This Belgian town has 22 separate pieces of territory inside the Netherlands, creating a complex border pattern where streets and buildings belong to two countries.
Walk through the streets of Baarle-Hertog, where white crosses on the ground mark the border between Belgium and the Netherlands. Step into De Biergrens, a shop where you can buy Belgian beer while standing in the Netherlands, or taste wines at Hof van Baarle vineyard, where grapevines grow in both Belgian and Dutch soil. Cross national borders 25 times on a single bike ride, and see houses where one bedroom lies in Belgium while another sits in the Netherlands.
Navigating the Border Maze
As you walk through Baarle-Hertog's streets, white crosses with 'NL' and 'B' mark your path between Belgium and the Netherlands. Look for house numbers with small national flags - some buildings even have two different numbers, one for each country. The town follows the "front door rule": a building belongs to the country where its main entrance sits, regardless of where the rest of the structure extends.
Daily Life Across Borders
Many Baarle residents hold both Belgian and Dutch citizenship, switching between two sets of national rules in their daily routines. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, you could see neighboring houses following different lockdown rules based on their nationality. Some restaurants found creative solutions - when Dutch regulations required early closing, they moved their customers to tables just meters away on the Belgian side of the border.
Shopping Between Countries
You'll find unique shopping experiences created by the different national regulations. Around New Year's Eve, Belgian firework shops draw Dutch customers due to Belgium's more permissive rules. At De Biergrens alcohol shop, you can enter through a Dutch door but access the storage area in Belgium. Some shops keep separate cash registers - one for each country's transactions.
Exploring the Area
Jump on your bike and follow a 40-kilometer route that crosses the border 25 times through the countryside around Baarle. Stop at Hof van Baarle vineyard, where you can taste wines made from nine grape varieties growing in both countries, including their signature "Enclaves Rood." Visit the joint Belgian-Dutch library, where two communities share books and resources despite their complex geographical division.
Historical Background
During World War I, Baarle-Hertog's unusual border situation created a crucial resistance point. While Germany controlled most of Belgium, these Belgian enclaves remained accessible through neutral Dutch territory. The town became a refuge for Belgians fleeing occupied areas, and resistance fighters set up a communication station here to intercept German messages and send them to Belgian forces in France.
