Sint Eustatius Islamic Foundation
The island's only mosque — a small, welcoming spiritual home on Statia.
Why Go
On an eight-square-mile Dutch Caribbean island best known for dive sites and 18th-century ruins, a modest building on HM Kon. Beatrixweg quietly serves as the sole Islamic gathering place — a reminder that even the smallest islands hold surprising communities.
The Experience
Tucked into a residential stretch of Oranjestad just uphill from the harbor, the foundation is more community hub than tourist stop. The building is unassuming — no minaret, no ornate façade — which is very much in keeping with Statia's low-key character. Inside, the prayer space is simple and clean, and the atmosphere is friendly rather than formal. Congregants are a small mix of long-settled Caribbean Muslims, Dutch expats and international workers tied to the oil terminal and the medical school. Friday jumu'ah is the busiest moment of the week; the rest of the time it operates as a quiet space for daily prayer.
What to Try
If you're Muslim and passing through Statia — a rare thing given the island only gets a few thousand visitors a year — call ahead and time a visit around a prayer to actually experience the space in use. Non-Muslim travelers curious about the island's cultural mosaic can respectfully ask about the small congregation's history; Statia's religious landscape (Dutch Reformed, Catholic, Methodist, Seventh-day Adventist, and this mosque) tells you more about the island's layered past than any museum panel.
Insider Tip
There are no posted hours and no walk-in tourist program — this is a working place of worship, not an attraction. Always phone ahead on +599 318 5390 before dropping by, dress modestly (long trousers/skirt, covered shoulders; a headscarf for women entering the prayer hall), and remove shoes at the entrance. Fridays around midday are when you're most likely to find someone on-site.
The Practical Stuff
Address: 4 HM Kon. Beatrixweg, Oranjestad, Sint Eustatius, Caribbean Netherlands. Phone: +599 318 5390. It's a 5–10 minute walk from Upper Town's main square and easy to reach on foot from most Oranjestad guesthouses; taxis from F.D. Roosevelt Airport take under 10 minutes. No parking lot — street parking only. No entry fee. Cash is irrelevant here; this isn't a retail stop despite what some directories say.
Pair It With
- Alvin V Courtar Park Guide — A short stroll from the mosque and a good spot to sit in the shade after prayers or a visit.
- A Quiet Getaway - One-Bedroom Apartment Guide — A nearby low-key stay that keeps you within walking distance of Upper Town and the foundation.
- Bacchanalia Guide — One of the closest sit-down restaurants for a meal afterward — handy if you've come across the island.
- Aquarium - Dive Site Guide — Statia's identity really lives underwater; pair a cultural stop with a signature dive on the same day.
- Baby Beach Guide — A quiet, family-friendly beach to decompress at after visiting — very much in the same reflective register.
