St Eustatius / Special Interests / Culture & Heritage

St Eustatius is a quiet, friendly island with a relaxed pace of life. Its links with the Netherlands have been permanent since 1816 and seem stronger than on neighbouring Saba, partly because many Dutch buildings and streetnames survive in the capital, Oranjestad. Dutch is taught in schools at secondary level and many islanders have visited Europe at some point. Ties with the USA are also treasured due to the special relationship forged when the island offered the “First Salute” to the fledgling nation in 1776. The difficult years of plantations and slavery are remembered too in the red lines on the national flag, which represent the bright petals of the flamboyant flower used to celebrate the coming of emancipation in 1863, an event marked every July with a government holiday and cultural events.

Today most Statians are employed by the government with the oil terminal and medical university also important sources of revenue. One major problem for islanders is their isolation – the only way in and out of St Eustatius is by taking what is for many an expensive flight. Following on from St Eustatius's switch in October 2010 to become a municipality of the Netherlands, steps are now being taken to stimulate the island economy and a Strategic Development Plan has been launched. Tourism is one way forward now being considered, along with expanding agriculture and fishing, and developing the island as a centre of innovation and technology.

Blue Beads

Sooner or later, you will come across the mystery of the blue beads of St Eustatius. Perhaps you will see them in a museum, or a gift shop, or adorning an islander's neck...

Made from blue glass in Amsterdam in the 17th century, these eyecatching baubles were

used by Dutch traders when negotiating with indigenous tribes around the world – some  say they formed part of the bargain that brought Manhattan under colonial control in 1609. Later they were used as a form of payment to slaves who wore them as a sign of wealth. As St Eustatius was an important entrepôt for both goods and people in the 17th and 18th centuries, many blue beads were exchanged here daily or stored in its waterfront warehouses. There is also a view that on emancipation slaves threw their beads in the sea as a sign of their newfound freedom. One thing is certain – if you want to find one, the best place to look is the beach or offshore snorkelling and diving. Some can be quite valuable – worth as much as $100 each – but there is an unwritten island rule that you never sell a bead, just give it to someone you like, love or who will genuinely appreciate it. Happy hunting!