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| Baarle | ||
| province | North Brabant | |
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| Residents | unknown | |
no value for residents on Wikidata:  | ||
| height | unknown | |
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| no tourist info on Wikidata: | ||
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Baarle is a border village because it is located in 2 countries, namely in Belgium and the Netherlands.
background
The village of Baarle is something completely curious. During a dispute between the Count of Breda and the Duke of Brabant, a Dutch / Belgian border puzzle emerged over time. In Baarle and the surrounding area you can find 22 enclaves that belong to Belgium and in turn 7 Dutch enclaves in these Belgian enclaves. The village of Baarle itself is divided into Baarle-Hertog (Belgian part) and Baarle-Nassau (Dutch part).
Often borders run through houses. The nationality of the residents then depends on the location of the entrance door. For example, a Belgian should become a Dutchman because his entrance door was in the Netherlands. He had the door moved without further ado and was allowed to remain Belgian.
In Baarle itself there are two things: 2 churches, 2 town halls, 2 post offices, 2 fire stations, 2 police corps (which are now housed in one building) and so on. Even if outsiders keep saying that this situation is untenable, the people of Baarle definitely want to maintain this borderline situation, because otherwise nothing would be going on in Baarle. This place is also a fine example of the fact that two nationalities have got along for more than 100 years and that borders should not be more than a line on the map.
getting there
By plane
By train
The closest train station in Belgium is Turnhout. From there you continue by bus.
Up until October 7, 1934, there were two train stations in Baarle (Baarle-Nassau and Baarle-Grens; both Dutch) on the railway line from Tilburg in the Netherlands to Turnhout in Belgium. Until 1973 the route was still used by freight trains. From 1974 to 1982 a tourist steam train ran from Tilburg to the border.
This railway line has now been replaced by the 31 km long cycle path "Het Bels Lijntje", which connects the two cities. A few years ago, the route was discussed again as a possible route for the TGV Amsterdam - Brussels.
In the street
The village of Baarle can be easily reached by car via the two Dutch provincial roads N260 and N639 as well as the Belgian provincial road N119. The A58 motorways in the Netherlands and the E34 in Belgium are also close to the village.
By bus
From Turnhout train station the Belgian bus No. 460 (De Lijn) goes to Baarle.
The Dutch company Veolia takes line 132 from Tilburg to Breda via Baarle.
By boat
mobility
Tourist Attractions
- Kapelstraat. If you walk out of town on the left side of the street, you cross the border 5 times, on the right side only 3 times.
- 1 Beverage market De Biergrens, Molenstraat 98, Baarle-Hertog / Molenstraat 26, Baarle-Nassau. Here the border runs right through the store. As a result, the beverage store has 2 addresses, 2 telephone numbers and 2 cash registers.
- Gierlestraat. The assignment of house numbers is curious: when you move from Dutch to Belgian territory, the numbering starts all over again.
- 1 Kultureel Centrum Baarle, Pastoor de Katerstraat 5, Baarle-Hertog / Pastoor de Katerstraat 7, Baarle-Nassau. Once again the border runs through a house, so the people of Baar share the cultural center.
- House with 2 house numbers, Loveren 2, Baarle-Hertog / Loveren 19, Baarle-Nassau. For tax reasons, people from Baar choose a nationality and a house number when the border runs through their house. But this house has 2 numbers - a Belgian and a Dutch one.
activities
shop
Because of the legislation, the erotic video library is located in Baarle-Nassau and the fireworks shops are located in Baarle-Hertog and are open all year round. Sunday shopping is open every week in Baarle. The reason is that in Belgium shops are allowed to be open every Sunday and Baarle-Nassau can refer to its status as a tourist attraction.
kitchen
The village of Baarle has 20 restaurants (including 1 Italian and 2 Asian, 1 pancake house, 4 ice cream parlors and bistros, and 1 steak house). The regional cuisine is hearty but refined and the proximity to Belgium is evident in the rich beer selection.
Two worlds also meet in culinary terms, for example there is the Baarler pancake (Baarloe Pannekoek): One half is topped with cheese and ham, the other with cherries and powdered sugar.
- De Pannekoekenbakker, Singel 16, 5111 CD Baarle-Nassau. Tel.: 31 13 50 79 27 2, Email: [email protected]. There are all kinds of pancakes, including Baarler pancakes in spring, no poffertjes, a cozy atmosphere.Open: April to October: Mon noon - 8 p.m., Tue - Sun 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.; November to March: Mon 12 p.m. - 8 p.m., Tue, Sat, Sun 10 a.m. - 8 p.m., Wed, Thu, Fri 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.Price: 2.40 - 13.70 euros.
nightlife
The demands on the nightlife should not be set too high. Don't forget: Baarle is a village. However, with at least 7 pubs and generally speaking, people from Brabant know how to celebrate, whether from Belgium or the Netherlands.
accommodation
VVV (Tourist Office) Nieuwstraat 16, 5111 CW Baarle-Nassau, Netherlands Telephone: 0031 13 5079921, Fax: 0031 13 5073108) E-mail: [email protected]
Opening times: Tuesday to Friday: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Saturday: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., closed on Sundays and Mondays
Cheap
- 1 Brasserie-Hotel Den Bonten Os, Pastoor de Katerstraat 23-25, 2387 Baarle-Hertog. Tel.: 32 1469 90 16, Email: [email protected].
- Bed & Breakfast "Effe Rust", Veldbraak 13, 5111 HH Baarle-Nassau. Tel.: 31-13 507 7475.
medium
- Sports hotel "Bruurs", Sportlaan 22, 5111 BX Baarle-Nassau.
- Hotel "Den Engel", Singel 3, 5111 CD Baarle-Nassau.
- Hotel "Het Kasteeltje", Pastoor de Katerstraat 3, 2387 Baarle-Hertog. Tel.: 32 14 699297.
- 2 Logement "De Hertog van Baerle", Zondereigen 1b, 2387 Baarle-Hertog (Zondereigen). Tel.: 32 14 82 88 83.
Campsites
There are 5 campsites and 3 mini campsites in and around Baarle.
Learn
Work
security
health
Practical advice
There are of course two post offices. The Dutch Koninklijke TNT Post has its building in 5111 CA Baarle-Nassau on St.Annaplein 15, the Belgian De Post - La Poste is located in 2387 Baarle-Hertog on Uitbreidingsstraat 7. And twice a day (except Sunday) the postman comes, one from the Dutch and one from the Belgian post.
For the most part, the telephone network exists twice: both from KPN Telecom and from Belgacom. However, there is a special link that enables calls between Baarle-Hertog and Baarle-Nassau at the local rate. All mobile phone providers in the Netherlands and Belgium can also be reached.
trips
There are numerous signposted or described cycle routes in and around Baarle. In addition, the village is in the middle of the button down-Networks of West Brabant and Antwerp. This enables everyone to take their own bike routes from one connection point to another. The map is available from VVV or can be downloaded from this link: baarledigitaal.org.
A brochure with walks in and around Baarle is also available from the VVV, including an "enclave path" that leads along various border experiences in the village. There is an overview under this link: baarledigitaal.org.
literature
Web links
- https://toerismebaarle.com/ (nl) - Official website of Baarle (Dutch)
- [1] English language website
- [2] Look at borders on Google Earth
