Informashon
In ‘Beyond the Tourist Trap’, Menno P. Sypkens Smit offers a layered examination of the cultural identity of Sint Maarten, moving past surface-level representations often tailored to tourism. Rather than focusing solely on the island’s appeal as a vacation destination, the book dives into the deeper historical, social, and environmental forces that have shaped everyday life and cultural expression on the island.
Sypkens Smit explores topics such as the island’s geological formation, its flora and fauna, archaeological findings, and the legacies of colonialism and migration. He also looks critically at how global economic pressures and the tourist industry influence local identity, traditions, and values. Drawing from ethnographic observation, historical sources, and interviews, the book weaves a comprehensive portrait of a community negotiating its past and present in a rapidly changing world. It invites readers to engage with Sint Maarten not just as a picturesque destination, but as a living, evolving society with a complex cultural fabric.
Contents
Preface ….. xi
Acknowledgements ….. xiii
Chapter 1. The physical setting of St. Maarten ….. 1
How the island was formed ….. 3
Flora ….. 16
Fauna ….. 20
Chapter 2. St. Maarten before Columbus ….. 25
Finds and discoveries ….. 27
Conclusions from the archaeological finds ….. 35
Soualouiga and Oüalichi ….. 36
Some stories and rumours ….. 37
Have the Spaniards met Indians on St. Maarten? ….. 38
Chapter 3. St. Maarten since Columbus: the first centuries ….. 41
The Spaniards ….. 43
Other nations ….. 43
The Treaty with France ….. 45
The 17th and 18th centuries ….. 46
The 19th century ….. 49
Capter 4. St. Maarten since Columbus: …and what the first centuries left us ….. 57
Family names and names of ‘buurtschappen’ ….. 59
Forts on the Dutch side ….. 63
Cannon ….. 67
Estates and graveyards….. 72
Estates on the French side ….. 92
Thatched houses ….. 96
Family-names and -houses ….. 101
Ruins in Simpson Bay ….. 107
The French side ….. 107
Social climate ….. 107
Conclusions ….. 111
Chapter 5. The last hundred and fifty years: the facts ….. 123
Abolition ….. 125
Migration ….. 126
Economic situation ….. 127
Tourism ….. 127
The population ….. 128
The consequences of the tourist industry ….. 129
People in the historical background ….. 134
Chapter 6. The last hundred and fifty years: the stories ….. 135
Royal visits ….. 137
Abolition ….. 137
Upperclass social life ….. 138
Lower class social life ….. 140
B’o monkey ….. 143
Riddles ….. 143
Stories and anecdotes ….. 147
Ghost stories ….. 153
Bilocation ….. 154
Obeah ….. 154
Daily life ….. 155
Food ….. 159
Games ….. 163
Jollification ….. 164
Songs ….. 165
Satirical songs ….. 172
Dance and music ….. 175
Parties ….. 178
Masquerades ….. 179
Queen’s birthday ….. 179
Sports and games ….. 182
Cotton ….. 184
Tintamarre ….. 187
Petit fond ….. 191
Agriculture and cattle-raising ….. 191
Salt industry ….. 194
Seasonal migration ….. 198
Sto. Domingo ….. 200
Aruba and Curaçao ….. 202
Chapter 7. St Maarten culture today ….. 205
Introduction ….. 207
Cultural identity ….. 209
Anglo-Caribbean ….. 209
Anglicisms; Latinisms ….. 210
French and Dutch influences ….. 210
Africanisms ….. 210
Local language ….. 218
Local beliefs ….. 220
Some other cultural elements ….. 221
Customs and traditions ….. 222
Carnival ….. 225
Simpson Bay ….. 225
Other cultural groups ….. 225
Music ….. 227
Local literature ….. 227
Denied identity ….. 228
Chapter 8. The carnival goes on ….. 235
The Klondike of the Caribbean ….. 237
The dichotomous desire ….. 237
Pseudo-historical monuments ….. 240
Active appreciation ….. 244
