A European town with a unique past is divided between two countries, each with its own legal system, distinct architectural styles, and separate populations.
Baarle-Nassau, a Dutch municipality, includes over 20 enclaves that belong to the Belgian town of Baarle-Hertog, some of which have Dutch enclaves within them.
Many residents live in homes divided by the international border, leading to scenarios where couples sleep in different countries or have to cross borders just to perform daily tasks.
Around three-quarters of the approximately 9,000 inhabitants hold Dutch passports, with most of the land falling under Dutch jurisdiction. This situation, along with Belgium’s more lenient landscaping rules, has caused tensions between the Baarles in the past.
According to Willem van Gool, chairman of the Baarle tourist office, conflicts between teenagers from both communities used to occur when schools dismissed simultaneously. To avoid such clashes, school timings were staggered in the 1960s.
Distinguishing between the Dutch and Belgian sections can be done by observing the pavement markings, where white crosses with ‘NL’ and ‘B’ signify the respective countries, and house numbers are labeled with the relevant flag.
In terms of architecture, Dutch areas feature neatly pruned lime trees along pavements, while Belgian zones have a more natural tree growth approach.
Belgium’s more flexible planning laws have proven advantageous for homeowners, as demonstrated by a man who successfully gained approval for a building spanning the border by creating a second entrance in Belgium.
Businesses operating across the two countries have employed tactics like shifting paperwork to evade tax inspections. Dividing responsibilities for public projects and road maintenance between the nations is a significant challenge, even extending to the town hall, where the mayor’s office is split by a clear border line.
The unique setup benefits teenagers, as the legal drinking age in the Netherlands is 18, while Belgians can consume alcohol at 16. Additionally, items like fireworks, banned in the Netherlands, can be purchased in Belgium.
The town’s history dates back to medieval times, involving treaties, land exchanges, and disputes between the Lords of Breda and the Dukes of Brabant. The delineation of territories between Belgium and the Netherlands was finalized in 1995 after years of negotiations.
Today, most residents hold dual citizenship in both Baarle-Nassau and Baarle-Hertog, showcasing a successful coexistence model that has drawn interest from global leaders, including advisors to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
