Philipsburg, Saint Martin: Pieter Stuyvesant Statue

Most Americans associate Pieter Stuyvesant with New York City. So what's a statue of him doing in St. Martin, greeting tourists as they go through a shopping center near the port in Philipsburg?

It's a slightly long story. Stuyvesant was in Curacao in the Netherlands Antilles (near South America) in 1638. Six years later, he received orders from the Dutch government to take back Sint Maarten from the Spanish, who had taken it from the Netherlands in 1633. Upon landing, Stuyvesant took a wound in the leg, and soon had to have the limb amputated. 

"Peg Leg Pete" returned to the battle, which lasted for another year or so and a Dutch defeat. Then it was on to his next assignment - governor of New Netherland - New York to us. He stayed in that role until 1664, when the British claimed control of the land. Stuyvesant hung around in New York as a private citizen, where he died in 1872. Pieter is buried at St. Mark's Cemetery.

By all accounts, Stuyvesant was something of a dictator - although maybe tough and hard-headed are better words. In any event, it's interesting that he is remembered here.

Here's a video of the story: