Volkslied

Het nationale volkslied van Sint Maarten is ‘O Sweet Saint Martin’s Land’. Het werd geschreven door de Nederlandse priester Gerard Kemps. Kemps werkte op het Franse deel van Sint Maarten. Later is het volkslied ook vertaald in het Nederlands. Bij officiële gelegenheden wordt het volkslied doorgaans in het Engels ten gehore gebracht.

O sweet Saint Martin’s Land

Where over the world, say where:

You find an island there,

So lovely small with nations free,

With people French and Dutch,

Though talking English much,

As the Sint Maarten in the sea?

Refrein:

O, sweet Sint Maarten’s Land

So bright by beach and strand

With sailors on the sea and harbours free;

Where the chains of mountains green

Variously in sunlight sheen;

O, I love my paradise,

Nature’s beauty very nice! (twice)

How pretty between all green

Flamboyants beaming gleam

Of flowers red by sunlight set!

Thy cows and sheep and goats

In meadows or on roads,

Thy donkeys keen can’t I forget

Refrein:

O, sweet Sint Maarten’s Land

So bright by beach and strand

With sailors on the sea and harbours free;

Where the chains of mountains green

Variously in sunlight sheen;

O, I love my paradise,

Nature’s beauty very nice! (twice)

Sint Maarten, I love thy name,

In which Columbus fame,

And memories of old are closed.

For me a great delight:

Thy Southern Cross by night.

May God the Lord protect thy coast!

Refrein:

O, sweet Sint Maarten’s Land

So bright by beach and strand

With sailors on the sea and harbours free;

Where the chains of mountains green

Variously in sunlight sheen;

O, I love my paradise,

Nature’s beauty very nice! (twice)