Oranjestad, Sint Eustatius
| 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°WCoordinates: 17°29′N 62°59′W / 17.483°N 62.983°W | |
| 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 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
- ↑ The House of Orange-Nassau — Dutch: Het Huis Oranje-Nassau — read Prince of Orange (Dutch: Prins van Oranje) and related articles for more.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oranjestad, Sint Eustasius. |