If you ever set foot in Baarle as a visitor, you’ll notice many streets around the village featuring lines marked with crosses that are labelled with letter B and NL.
Did you know?
— Horny of Ife 👑 (@Nurse__lyon) July 12, 2020
This is the border between Netherlands and Belgium!!! pic.twitter.com/x8f8qCed5l
These markings are actually border lines that determine where one country ends and the other begins. The lines and markings have been put there to remind everyone who passes over them that they have entered into another sovereign state.
The border between Belgium 🇧🇪 and the Netherlands 🇱🇺. Even the owner of that house can brag of owning a house in 2 different Countries. LOL pic.twitter.com/ualvPKppDg
— The Marlian Joker 🤡 (@Alli_foxy) July 14, 2020
Since its Belgian sections lie roughly five kilometres away from Belgium-proper, they are collectively known as an enclave.
![](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/5f0ff90c18ac81629cd075ef_23dccafd-73b1-44b8-8de8-89037aee2efb.jpg)
Though, to make matters more complicated, there are several stretches of Belgian land in Baarle plots that are claimed by the Netherlands, creating enclaves within enclaves.
It’s literally like the movie Inception but, here instead of a dream inside a dream, there are enclaves formed within other enclaves.
Did you know, The border between Belgium and the Netherlands pic.twitter.com/H5OE7atiRC
— A gentle man®️ (@FullyGentleman) July 14, 2020
Now, you maybe wondering who came up with this bizarre concept? Well, during the Middle Ages, local wealthy aristocrats thought of this idea.
Apparently, one duke from what is known as Belgium today, handed over territory to another noble who controlled the lands around the Dutch city of Breda.
This shop on the border between Belgium and the Netherlands during COVID lock-down. The Belgium part of the shop in lock-down (behind the tape), the NL part open pic.twitter.com/TYFX2vYrdp
— Ali (@AliMohamoud) July 12, 2020
But, the duke retained smaller plots in Baarle that led to border disputes in the 19th century when Belgium and the Netherlands split into two different nation states.
The border disputes went on for another century and finally they reached an agreement. So, the current patch-work like cartography you see today in the town of Baarle is a result of that agreement.
People on the internet, who had no clue about this town, were quite fascinated with this piece of information.
Very interesting 🧐
— 7thSense🧠 (@7thSense_media) July 14, 2020
Wonderful
— Casmir Ekene 🗯️ (@casmirtheking) July 14, 2020
Very true
— call me when you feel sick💉💊 (@CocoMoneek) July 13, 2020
I lov this one
— Dnext (@DnextG_Ga) July 15, 2020
So you can just go from Netherlands to Belgium by dancing.
— chills the man (@ucheDuru16) July 15, 2020
Belgium Netherlands is fantastic 😂
— jefferyy (@kwekuamoju) July 15, 2020
Watch this video for more information.