Philipsburg- "It's incredible that we belong to the same kingdom: there's nothing Dutch here," observed Bibi Schobbers in astonishment. Ms. Schobbers who writes for the religious magazine, Zeilen, left the island Thursday afternoon after spending a week here attending the just-concluded Heineken Regatta, and exploring other stories about the island for her Dutch readers."I will try to convey the friendliness of the people of this island, their inspiring spirituality and the beauty of this paradise to my readers," she said, still bewildered at the fact that the Dutch language ranks about fifth among the plethora of languages spoken on the island.
Accompanied by photographer Guido Peter Briem, who was full of praise for the orderliness he observed among the thousands of people who attended the Heineken Regatta concerts, Ms. Schobbers said she thoroughly enjoyed her stay here and would not hesitate to relocate to live on the island if it were possible.
The group of six journalists - three from Holland and three Brazilians - was visiting the island for the first time and could not hide their excitement about the peculiarity of St. Maarten.
Appearing on Culture Time on PJD-2 radio on Sunday, the Dutch journalists asked as many questions as they answered. They were also guests on "What would I be?" hosted by Valerie van Putten right after Culture Time on the same day.
Following the conclusion of the Heineken Regatta, the Dutch journalists participated in activities such as dive adventures, site inspections and pursued their own story interests.
"This has been an unforgettable experience for me," said Guido, with his camera always at the ready for that unusual shot.
The others concurred.
"We expect that all of this will translate into some really positive coverage for St. Maarten in Holland," commented Regina LaBega, Director of the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau who hosted the journalists as part of government strategy to create a favorable image for the island especially in the new emerging markets where it hopes to increase visitor arrivals.