Oranjestad, Sint Eustatius
Encyclopedia
Oranjestad is a small town of nearly 1,000 inhabitants, and is the capital of Sint Eustatius island in the Caribbean Netherlands.
Oranjestad is a historic harbour town. It can be divided into two main sections, the Lower Town along the waterfront with colonial-era ruins, the island's best beach and the still-functioning harbour, and the Upper Town with a restored historic core plus the island's main commercial and residential centre.
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 cannon
s, intact fortification
s 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.
Oranjestad itself contains grocery stores, a school, a clinic and 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.
Sint Eustatius has a medical university
with more than 100 students.
Oranjestad is a historic harbour town. It can be divided into two main sections, the Lower Town along the waterfront with colonial-era ruins, the island's best beach and the still-functioning harbour, and the Upper Town with a restored historic core plus the island's main commercial and residential centre.
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 cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
s, intact fortification
Fortification
Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
s and a courtyard. Nearby is a museum, the ruins of one of the oldest synagogues in the Western Hemisphere
Western Hemisphere
The Western Hemisphere or western hemisphere is mainly used as a geographical term for the half of the Earth that lies west of the Prime Meridian and east of the Antimeridian , the other half being called the Eastern Hemisphere.In this sense, the western hemisphere consists of the western portions...
, and a Jewish cemetery.
The town's historical features also include a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
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.
Oranjestad itself contains grocery stores, a school, a clinic and administrative offices of the government. Oranjestad is a major shopping destination for people from neighbouring Saint Kitts
Saint Kitts
Saint Kitts Saint Kitts Saint Kitts (also known more formally as Saint Christopher Island (Saint-Christophe in French) is an island in the West Indies. The west side of the island borders the Caribbean Sea, and the eastern coast faces the Atlantic Ocean...
, as many goods, especially imported foodstuffs are cheaper.
Sint Eustatius has a medical university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
with more than 100 students.