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Mexico and the United States ©Smith/Shutterstock v. Sherman
In a world where lines, both visible and invisible, bind everything together, national boundaries frequently reveal more about a nation than just its physical features. These boundaries, which can be found in both historical treaties and natural settings, serve as more than just map markers; they serve as the setting for an engrossing story about interpersonal relationships, conflict, cooperation, and resolution.
Some borders charm with their distinct beauty, while others defy logic with their quirks, each providing a window into the subtleties of neighbourliness and nationhood. This essay sets out to investigate the most peculiar borders between nations, exposing the peculiar, the exquisite, and the plain astounding ways in which people come together to form new nations.
1. Belgium and the Netherlands
Border: Baarle-Nassau and Baarle-Hertog enclaves
Area: Unknown
Est. Gross Domestic Product: $1.1 trillion (The Netherlands) / $627 billion (Belgium)*
The border puzzle of Baarle-Nassau and Baarle-Hertog is unlike any other, as the Netherlands and Belgium are entwined in a convoluted web of enclaves and exclaves. This unusual configuration, the result of property transactions and treaties dating back centuries, consists of about two dozen Belgian territorial parcels tucked away within the Dutch landscape.
Belgium and the Netherlands ©Jérôme/Wikimedia
The border, which distinguishes one country from the other with white crosses, is drawn through the town so precisely that it spans over streets and buildings. The peculiar delineation has peculiar effects on day-to-day existence: eateries can be legally renamed as other countries, and residences are classified as Dutch or Belgian according to where their front doors are located.
