Our "Oddities" theme takes us to one of the most convoluted borders in the World. It is located in and around the village of Baarle, and is split between the Province of Antwerp in Belgium and the Province of North-Brabant in the Netherlands. There are no less than sixteen distinct Belgian exclaves in Dutch territory, as well as seven Dutch counter-exclaves that are surrounded by the Belgian exclaves.
This oddity is very old. Sometime in the 12th Century, the Duke of Brabant gave pasture lands to his neighbour, the Lord of Breda, but kept the parcels that were occupied by his tenants. The split in sovereignty remains to this day. Both parts of the village (Baarle-Hertog and Baarle-Nassau) are managed as separate municipalities, and different laws apply. Many buildings and yards are split between both jurisdictions. It used to be a constant source of smuggling, but the full integration of European countries since 1993 have made the border much less relevant.
More on Baarle
The Baarle Exclave
