"Baarle-Nassau / Baarle-Hertog" Baarle-Nassau by OlafS

Baarle-Nassau Travel Guide: 45 reviews and 69 photos

One village, two names, two countries

Some things are so complicated that they really should be solved. Others are so complicated that they are far too interesting to solve. Baarle-Nassau is an example of the latter. It's probably the strangest village in Europe. To start making it complicated; Belgium calls this place Baarle-Hertog. Why I mention this? Because most of this village belongs to Belgium. This village is completely surrounded by Dutch territory, which makes it a Belgian enclave. To add to the confusion; Baarle-Hertog is not really just one enclave, it is a series of enclaves. Small pieces of land. The land between, and sometimes even within these enclaves, belongs to the Netherlands and is called Baarle-Nassau. No wonder this place calls itself the biggest jigsaw-puzzle in the world. The two governments didn't agree on the borders until the 1980's. And still they forgot a small piece of land, which now belongs to nobody.
Some houses stand in two countries at the same time, a smugglers paradise!

The village itself isn't so interesting. There's little to see and not so much to do either, except for shopping, eating and drinking. But it is fun to experience the situation.

Intro Updated Aug 31, 2004
Add to Trip Planner (?)
Report Abuse

Reviews (4)

Brouwershuis Things to Do (1)

This is one of the highlights of this place, a beer shop annex cafe. When I came here the first time (must have been in... more travel advice

Parking Transportation (1)

There are lots of parking spaces all over the village but you may have to look for them. You can even park your car in... more travel advice

Beer Shopping (1)

Het Brouweshuis (see must-see activities) is not the only place in the village where you can buy beer. De Biergrens is... more travel advice

Don't come on a Sunday Warnings and Dangers (1)

Don't come on a Sunday, when the numerous BMW's and Mercedeses in the streets indicate that people from bad... more travel advice

Comments (2)

Reply
- Report abuse
CliffClaven Jun 30, 2004 at 4:13 AM

One of Europe's oddest enclaves
Reply
- Report abuse
Gili_S Jun 30, 2004 at 4:12 AM

I was just visiting this place, I was only here for the beer and that was good :-))))