Belgium and the Netherlands: a trip to the countries where the border runs right through the houses

At first glance, the tiny town of Baarle looks quite familiar to Europe. Narrow streets where tourists walk to find a place to drink coffee and buy a fresh bun, long rows of cute houses, old cathedrals, and new buildings. But the town has one secret: it is located in two countries at once: The Netherlands and Belgium!

A border passing through the town is not uncommon. But the uniqueness of Baarle is that it is chaotic and looks more like a mosaic. So walking down one street you can make one of the fastest trips between countries. This feature attracts tourists.

The border can go not only through streets but also through houses or even apartments. It happens to residents that the living room is located in the Netherlands, and the bathroom is in Belgium. How do you know which country owns the house in this case? It's simple: the one on whose side the front door is located. For convenience, the signs on the houses are designed in the form of the flag of a particular country.

But this is not the only curiosity associated with this bizarre division of borders. There was a time when Dutch law required street cafes to close earlier than Belgian ones. Back then, restaurateurs who wanted to make more money would place their establishments right on the border, and after the Dutch part closed, they would transfer customers to the Belgian part.

Crosses on the sidewalk and signs "B" and "NL" – Belgium and the Netherlands, respectively – will help you understand which part of the city you are in. The city has two mayors, two postal services, police departments, and transportation companies. And they all work under the laws of their respective countries. But fortunately, there are no border guards here, and the markings are more tourist than legal.

How did it happen?

As is often the case in Europe, the roots of this strange division go back to the Middle Ages. Back then, it was possible to freely buy and sell land here, which is what Duke Brabant and Lord Brad did. The former's family preferred farming and cattle breeding, so he tried to buy more pastures and fields that were located randomly. When the Peace of Westphalia was signed, these territories became part of the Northlands, i.e. the Netherlands, and the Spanish colony that became Belgium. After the signing of the Treaty of Maastricht in 1843, this unusual arrangement of borders was consolidated.

This agreement was considered indisputable, and no one even thought of simplifying the division between the countries. But when the independent Belgium and the Netherlands wanted to arrange the border, it turned out to be such a complicated matter that a bilateral commission had to be assembled to analyze every island and piece.

We've seen the border – now let's see the countries

Barle is a very unusual and interesting town, but still tiny, with a population of only 9,000 people. So one day will be enough for you to explore it up and down. What else to see in these two countries? Let's take a closer look.

Belgium

Brussels.

• The Pissing Boy fountain.
• The Royal Palace.
• Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula.
• The red light district.
• René Magritte Museum.
• Museum of Victor Horta.
• Museum of trucks.
• Museum of comics.

Antwerp.

• The building of the railway station.
• Astrid Square.
• The zoo is one of the oldest in Europe.
• Dominique Person's chocolate workshop.
• Museum complex MAS.

Bruges.

• Basilica of the Holy Blood of Christ.
• City Hall
• The Church of Our Lady of the Cross.
• Museum of Brewing.
• Museum of chocolate.
• Museum of French fries.

Ghent

• The medieval castle of Gravensteen.
• Town Hall, Belfort bell tower, and its observation deck.
• Houses of the Guilds.
• Cathedral of St. Bavon.
• The bridge of St. Michael.

Netherlands

Amsterdam.

• The Rijksmuseum is a museum spanning several blocks.
• The House of Anne Frank.
• Dam Square and the Royal Palace.
• IJ-Hallen flea market.
• Electric Ladyland Museum of Fluorescent Art.
• Cat boat Poezenboot.
• Hash, Marihuana & Hemp Museum.

Rotterdam.

• Maritime Museum.
• Cubic houses.

Utrecht

• Dome Cathedral.
• Sonnenborg Observatory – Museum of Astronomy.

The Hague

• Binnenhof – the former residence of the kings.
• Ridderzaal is a castle with the throne room of the royal dynasty on the territory of Binnenhof.

There is a lot to see in both Belgium and the Netherlands. One article is not enough to tell you about all their attractions. But we hope that we have inspired you to travel.

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