The Town In Two Countries

If you want to visit the town of Baarle, head on over to northern Belgium … or the southern tip of the Netherlands. The town straddles an international border, with half of it belonging to the Dutch and the other half to the Belgians. With dozens of border crossings throughout town, many houses, shops and even roads are split in two. And with two countries comes two sets everything—two mayors, two flags, two council and even two sets of laws. This can make things tricky, but Baarle is setting an example of how two societies can come together and live harmoniously … even in the weirdest of circumstances.

#Borders #Netherlands #Belgium

This story is a part of our Human Condition series. Come along and let us connect you to some of the most peculiar, stirring, extraordinary, and distinctive people in the world.

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[jeromefitzroy]

I parked in the Netherlands, had lunch in Belgium.

[Cynder]

"May I use your bathroom?"
"Sure, it's just down the hall and into Belgium"

[Maxime_K-G]

Yes, even two Coronavirus-rulebooks. For example: shopping was briefly forbidden in Belgium but still allowed in the Netherlands, so they had to close off half of the store. It was an inconvenience for shoppers who needed something from that side of the store.

[gmb]

Imagine crossing borders 100 times a day and each time getting a text from your mobile provider

“welcome to belgium”

“welcome to the Netherlands”

[lukaswilliam]

Friend: Do you live in Belgium?

Resident: Yesn’t

[mondaymotivator_]

Do you want to build your town in Belgium or Netherlands?

Construction company: yes.

[audrey]

“Let’s travel to Belgium”

*Walks across living room*

[Leon-mqlj]

We Dutch people go to Baarle-Hertog to get fireworks that are illegal in the Netherlands.

[silverfox]

Visitors: May i ask where the toillet is?
Me: In Belgium

[RadionYT]

I'm so rich I wake up in Belgium, have breakfast in Netherlands, and evening coffee back in Belgium

[mrc]

“So do you live in Belgium or the Netherlands?”

Resident: yes

[godplyer]

Me: "Excuse me, but where do i find this the mustard?"
Cashier: "in the other country sir"

[hussey]

Grandparents: In our days we had to travel to another country for going to school
Also grandparents:

[CharlotteKos]

I remember driving through here on my way to Belgium. (I am Dutch). Google maps gave me a warning that I was about to cross 17 borders hahaha

[powerpuff_avenger]

When a Dutch/Flemish town has a better relationship with each other being from 2 seperate countries than Flanders/Wallonia within Belgium itself...

[__restart__]

Imagine playing chess here. The white pieces are in Netherlands and the black pieces are in Belgium. Whenever their pieces move to the other side of the board, they are invading each other.

[bojangoranovic]

Friend: "Hey dude you wanna hang out?"
Me (just stepped into kitchen) :"Nah dude I'm not in the country"

[Abby-pbkf]

Orders drink
“You not the legal age yet”
Goes to other side of the bar
“Three whiskeys coming up for the legal aged sir”

[itsohaya]

16 year old: Yo barkeep gimme a pint
Bartender: Sorry ma'am I can't serve anyone under 18.
16 year old: *moves a step to the left*
Bartender: Certainly! Right away

[napoleonbonaparte]

"Were going on a holiday to another country!"

"Hooray!"

*few seconds later*

"But dad this is our neighbor's house!"

"At least we're in another country!"