Christopher Colombus was the first European to discover Saba on November 13th in the year 1493.
Before this discovery, the first inhabitants were Arawak Indians who came from Venezuela. Many artifacts have been found around the island in support of this settlement. They're believed to have lived here between 800 and 1000 AD.
The first Europeans of Dutch origin arrived from the neighbouring island of St Eustatius, and started settling on Saba in 1640. Their number was approximately 250
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the inhabitants had only the harvesting of the sugar cane, fishing and a rare and challenging agriculture to survive. This exploitation was ensured by the population of European origin and imported slaves of Africa.
The two communities having to produce the same efforts to survive, the condition of these slaves was not comparable with that of the surrounding islands. Those 710 slaves represented half of the population when they obtained their freedom in 1863. They remained mainly on the island. From the 17th to the 19th century, the island passed alternatively into the hands of the French, English, Spanish and Dutch as did the neighbouring islands of St Kitts, St Eustace, Nevis and St Martin.
The island became officially Dutch in 1816.
As the sugar cane industry was not sufficient enough to feed the families, many men turned then to the sea and became sailors, navy carpenters or fishermen.
Their good reputation allowed them to travel the seas of the Globe. Some became famous captains of schooners and later of steamers. Many of them perished on sunken supply ships in the Atlantic ocean during World War I and II.
The first homes on the island were built at sea level at Fort Bay, one of the only two access points to the sea, the other access being Ladder Bay.
The two places were impracticable by strong sea. Only experienced sailors could approach there. The island had a reputation for being almost unreachable.
Destroyed by a landslide, the dwellings were rebuilt at 820 ft of altitude at a place called “The Bottom” which is today the administrative hub. At that time, The Bottom was accessible only by Fort Bay and Ladder Bay.
The schooners or later on steamers were anchored at good distance from the seashore. Local surfboats then shuttled back and forth to bring passengers, luggage and freight. Upon reaching the shore, you then had 800 steps to climb in order to reach the village.
Later, mountain dirt roads were created and allowed to link all the villages - connected until then only by trails
At the end of 1930, the decision to build a concrete road was taken but the engineers, which had been contacted abroad, declared that it was impossible to build it in such sloping terrains.
An inhabitant of Saba, JOSEPHUS LAMBERT HASSEL, who had a blind faith in the future, followed courses of public works by correspondence and in five years built, with the assistance of all the population, the access road from Fort Bay to The Bottom.
The road was inaugurated in 1943.
Blog Article by Heather (another one of our most read):
The Road That Could Not Be Built
The first motor vehicle, a Jeep, landed on the island in 1947.
In 1951, one could reach St John and Windwarside by car but it is only in 1958 that the concrete road was entirely finished.
The engineers thought the same regarding the construction of an airport, whereas an inhabitant of Saint- Barthélemy, Rémy de Haenen, an enthousiastic pilot, thought landing was possible.
Building the airport
At his direction, the population, once again, rolled up its sleeves and built a 980ft long landing strip on a sloping and rocky place.
The first pilot succeeded in landing there in 1959.
First landing
The landing is very spectacular, and very safe, thanks to the experience of our Winair pilots.
WinAir is the only company authorized to land on Saba with their 17 passengers twin
Otters.
The length of the landing strip is comparable with that of an aircraft carrier. It is known to be the shortest one in the world …!
Also in 1963, electricity was installed but its 24 hours a day use did not become available until 1970.
At Fort Bay harbour, the pier " Leo A. Chance " allowing the small cargo liners and sailing ships to approach was only built in 1972.
Tourism only started to develop really at the end of 1990. Tourism is expertly controlled by the government which is very concerned about safeguarding the historical heritage.
The Island's homologation in the course of classification by UNESCO as a "World Heritage Site " is a concrete example.
Tourism is also limited by the island's remote location. Consequently, during your stay on Saba, you will never see huge cruise ships or Boeings 747s unloading hordes of tourists, crowded sand beaches, casinos or duty free shopping malls.
Only lovers of peace, nature, scuba diving and the "simple life" will appreciate this unique hideaway.
