Holiday apartment in Baarle-Nassau: Enclaves and nature

Baarle-Nassau represents an unusual combination of border history and landscape. Together, Baarle-Hertog and Baarle-Nassau form 30 enclaves: 22 Belgian and 8 Dutch. The foundation for this enclave system was laid in 1198, while Baarle was first mentioned in a document dating from 992. Those walking through the town encounter this history not only in numbers, but also at houses, along paths and in public places.

Nature

Het Merkske is a stream landscape between the Dutch Baarle-Nassau and Flemish Hoogstraten. The landscape encompasses heathland, damp flower-rich meadows, fields and patches of woodland around the approximately 16-kilometre-long, winding stream system. At Merkske, you can hike along a winding stream on the Belgian border.

Another route leads through the countryside north of the village of Baarle-Nassau/Hertog: the Hannebroekpad is a walking route just under 5 kilometres long. It runs almost entirely along unpaved paths, which depending on the weather may be loose and dusty or full of puddles. As a result, the character of this route remains closely linked to the prevailing conditions on the country and landscape paths.

Enclaves

The town’s history becomes particularly vivid on the 4-kilometre Enclavewandeling. The circular route leads through Baarle town centre and past special historic sites. Markings on the pavements indicate the route; it can also be undertaken with a guide. At the Bezoekerscentrum Baarle, the enclave structure is presented using an enclave board and a timeline of Baarle’s history.

The house on Loveren illustrates just how unusual the border demarcation is. It lies partly within the smallest Belgian enclave and bears the Belgian house number 2 and the Dutch house number 19; the border runs right through the front door.

Cycling routes and paths

The enclave system can also be traced by bicycle on several routes. The Enclaveroute is 50 kilometres long, has a shortened 40-kilometre version and crosses the border more than 25 times. It also offers a 22-kilometre children’s route.

The “Bels Lijntje” also runs through Baarle, a former railway connection between Turnhout and Tilburg known by this name locally. Today, this connection is a heavily used cycle path through Baarle. In the town, the Bels Lijntje crosses the border nine times.

Culture

The protected St. Remigiuskerk was built in the style of Campine Gothic. Its exterior doors are open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; the interior can be viewed through glass doors. The Heemhuis is a building declared a listed monument in 1994, where exhibitions are regularly held. Visits are possible on Wednesday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. and on the first Sunday morning of the month from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The St. Salvatorkapel, locally known as the “Kapel van Nijhoven”, is also part of the town’s distinctive architecture. It is surrounded by a prayer garden among old trees. The grounds contain restored groups of figures depicting the Stations of the Cross, the Seven Sorrows and the Five Mysteries. At a grotto near the chapel, visitors can light a candle.

The Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van Bijstandkerk has been Baarle-Nassau’s parish church since 1860. It was built simply and inexpensively from “Belse” stones.

Wine, beer and special experiences

In the rural area of Boschoven on the edge of the European twin municipality of Baarle-Nassau/Hertog, Wijngaard Hof van Baarle has grapevines on both Dutch and Belgian territory. There, visitors can taste the winery’s own wines, have a drink and eat lunch. Bierbrouwerij De Dochter van de Korenaar has a cosy tasting room with a terrace and offers brewery tours followed by tastings.

At the Ezelpaleis in Baarle-Nassau, visitors are welcomed for walks with donkeys, courses and other excursions.

When comparing holiday apartments in Baarle-Nassau, it is worth taking a close look at the respective offer page before booking. Check the stated location, accommodation type and indicated occupancy there. Included services, individual price components, as well as booking and cancellation conditions may also be relevant for the comparison. When making a broader comparison of accommodations, you should read the same fields side by side. The place name alone does not replace this check.

For further destination selection, you can also visit Ulicoten and Baarle-Nassau.

For the higher-level travel overview: North Brabant.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Sint-Michielsgestel, Maasdonk, Loon Op Zand, Boxtel, Bergen Op Zoom, Hilvarenbeek.