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The Curious Case of Baarle-Hertog and Baarle-Nassau

Border enthusiasts, you're going to love this! Have you heard of Baarle-Hertog in Belgium and Baarle-Nassau in the Netherlands? This is the most complex international border in the world, a real-life puzzle. Baarle-Hertog and Baarle-Nassau are two municipalities that consist of a patchwork of enclaves and exclaves: 22 of them!

These aren’t just lines on a map — there are homes where the border runs right through the living room. The nationality of the inhabitants depends on the location of their front doors. Imagine having to remember which country you're in as you move from room to room!

The history behind this is fascinating as well. The quirky borders are the result of medieval treaties, land swaps, marriages, and even sales between local lords. Walking around town, you'll notice the border is marked with crosses on the pavement and metal studs with little 'B's for Belgium or 'NL's for the Netherlands.

This geo-mishmash affects the citizens’ daily life. They need to abide by the laws and pay taxes according to the country they reside in. And there have been times when different curfew rules during COVID made life quite complicated. This is a perfect real-world example of how historical decisions can play a major role in modern-day geography.

Submitted 10 months, 3 weeks ago by border_hopper42


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My friend's grandma lives in Baarle and he told me during COVID curfew times it was INSANE. Grandma had a lockdown in one room and freedom in the other 😂 Crazy how history shapes our present.

10 months, 3 weeks ago by COVID_Curfew

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Visited Baarle-Hertog/Nassau last year and it's as wild as you imagine. Shops change what they sell based on which country they're in due to different regulations. And let's not even get started on the tax implications.

10 months, 3 weeks ago by NomadicTraveler

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As a Belgian, gotta say, Baarle-Hertog is one of our quirkier claims to fame. The way the border is marked is clever though, walking the town is like going on a treasure hunt. Makes you appreciate the simplicity of a straight line border!

10 months, 3 weeks ago by BelgianWaffleIron

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These towns must be playing some advanced level of The Floor Is Lava, except it's 'The Floor Is Another Country.'

10 months, 3 weeks ago by TrollUnderTheBridge

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Legally speaking, this situation is a goldmine for someone like me. Does anyone know how law enforcement works over there? I mean, if you commit a crime in the living room but your front door is in another country, where do they take you? I've read they have to cooperate a lot, but seems like a legal grey area ripe for a law school exam question.

10 months, 3 weeks ago by GeoLawyer

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lol imagine ordering a pizza there. "Is that side of the street Belgium or the Netherlands today?" Must be a nightmare for delivery folks!

10 months, 3 weeks ago by EverydayJoe

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The history of Baarle-Hertog/Nassau is indeed a trip! An accidental lesson in geopolitics for those living there, and totally a historian's delight. Makes you realize borders are a human construct that can get way out of hand.

10 months, 3 weeks ago by HistoryBuff1912

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Baarle-Hertog and Baarle-Nassau blew my mind when I first discovered them on a map! Can't imagine having my house split between two countries, though. I wonder if someone has ever moved their front door to change nationality 🤔

10 months, 3 weeks ago by MapFreak87