It's said that long ago a Frenchman and a Dutchman got pretty tipsy and set off from the pond in the middle of the island, one walking north, one walking south, and set where they met up again as where the two countries would agree to divide the island from the pond to avoid a war.
There are variations of this legend but suffice it to say, the French got a little more and now the island is a bizarre mix of the two nations. The French side has patisseries and pretty towns while the Dutch side has duty free shops, casinos, and strip clubs — sorry — gentlemen's clubs.
Without a doubt the coolest place to be on this island is Maho Beach on the Dutch side. This beach is directly at the start of the island's only runway and you can stand on the sand with jumbo jets passing just feet above your head.