Baarle-Nassau, Border municipality in North Brabant, Netherlands
Baarle-Nassau is a municipality in North Brabant that encloses 22 Belgian enclaves within its territory, forming a complex web of borders. Metal pins embedded in the street pavement mark the lines where the Netherlands turns into Belgium and back again.
The nested border arrangement arose in the 12th century through medieval land agreements between the Lords of Breda and the Dukes of Brabant. Later attempts to simplify the situation failed due to resistance from residents who wanted to preserve their historical rights.
The town center shows a mix of Dutch and Belgian shops operating side by side under different opening hours and tax rules. Residents sometimes change nationality by moving their front door from one street side to another.
Houses display both their street number and the corresponding national flag to show whether they belong to the Netherlands or Belgium. Visitors can easily explore the borders on foot, as most markers are concentrated in the town center.
Some buildings cross the national border, with the location of the main entrance determining which country's laws and tax systems apply. One restaurant in town even has two separate cash registers depending on which side of the border guests are seated.
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