St. Eustatius, Netherlands Special Municipality overview
The mountainous island of St Eustatius is not very prosperous, although there is a developing tourist industry; it also possesses facilities for petroleum transshipment. Oranjestad, the chief port, has a colorful history. Settled by the Dutch in 1632, it became a center of contraband trade with the American colonies before and during the American Revolution. According to tradition, it was the first foreign port to salute the American flag.
