FROM PIRATES TO PAINKILLERS
THE HISTORY JOST VAN DYKE
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
THE LEGEND OF JOOST VAN DYK
Approximately three-square miles, Jost Van Dyke is the smallest of the four main British Virgin Islands situated in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, approximately five miles northwest of the U.S. Virgin Island of St. John and one hundred and twenty miles east of Puerto Rico.
HOW THE ISLAND GOT
IT'S NAME
As legend has it in 1615 the Dutch pirate
Joost Van Dyk settled on the British Virgin
Island of Tortola where he began trading
with Spanish settlers in Puerto Rico.
In 1625 Van Dyk participated in a Dutch led attack on a
Spanish treasure fleet spurring a full Spanish assault of
Tortola. Captain Joost Van Dyk himself escaped to the
island that would later bear his name, using its harbour’s
as refuge and shelter from the Spanish ships passing
North of the island on way back to Puerto Rico, Santo
Domingo, and Cuba. It was there that Van Dyk
commanded a settlement of shady Dutch, French and English pirates producing tobacco, cotton and yes, small
amounts of sugar cane used to distill their own rum. In 1672 the English captured the BVI from the Dutch West Indies.
TUCKED AWAY
IN WHITE BAY
About 300 years later, tucked away in White Bay on Jost Van Dyke, the legendary Soggy Dollar Bar was built and became the birthplace of the original Painkiller rum drink. The bar is famous among Caribbean travelers for its unblemished casual vibe and pristine white sand, dock-free beach. Patrons swim from their boats and spend a few Soggy Dollars enjoying this perfect concoction of flavors and atmosphere.
SOGGY DOLLAR BAR
A PLACE TO LIVE LIFE ON YOUR
OWN TERMS
Today the Soggy Dollar is bottling its own aged dark rum and specially blended spiced rum. Not far from its fabled heritage …
still enjoyed by modern day pirates of the real world. The perfect escape from reality, welcome to a sunny place for shady people.
Come for the day, or stay awhile and get lost. You can fly directly into Tortola, BVI (Beef Island Airport) or St. Thomas, USVI. Getting to Soggy Dollar these days is easiest from Tortola, but there is
day-tripper ferry service three days a week leaving from both
St. Thomas and St. John via Inter Island Ferry Service.
Contact the ferry service for covid testing requirements.
From Tortola you will need to get to the West End Tortola ferry terminal where you'll take either the ferry or a chartered boat to Jost Van Dyke. To ensure catching the last ferry to Jost Van Dyke (6pm) you should arrive at Beef Island not later than 4pm.
Please verify ferry schedule times with New Horizon Ferry Service.
Staying on St. Thomas or St. John - right now there is a ferry to get you to Jost, and White Bay for the day, three days week (Tuesday, Friday & Sunday). Reservations are required in advance so please contact the Inter Island Ferry Service (340-776-6597) for service to the British Virgin Islands from St. Thomas and St. John.
Oh... don't forget to bring your valid passport!