Philipsburg is the largest town on Sint Maarten. It sits on the narrow strip of land that separates the Great Salt Pond from Great Bay. Most activity takes place around Frontstreet, the waterfront road. There are numerous shops, restaurants and casinos.
Fort Amsterdam was the first fort the Dutch built in the Caribbean. It dates from 1631 and sits on the peninsula that separates Great Bay and Little Bay. When the Spanish took over, they expanded the fort and built a small chapel. Little remains of the fort, but it offers good views over Philipsburg.
The Sint Maarten Museum has exhibitions of Arawak pottery shards, artifacts and photographs from colonial times, several items from the HMS Proselyte, a ship that sank in 1801, off the coast from Fort Amsterdam and Hurricane Luis that caused severe damage in 1995.
Wathey Square is the center of town. It overlooks Great Bay and features the beautiful 1793-built courthouse. Hawkers can be found everywhere around the square.
On the northern side of the Great Salt Pond is the Sint Maarten Zoo & Botanical Garden, where several animal species can be seen.