Although France and the Netherlands have shared the island since 1648, St Martin has also been occupied by Spain and Britain.
Nieuw Nickerie is the major city of the Nickerie District, the largest in Suriname, and was founded in August, 1879. The city is protected by a dam whose construction got underway in 1942. The dam has been getting longer and longer until a length of 8 kilometers. Visitors can travel along the dam from the location of Zeedijk (near the lighthouse) all the way to Corantijn Beach. In Nieuw Nickerie, visitors can take a stroll down its checkered streets designed like a chess board that run from north to south and from east and west all the way to the main street stretching all along the Nickerie River. The characteristics of the region's soil make it great for growing rice and bananas, the number-one source of revenue for the country. The place is equally attractive for a number of migratory birds that play a major role in both the biological and ecological balance for the zone. From anywhere around the island, you can enjoy the natural beauty of the environment and steal a look at fayalobis (rubiaceae), Suriname's most popular flowers.
Although France and the Netherlands have shared the island since 1648, St Martin has also been occupied by Spain and Britain.
