Baarle-Hertog (Dutch pronunciation: [ˌbaːrlə ˈɦɛrtɔx]; French: Baerle-Duc, pronounced [baʁl(ə)dyk]) is a Flemish municipality of Belgium, much of which consists of a number of small Belgian enclaves fully surrounded by the Netherlands.

Baarle-Hertog
Former town hall
Former town hall
Flag of Baarle-Hertog
Coat of arms of Baarle-Hertog
Location of Baarle-Hertog
Map
Baarle-Hertog is located in Belgium
Baarle-Hertog
Baarle-Hertog
Location in Belgium
Location of Baarle-Hertog in the province of Antwerp
Coordinates: 51°27′N 04°56′E / 51.450°N 4.933°E / 51.450; 4.933
Country Belgium
CommunityFlemish Community
RegionFlemish Region
ProvinceAntwerp
ArrondissementTurnhout
Government
 • MayorFrans de Bont (Forum+)
 • Governing party/iesN-VA, Forum+
Area
 • Total7.41 km2 (2.86 sq mi)
Population
 (2020-01-01)[1]
 • Total2,865
 • Density390/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
Postal codes
2387
NIS code
13002
Area codes014
WebsiteOfficial website

Parts of Baarle-Hertog are surrounded by the Dutch province of North Brabant, but it is part of the Belgian province of Antwerp. As of 2021, it has a population of 2,935. The total area is 7.48 square kilometres (2.89 square miles).[2]

Geography edit

Border with Baarle-Nassau edit

 
Map showing the enclaves of Baarle-Hertog

Baarle-Hertog is noted for its complicated borders with Baarle-Nassau, Netherlands.[3]

The border's complexity results from a number of medieval treaties, agreements, land-swaps and sales between the Lords of Breda and the Dukes of Brabant. Generally speaking, predominantly agricultural or built environments became constituents of Brabant and other parts devolved to Breda. These distributions were ratified and clarified as a part of the border settlements agreed under the Treaty of Maastricht in 1843. The tight integration of the European Union and in particular the Schengen Agreement have made many of the practicalities of the situation substantially simpler since the 1990s.

In total, the municipality of Baarle-Hertog consists of 26 separate parcels of land. Four are linked to other Belgian municipalities, from west to east: the Baalbrugse Bemden, a strip of land along the Merkske, Zondereigen-Ginhoven and an area near Weelde-Station. The largest single section, Zondereigen (named after its main hamlet), is located within mainland Belgium on the contiguous Dutch-Belgian border (north of the town of Merksplas). In addition to this, there are 22 Belgian exclaves fully within the Netherlands. There are also seven Dutch enclaves within the Belgian exclaves (i.e., counter-exclaves) that are part of the territory of the Netherlands. Six of these Dutch enclaves are located within the largest Belgian exclave, and a seventh in the second-largest Belgian exclave. An eighth Dutch exclave is located near Ginhoven [nl].

During the First World War, this situation meant that the Imperial German Army could not occupy these parts of Belgium without crossing the Netherlands, which the Dutch government did not allow. Thus, these pieces of Belgium became a place where refugees could safely stay.[4] A clandestine radio transmitter was smuggled in and from there worked with the Belgian resistance. The Dutch government fenced off these areas and controlled access in or out of them, building a church and school for the Belgian people who were effectively stranded within the enclaves.[5][circular reference] This situation did not exist in the Second World War, as both countries were occupied by Nazi Germany.

Some houses in the town of Baarle-Hertog/Baarle-Nassau are divided between the two countries. At one time, according to Dutch laws, restaurants had to close earlier. For some restaurants on the border, this simply meant that the customers had to move to a table on the Belgian side.[6] In 2020, restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic differed between the two countries; for instance, preventing a Belgian citizen living metres away from an open Dutch bar from patronising it.[7]

Many fireworks shops are found in Baarle-Hertog, as Belgian laws controlling the sale of fireworks are more lenient than those of the Netherlands. Many Dutch tourists come to Baarle-Hertog to buy fireworks to celebrate the New Year.

Two villages in the municipality, Zondereigen and Ginhoven, are located in the main territory of Belgium.

List of enclaves edit

Netherlands enclaves edit

These are all part of Baarle-Nassau municipality.

Serial no. and local name[8] Area (ha) area

acre

Notes
  N1, De Loversche Akkers – De Tommelsche Akkers 5.3667 13.2615 Counter-enclave surrounded by Belgian exclave H1, in Baarle-Hertog; contains a mix of dwellings and farmland; boundary of N1 and H1 runs through one building.
  N2, De Tommelsche Akkers 1.3751 3.3981 Counter-enclave surrounded by Belgian exclave H1, in Baarle-Hertog; contains 8 dwellings.
  N3, De Tommelsche Akkers 0.2863 0.7075 Counter-enclave surrounded by Belgian exclave H1, in Baarle-Hertog; boundary of N3 and H1 bisects the loading dock of a liquor store.
  N4, De Rethsche Akkers 1.2324 3.0454 Counter-enclave surrounded by Belgian exclave H1, in Baarle-Hertog; boundary of N4 and H1 runs through a warehouse, with vacant Dutch land to the rear of the warehouse.
  N5, De Rethsche Akkers 1.9212 4.7475 Counter-enclave surrounded by Belgian exclave H1, in Baarle-Hertog; boundary of N5 and H1 runs through a furniture showroom, a shed and a barn.
  N6, Gierle Straat 1.4527 3.5898 Counter-enclave surrounded by Belgian exclave H1, in Baarle-Hertog; consists of farmland with two buildings.
  N7, De Kastelein 0.5812 1.4363 Counter-enclave surrounded by Belgian Oordeel exclave H8, in Baarle-Hertog; occupies part of a field.
  N8, Vossenberg 2.8528 7.0496 Farmland enclave situated within Zondereigen, Belgium, less than 50 meters south of the Dutch border.

Belgian enclaves edit

These are all part of Baarle-Hertog municipality, and are surrounded by Baarle-Nassau municipality (Netherlands).

Serial no. and local name[8] Area (ha) area

acre

Notes
  H1, Aen het Klooster Straetje - Hoofdbraek - Loveren - De Boschcovensche Akkers - De Loversche Akkers - De Tommelsche Akkers - De Tommel - De Gierle Straat - De Reth - De Rethsche Akkers - Het Dorp - De Kapel Akkers - De Kastelein 153.6448 379.6717 Forms a quadripoint with enclave H2; largest Belgian exclave; encompasses six Dutch enclaves; consists of dwellings for the most part, with outlying farmland and an industrial area; boundary runs through numerous buildings; contains a portion of the former Turnhout-Tilburg rail line, now a cycle path.
  H2, De Rethsche Akkers 2.4116 5.9594 Consists of farmland with a single point of connection (quadripoint) between enclaves H1 and H2 in the middle of a corn field.
  H3, De Rethsche Akkers 0.3428 0.8471 Occupies part of a field; boundary runs through a shed in one instance.
  H4, De Rethsche Akkers 1.476 3.6474 Consists of farmland; boundary runs through a house and three sheds.
  H5, De Kapel Akkers 0.9245 2.2846 Consists of farmland with a dwelling.
  H6, Hoofdbraek 1.7461 4.3148 Mixed land usage; boundary runs through a warehouse/factory.
  H7, De Loversche Akkers 0.2469 0.6102 Boundary runs through two dwellings, including the middle of one front door (giving it two house numbers: Loveren 2, Baarle-Hertog / Loveren 19, Baarle-Nassau).
  H8, Boschcoven - De Kastelein - De Oordelsche Straat 41.8781 103.485 Second-largest Belgian exclave, contains a mix of dwellings and farmland; boundary runs through a barn, a dwelling and two businesses.
  H9, De Kapel Akkers 0.4005 0.9897 Boundary runs through a printing factory/warehouse in an industrial area.
  H10, De Oordelsche Straat 0.65 1.6063 Consists of farmland.
  H11, De Oordelsche Straat 0.93 2.2982 Consists of farmland.
  H12, Boschcoven 0.2822 0.6974 Consists of farmland.
  H13, Boschcoven 1.5346 3.7922 Boundary runs through about 20 dwellings.
  H14, Boschcoven 0.7193 1.7774 Boundary runs through about 13 dwellings.
  H15, Boschcoven 1.7211 4.2531 Boundary runs through about 16 dwellings.
  H16, Keizershoek - Oordelsche Straat 4.4252 10.9352 Boundary runs through a house and three sheds; inside one of the sheds, the linear boundary changes direction three times
  H17, Moleriet Heide 14.9248 36.8807 Rural area containing a portion of the former Turnhout-Tilburg rail line, now a cycle path.
  H18, De Manke Gooren 2.9247 7.2273 Consists of farmland.
  H19, De Peruiters 0.6851 1.693 Consists of several ponds and a field.
  H20, Wurstenbosch - Vossenberg 1.1681 2.8865 Consists of farmland.
  H21, Baelbrugsche Beemden 1.1845 2.9271 Consists of farmland.
  H22, De Wit Hagen 0.2632 0.6504 South of the village of Ulicoten; occupies part of a field; nationality was contested from the 1830s until 1995 (remained unallocated to either country in boundary treaty of 26 April 1974)

Climate edit

Climate data for Baarle-Hertog (1991−2020 normals)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 6.3
(43.3)
7.4
(45.3)
11.0
(51.8)
15.4
(59.7)
18.9
(66.0)
21.6
(70.9)
23.6
(74.5)
23.4
(74.1)
19.8
(67.6)
15.1
(59.2)
10.1
(50.2)
6.7
(44.1)
14.9
(58.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) 3.6
(38.5)
4.0
(39.2)
6.8
(44.2)
10.1
(50.2)
13.8
(56.8)
16.7
(62.1)
18.7
(65.7)
18.3
(64.9)
15.1
(59.2)
11.2
(52.2)
7.1
(44.8)
4.2
(39.6)
10.8
(51.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 0.9
(33.6)
0.8
(33.4)
2.6
(36.7)
4.8
(40.6)
8.7
(47.7)
11.8
(53.2)
13.8
(56.8)
13.2
(55.8)
10.3
(50.5)
7.3
(45.1)
4.1
(39.4)
1.6
(34.9)
6.7
(44.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 75.8
(2.98)
69.9
(2.75)
59.3
(2.33)
45.3
(1.78)
62.3
(2.45)
76.1
(3.00)
84.5
(3.33)
83.2
(3.28)
71.7
(2.82)
73.9
(2.91)
83.6
(3.29)
96.6
(3.80)
882.2
(34.73)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 12.9 12.0 10.8 8.9 9.9 10.3 11.3 11.0 10.4 11.2 13.2 14.7 136.6
Mean monthly sunshine hours 63 81 136 190 217 215 220 205 162 117 69 53 1,726
Source: Royal Meteorological Institute[9]

Education edit

Baarle-Hertog has two elementary schools: De Vlinder and De Horizon.[10]

It shares, with Baarle-Nassau, a joint library with Belgian and Dutch staff.[11]

Notable inhabitants edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2020". Statbel.
  2. ^ "Bevolking per statistische sector - Sector 13002". Statistics Belgium. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  3. ^ González, Diego (January 17, 2010). "Una cervecería en dos países" [A bar in Two Countries]. Fronteras (in Spanish).
  4. ^ Jacobs, Frank (14 November 2011). "An Apology of Enclaves". New York Times. Archived from the original on 24 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Enclavegeschiedenis van Baarle", Wikipedia (in Dutch), 2022-11-15, retrieved 2022-11-26
  6. ^ "The Curious Case of Baarle-Nassau and Baarle-Hertog". Amusingplanet.com. 2012-11-06. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
  7. ^ "Coronavirus: Dining for some, whining for others in border town Baarle". The Times. 2020-06-05. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  8. ^ a b Whyte, Brendan (2004). "En Territoire Belge et à Quarante Centimètres de la Frontière" An historical and documentary study of the Belgian and Dutch enclaves of Baarle-Hertog and Baarle-Nassau. The University of Melbourne, School of Anthropology, Geography and Environmental Studies. ISBN 0-7340-3032-0.
  9. ^ "Luchttemperatuur en neerslag Referentieperiode: 1991-2020" (PDF) (in Dutch). Royal Meteorological Institute. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  10. ^ "scholen Archived 2018-11-24 at the Wayback Machine." Baarle-Hertog. Retrieved on January 6, 2017.
  11. ^ "bibliotheek." Baarle-Hertog. Retrieved on January 6, 2017.

External links edit