Coming to Baarle, perhaps you were in a Dutch shop but merely went out the door to Belgium. Baarle Nassau is in the Dutch province of North Brabant, whereas Baarle Hertog is in the Belgian province of Antwerp. These two villages share a border.
The international border between the Belgian town of Baarle Hertog and the Dutch town of Baarle Nassau, on the other hand, is not a straight line or a curve. Instead, the border between these two countries is quite convoluted.
1. A fascinating story about the Baarle village
This little community of around 9,200 people is separated into two communities: Baarle Hertog (Belgian, 2,600 people) and Baarle Nassau (Dutch, 2,600 people) (Dutch, 6,600 inhabitants). It was formed at the end of the 12th century due to a dispute between the Count of Breda and the Duke of Brabant, which resulted in a riddle that still exists today. The position of the front door determines the nationality of the people. According to legend, a Belgian relocated his front door to avoid gaining Dutch citizenship.
The border’s complication stems from a series of equally complex medieval treaties, agreements, land swaps, and sales negotiated between the Lords of Breda and the Dukes of Brabant. In general, areas of Brabant became agricultural or constructed settings, while others were devolved to Breda. As part of the boundaries agreements reached during the Treaty of Maastricht in 1843, these distributions were approved and clarified.
Everything in Baarle town ( Baarle Nassau & Baarle Hertog ) has doubled: two churches, two town halls, two post offices, two fire stations, two police forces (currently located in the same structure), and so on. Even if outsiders believe that the state is unsustainable, the locals cannot conceive any alternative way of life, nor would they want to.
2. The world’s most unique border between Baarle Nassau & Baarle Hertog
The borderline zigzagged throughout town, through houses, gardens, and streets, marked by white crosses on sidewalks and road posts. As a result, houses are divided in half, with one half on the Dutch border and the other half in Belgium, and the placement of the front door determines the nationality of the households. If the borderline crosses the street, the two sections of the road will belong to separate countries.
This location has drawn many tourists to the towns of these two countries. Shops in Belgium used to be open on Sundays, but not in the Netherlands (except stores in Baarle). Taxes in these two countries can also be highly different, requiring buyers to shop for goods with two distinct tax rates on the same street.
Many Baarle Nassau and Baarle Hertog people now have dual citizenship and hold both a Belgian and a Dutch passport. The peaceful intertwining of the two nations has piqued the interest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s advisors as an example of how two diverse populations may coexist peacefully.
3. How to get around Baarle Baarle Nassau & Baarle Hertog
Baarle Nassau & Baarle Hertog is a small village; you can travel around on foot or, better yet, rent a bike and explore the surrounding countryside. Because Belgium and the Netherlands are both members of the Schengen Area, you do not need a passport to cross many borders.
