dutch is used in government and schools.
| Where | Lingua franca | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole island | English, Dutch | Native | Some Spanish from residents from the region. |
- Greet everyone: 'Good morning' goes a long way on a small island.
Survival phrases
Cope
- Supermarkets
- A few small ones; fresh food arrives weekly by boat.
- Banks
- Few ATMs; carry some USD cash.
Travellers with specific needs
| Traveller | On the ground | Do this |
|---|---|---|
| Divers | Excellent and uncrowded. | Certification card and logbook. |
| Families | Safe but little organised entertainment. | Snorkelling off Lower Town. |
| Wheelchair users | Hard: steep town and small planes. | Ask Winair about boarding help. |
Culture and food
Rules, manners, what to eat, where to sleep and what to buy
Open Culture and foodClose Culture and food6 partsRules · Respect & laws · Eat · Drink · Sleep · Buy
Country rules
- Entry follows Dutch rules for the Caribbean Netherlands, which differ from Schengen rules: check official Dutch government sources for your passport.
- The waters around the island are a national marine park: dive with licensed operators and follow park rules and fees.
- Most visitors connect through Sint Maarten: book with enough time between flights and a buffer night on the way home.
Etiquette
- Dutch is the official language; English is the everyday language.
- Greet people when you meet them; it is a small community.
- Dress modestly away from the beach.
- Statia Day (Nov 16)
- Island holiday marking the 1776 'first salute'; events and closures.
- Carnival (July)
- Island festivities; guesthouses fill.
- Hurricane season (Jun–Nov, peak Aug–Oct)
- Storms can close airports and ports for days; ferries and small flights are cancelled first.
Respect and laws that surprise
| Topic | The rule | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Marine park | Buy the park tag, take nothing, touch nothing, don't feed fish. | Fines and removal from dives. |
| Archaeology | Blue glass beads and relics found underwater or on land stay where they are. | Fines; export is illegal. |
| Beachwear | Cover up in town. | Disapproval. |
| Drugs | Dutch soft-drug tolerance does not apply here. | Arrest. |
Everyday manners
| Situation | Do | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Greeting | Say good morning or good afternoon to everyone | Skipping greetings |
| Dress | Cover up in town | Swimwear in shops |
| Diving | Follow the marine park briefings | Taking souvenirs from the sea bed |
Eat
West Indian home cooking with seafood, goat, rice and peas and Dutch touches in the supermarkets; a handful of restaurants and snack bars. Many visitors self-cater.
| Region | Style | Order this |
|---|---|---|
| Oranjestad | Local plates, grills, a few international kitchens | Stewed goat, fried fish, johnny cakes |
Dish finder
Region
Diet
11 of 11 dishes
- Stewed goatIsland-wide
Goat stew
Slow-cooked goat with spices, rice and peas.
Lunch · Usually has lamb
- Fried fish and fungiIsland-wide
Fish and fungi
Local fish with cornmeal-okra fungi.
Lunch · Usually has fish/seafood
- Johnny cakesIsland-wide
Johnny cake
Fried dough, often with saltfish or cheese.
Breakfast · Usually has milk, egg · vegetarian version exists — ask
- SaltfishIsland-wide
Saltfish
Salt cod sautéed with onion and pepper.
Breakfast · Usually has fish/seafood
- Conch stewCoast
Conch
Tender conch in a tomato and herb sauce.
Dinner · Usually has fish/seafood
- LobsterCoast
Grilled lobster
Local spiny lobster, in season.
Dinner · Usually has fish/seafood, milk
- Rice and peasIsland-wide
Rice and peas
Rice with pigeon peas or beans.
Side · No meat or fish in the usual version · vegetarian version exists — ask
- Barbecue chickenIsland-wide
BBQ chicken
Grilled chicken from roadside grills at weekends.
Evening · Usually has chicken
- SouseIsland-wide
Souse
Pickled pork with lime and pepper.
Saturday · Usually has pork
- Coconut tartIsland-wide
Coconut tart
Pastry with sweet coconut filling.
Snack · Usually has egg, milk · vegetarian version common
- Bread puddingIsland-wide
Bread pudding
Baked pudding with raisins and spice.
Dessert · Usually has egg, milk · vegetarian version common
Tags describe the usual recipe, not every kitchen. Stocks and sauces hide animal products: ask, or show the allergy card below.
Table manners
- Small restaurants may have limited hours; call ahead.
Allergy / diet card — show it, do not say it
I have a severe allergy to ___. Does this dish contain ___, or is it cooked with it?
“English is the everyday language; show it to your server.”
- Peanuts
- peanuts
- Shellfish
- shellfish (conch, lobster, shrimp)
- Fish
- fish / fish stock
- Milk
- dairy (milk, butter, cheese)
- Egg
- eggs
- Wheat / gluten
- wheat / flour
Diets: the reality
| Diet | On the ground | Do this |
|---|---|---|
| Vegetarian | Limited menus; self-catering helps. | Ask for rice, peas and vegetables. |
| Nut / shellfish allergy | English spoken; seafood common. | Carry medication; medical care is basic. |
Drink
- Legal age
- 18.
| Drink | What it is | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Local beerImported lagers (Carib, Heineken) | Cold beer at snack bars. | US$3–5 |
| Rum punchRum punch | Rum, fruit juice, nutmeg. | US$6–9 |
| Guavaberry liqueurGuavaberry | Regional berry liqueur, a Christmas drink. | US$5–8 |
- Bars close fairly early; this is a quiet island.
Sleep
| Type | Price (2026 estimate) | Use it for | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guesthouse / apartment | US$80–140 | Oranjestad | Few units; book dive packages early. |
| Small hotel | US$150–250 | Lower Town waterfront | Limited rooms. |
Registration and the law
- Tourist/room taxes are added — check.
Booking reality
- Book rooms and Winair seats together.
Buy
A few small shops; bring what you need.
Prices and bargaining
- Fixed prices.
What to bring home
| Item | Where | Watch |
|---|---|---|
| Local art and crafts | Oranjestad | Small selection. |
Customs allowances on arrival
| What | Limit or rule |
|---|---|
| Blue beads and artefacts | Export forbidden |
Deep dive
Questions, where next, photos, reading and every source
Open Deep diveClose Deep dive3 partsGo next · Deep dive · Sources
Go next
Sources compared: Wikivoyage — Sint Eustatius · Wikipedia — Sint Eustatius. Section coverage was checked against these community guides (CC BY-SA) as secondary sources; the text on this page is Voykit's own, with facts cross-checked against the official sources above.
Deep dive
Statia is 21 km² of volcano and cliff with about 3,300 people — and for a few decades of the 18th century it was one of the richest trading ports on earth. The four chapters explain the Golden Rock years, the first salute to the United States, what lies underwater, and how the island fits into the Kingdom of the Netherlands today.
1The Golden Rock1 min
The Dutch settled Statia in 1636. As a free port that charged no duties, it became the warehouse of the Caribbean in the 1700s: ships of every nation traded sugar, tobacco, cloth, guns and enslaved people along a mile of warehouses in Lower Town. Thousands of ships a year called, and the island's population was many times what it is today.
The boom ended in 1781, when the British admiral George Rodney captured the island, seized its goods and expelled its Jewish merchants. Trade never returned; the warehouses fell into the sea, and the island became a quiet backwater.
- Dutch settlement
- 1636
- Sacked by Rodney
- 1781
2The first salute1 min
On 16 November 1776 the guns of Fort Oranje returned the salute of the Andrew Doria, a ship of the rebel American colonies. It is remembered as the first time a foreign power acknowledged the flag of the United States — and it was one reason Britain treated Statia harshly five years later.
The day is Statia Day, the island's main holiday, and the US has marked it with presidential visits and gifts over the years. Statia supplied the American revolutionaries with gunpowder and arms through much of the war.
- First salute
- 16 November 1776
3What lies underwater1 min
The ruins of Lower Town's warehouses and quays run into the sea, and colonial anchors, cannon and ballast piles lie among the reefs of the marine park, created in 1996. Divers also find blue glass beads, once traded in West Africa; by law they must stay where they are.
The park, run by the St Eustatius National Parks Foundation (STENAPA), protects reefs, seagrass and several wrecks, including ships sunk on purpose as artificial reefs. It is small, uncrowded and funded by the visitor fees every diver pays.
- Marine park founded
- 1996
4Part of the Netherlands, not of Europe1 min
When the Netherlands Antilles were dissolved in 2010, Statia chose to become a special municipality of the Netherlands, like Bonaire and Saba. Its people are Dutch citizens and the Dutch state runs education, health and policing, but the island uses the US dollar, is outside the EU and Schengen, and has its own entry rules.
Governance has been rocky: the Dutch government took over direct administration in 2018 after finding serious failures, and powers have since been returned step by step (check the current status). Daily life turns on the oil terminal, government jobs, and a slowly growing number of divers and hikers.
- Special municipality
- Since 10 October 2010
- Currency
- US dollar (since 2011)
Read, watch, wordsReading · Glossary · Sources
Reading
- The First Salute — Barbara TuchmanStatia's role in the American Revolution.
Glossary
| Term | Local | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Statia | Everyday name for Sint Eustatius. | |
| STENAPA | St Eustatius National Parks Foundation. |
Read for this deep dive
Background reading only: the text above is written by Voykit, not copied from these pages.
Sources
- secondaryWikivoyage — Sint Eustatius
- officialUK FCDO travel advice: Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba
- officialRijksdienst Caribisch Nederland (government of the Caribbean Netherlands)
- officialGovernment of the Netherlands — travelling to the Caribbean Netherlands
- officialSTENAPA — St Eustatius National Parks Foundation
- officialWinair
Ask about Sint Eustatius
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