PARIS – The French Parliament has approved the agreement that formally establishes the border between Dutch Sint Maarten and French Saint-Martin, ending centuries of uncertainty surrounding the exact boundary between the two territories.
The border issue dates back to the 1648 Treaty of Concordia, which divided the island between the Netherlands and France. However, the original agreement left room for interpretation, leading to repeated disputes between the two countries over the centuries.
One of the more recent conflicts occurred in 2016, when French gendarmes entered a Dutch restaurant in Oyster Pond to halt renovation work, claiming that the construction lacked the required permits. The incident led to diplomatic protests from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Following pressure from the Dutch Parliament, France was invited to formally establish the border through a new treaty. However, negotiations progressed slowly. Eventually, the governments of the Netherlands and France signed an agreement on May 26, 2023, defining the border in detail across 348 specific points.
With the approval by the French Parliament, France has completed its legislative process. The Netherlands has not yet finalized its approval procedure. The matter is still being prepared in writing in the Dutch Second Chamber.
The issue has received limited political attention in the Netherlands, although one parliamentary faction recently submitted questions regarding the involvement of local stakeholders during the negotiations.
Members of the PRO faction asked the Dutch government to explain how it maintained contact and coordination with residents and businesses directly affected by the Oyster Pond border dispute.
Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Berendsen still has to respond to the questions. After the summer recess, the treaty is expected to continue through the Dutch parliamentary process, first in the Second Chamber and afterward in the Senate.
Once both countries complete their approval procedures, the new agreement will provide a legally defined border and greater certainty for residents, businesses and authorities on both sides of the island.