By Foresee Foundation
The island of St. Maarten/St. Martin found a special connection to the city of Utrecht’s celebration of their patron saint on November 11 – St. Martin / St. Maarten Day. This unique bond was facilitated through Roots en Route, a collaborative project by the Foresee Foundation, Stichting Sint Maarten Utrecht, and several local partners.
This year’s celebration of St. Maarten Day not only honoured Dutch tradition but also paid homage to St. Maarten/St. Martin. Festivities included a symposium held in the historic Wedding Room of Utrecht’s City Hall, where artist and theatre-maker Tjerk Ridder brought the island’s vibrant identity to life as part of this cross-continental project.
Roots en Route, launched on St. Maarten in January, aims to build a tangible bridge between St. Maarten/St. Martin and Europe through storytelling, music, and a symbolic hiking trail that will connect to the European Path of Saint Martin. The trail around the island was created as a 14-day route that celebrates the island’s people, history, and heritage and will eventually be linked to the European St. Martin of Tours route.
Ridder, alongside filmmaker Sjorensly Valies and cultural leaders from both sides of the island, set out earlier this year to film stories of locals, capturing the voices and spirit of the St. Maarten/St. Martin community. Some 20 portraits were collected and posted in the video “Roots en Route: Highlight Documentary” on the “4C Foresee Foundation” YouTube page.
At the celebrations in Utrecht, organized by Stichting Sint Maarten Utrecht, the event gathered 50 guests, creating an intimate setting for Ridder’s storytelling. Opening the session with his poem “Laat me Lopen”, Ridder set the tone for an emotional journey that delved into questions of roots, routes, and borders. His presentation included an introduction film created by Valies and Ridder, highlighting the landscapes and faces of St. Maarten/St. Martin. For the Dutch audience, it was a rare opportunity to see and experience the Caribbean island’s culture on European soil.
Ridder included musical interludes and performed the well-loved “Saint Martin” song, drawing an enthusiastic response from the audience. The event’s significance deepened with the presence of Jose Sommers, Director of the Foresee Foundation, a key supporter of the Roots en Route initiative. Her attendance underscored the ties between St. Maarten/St. Martin and the Netherlands and highlighted how cultural collaboration can foster unity between Europe and the Caribbean.
The symposium took place amid Utrecht’s city-wide St. Maarten Day festivities. That same day, Queen Máxima officially opened the newly renovated Dom Tower, followed by a colourful St. Maarten Parade through the heart of Utrecht. Together, these events offered a chance to introduce St. Maarten/St. Martin’s culture to a European audience, showing the depth and diversity of the island’s identity beyond the familiar image of “Sea, Sun, and Sand.”
