Oranjestad, Sint Eustatius

This article is about the capital of Sint Eustatius. For the capital town of Aruba, see Oranjestad, Aruba.
Oranjestad
Town

Beach of Lower Town.

Location on the island of Sint Eustatius
Coordinates: 17°29′N 62°59′W / 17.483°N 62.983°W / 17.483; -62.983Coordinates: 17°29′N 62°59′W / 17.483°N 62.983°W / 17.483; -62.983
Country Netherlands
Public body Sint Eustatius
Time zone AST (UTC-4)
Climate Aw

Oranjestad (Dutch pronunciation: [oːˈrɑɲəˌstɑt]; English: Orange[1] Town) is a small town of approximately 1,000 inhabitants; it is the capital of the island of Sint Eustatius in the Caribbean Netherlands.

Geography

Oranjestad is a historic harbour town which is divided into two main sections. Lower Town is a strip of buildings just above sea level along the waterfront, which borders on the island’s safest beach. Lower Town includes dive shops, numerous colonial-era ruins, and the harbour. Upper Town has a restored historic core, and is also the island’s main commercial and residential centre.

History

Historical sites

The restored 'Gezaghebber House' on Kerkstraat

The main historical site in Oranjestad is Fort Oranje, a well-maintained, 17th-century fort in the direct centre of the town, overlooking the waterfront. This cliffside fort has cannons, intact fortifications and a courtyard. Nearby is a museum, the ruins of one of the oldest synagogues in the Western Hemisphere, and a Jewish cemetery.

The town's historical features also include a Dutch Reformed church built in 1755, which is partly in ruins but still accessible (its tower can be climbed for long-distance views), various restored 18th-century merchants’ residences - including the oldest one, the Gezaghebber House (former Lieutenant Governor’s residence) on Kerkstraat - and restored wooden Caribbean-style houses. The ruined buildings now submerged at the seafront can be explored by snorkelling.

Facilities

Oranjestad itself contains grocery stores, restaurants, bars, a library, schools, a clinic and the administrative offices of the government. Oranjestad is a major shopping destination for people from neighbouring Saint Kitts, as many goods, especially imported foodstuffs, are cheaper.

See also

References

  1. The House of Orange-NassauDutch: Het Huis Oranje-Nassau — read Prince of Orange (Dutch: Prins van Oranje) and related articles for more.

External links

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