Statia: leisurely wander around in an open-air museum

The Dutch Reformed Church was built in 1755. The north and west walls of the tower were plastered white to serve as a beacon for those at sea. Every historical building material that was available on the island at that time can be found in this church.

The synagogue Honem Dalin or "She who is charitable to the poor" was completed in 1739. The Synagogue is the third oldest Caribbean synagogue and its inhabitants are said to have endured many hardships over the past 100 years. Ultimately, it stands in its current state as a majestic ruin.

The Roman Catholic Church of Sint Eustatius was built in 1910 and is dedicated to the Saint whose name was given to the island. The original church sits perched on the edge of the cliff. It is an 18^th-century building located to the left of the Catholic Church.

The Bethel Methodist Church dates back to 1843. It was built to replace a chapel that had been destroyed earlier that year by an earthquake felt as far away as New York. The bell hanging in the tower was cast in London in 1894. Methodism was introduced to Sint Eustatius by a slave named Black Harry and would later grow to become the largest denomination on the island.

The Dutch built this fort immediately after they occupied Statia in 1636. Overlooking the anchorage of Oranje Bay and the slave “climbing” path leading from the beach to the rest of the island, the fort was named after the first family of the Netherlands: the House of Orange. Inside the fort stand buildings that originally served as the governor’s and commander’s residences, the barracks, and the town hall.

A true historical treasure are the blue beads you may see on the beach after a storm.

These functioned as local currencies in the 17^th century and were traded for tobacco, cotton, rum, and slaves. Legend has it that you don’t find the beads -- the beads find you, so if you are lucky enough to find one, it means you will return.

Statia has a total of nineteen fortresses, all of which offer magnificent views of the neighboring islands.

The museum is housed in the residence of contemporary plantation owner, Simon Doncker, where the history of Sint Eustatius starting from pre-Colombian times is documented. Lavishly furnished period rooms once occupied by rich plantation owner and merchant still remain, serving as a reminder of the affluence Statia enjoyed during the 17^th century