Zeelandia Beach

Beach · Oranjestad, Caribbean Netherlands

Zeelandia is a long, wild stretch of dark volcanic sand on Statia's Atlantic side, backed by cliffs and nearly always empty. It is one of the island's most important nesting beaches for leatherback, green and hawksbill sea turtles, and the sand is protected under local and international conservation rules. Come for beachcombing walks and dramatic surf rather than swimming — the currents here are too strong for it.