To truly understand Vie L'Ven, one needs to know the origins of its name. Capturing the essence of the brand's vision, Vie L'Ven is a hybrid of the French noun "life" and the Dutch verb "to live". The story begins as all great stories do – involving a chance encounter between strangers, sundowners on the beach and a shared admiration for the setting in which they find themselves.
As the last of the day's sun cast down on Mullet Bay, St. Maarten, members of the resort's development team met a French couple, who discussed their attraction to the Caribbean island – “It is full of life - 'vie' in French,” they remarked. Soon after, guests joined and a family from the Netherlands suggested the same feeling: "We, too, find the island embracing life to its fullest. We call it 'leven' in Dutch". Hence, Vie L'Ven was born – a paradisal resort bringing luxury, leisure and life to life.
Zev Mandelbaum, president of Altree Developments, explains: “It is the mission of Vie L’Ven to bring life to life, a place where you will cherish every moment of life to its fullest. We are proud to offer guests the rare opportunity to own a piece of it and make Vie L’Ven their home.”
Currently under construction and set to arrive on the Dutch side of the Caribbean island in late 2027, Vie L'Ven boasts 280 exclusive residences and redefines island life for superyacht enthusiasts. Vie L’Ven will transform St. Maarten – the yachting capital of the Caribbean – as the first resort and residence to offer an exclusive on-property yacht dock. BOAT gets a comprehensive bells-and-whistles tour.
The resort and residences
Wrapping around the serene shoreline of Indigo Bay, St. Maarten, the resort is set to reshape high-end Caribbean real estate. Starting around $900,000, each of the 280 residences celebrates the natural beauty of the island with expansive layouts, oceanfront views and private plunge pools.
The resort is sheltered from the wind and waves and offers a relaxing atmosphere from the minute guests step foot within the striking architecture. The combination of dark wood-panelled backdrops and coral stone floors creates a casual, open-air feel while maintaining a warm and intimate ambiance. It's architectural firm HKS that the resort credits for the building, while Toronto’s Studio Munge penned the interior. Sotheby’s International Realty will handle all the sales.
In terms of the residences on offer, guests can choose between a range of one to four-bedroom layouts, spanning from approximately 58 to over 186 square metres with lock-off options expanding up to 557 square metres. Prospective buyers may even put their home on the resort's rental programme for short or long-term stays.
Naturally, as a full-service five-star hotel, Vie L'Ven invites its owners and guests to make use of its facilities, including an adults-only pool offering, pickleball and tennis courts, on-beach watersports, children’s playroom and childcare services, and a nature reserve. The 24-hour concierge and dedicated Les Clefs d'Or team will be on hand to help with any requests.
Pristine beaches and boat access
Picture paradise and you won't be far off picturing the pristine beaches of St. Maarten. With over 600 feet of coastline and an abundance of beach-front watersports, the south-facing resort stimulates the senses in all the right ways, where guests can hear the gentle lapping of waves on the shore, feel the gentle breeze from the palms and look out to the turquoise waters beyond.
For adventure seekers, there is more than just sunbathing with an array of equipment waiting. Aside from the classic non-motorised watersports like kayaking and kitesurfing, guests can explore the island's hidden gems by snorkelling along protected coral reefs and diving beneath the surface in search of the local shipwreck.
Not only that, but the resort will also thrill yachties with its private pier, allowing superyacht guests to arrive and depart hassle-free. The pier also makes it convenient and more widely connected to neighbouring gems, including the likes of Saint Barthélemy, Saba and Anguilla.
An authentic taste of the Caribbean
Chef Alain Ducasse – celebrated for his remarkable twenty-one Michelin stars and prestigious three-star rating – will lead the culinary vision at Vie L’Ven and reinforce its dedication to exceptional gastronomy. Drawing from the island’s diverse cultural heritage and vibrant flavours, Chef Ducasse’s innovative menu will be inspired by St. Maarten’s natural bounty.
Chef Ducasse's signature restaurant and bar will serve as the centrepiece and will be complemented by two additional dining options – a friendly beachfront bar and café, serving up delicious plates and tropical drinks, and an all-day restaurant. Guests can expect to sample a true taste of the island with produce and herbs deriving from the resort's on-site garden.
State-of-the-art wellness and fitness facilities
Vie L’ven will be home to the largest destination spa in the Caribbean. At 2,787 square metres, the thermal spa will boast a cold plunge, Bio and Finnish saunas and a vitality pool, alongside bespoke services featuring French heritage skincare brand Biologique Recherche and science-backed Dutch skincare brand The Tides. Residents can also make the most of their days with sunrise and sunset swims in one of three outdoor pools featuring private cabanas – an activity best served with a strong morning coffee or sundowner cocktail thanks to the resort's personalised poolside service.
To register your interest in Vie L'Ven, visit the brand's website here.
Sponsored content created for Vie L'Ven.