Discover Baarle-Nassau: Enclaves and Border Trails

Baarle-Nassau combines its border history with trails, art and regional cuisine.

Holiday Apartment in Baarle-Nassau: Enclaves, Trails and Culture

The enclave situation shared by Baarle-Nassau and the Flemish municipality of Baarle-Hertog arose around 1198 through the division of the possessions of the Duke of Brabant and the Lord of Breda, the Count of Nassau. The enclave landscape of Baarle-Nassau comprises 22 Belgian enclaves; eight enclaves of Baarle-Nassau lie within Baarle-Hertog. The borders were not established as official national borders until 1995, and despite various attempts, the enclaves were never abolished. The Baarle Visitor Centre uses an enclave map to show how the borders run through Baarle.

Art, Churches and Living History

High Five Art is an exhibition space and art gallery with a particular focus on textile art. The Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van Bijstandkerk has been the parish church of Baarle-Nassau since 1860 and was extended in 1932 in a modern-looking, solid style that forms a strong contrast with the older section. The St. Salvatorkapel, popularly also known as Kapel van Nijhoven, includes a prayer garden surrounded by old trees, restored Stations of the Cross groups and a grotto modelled on Lourdes. Nearby, the Heemhuis has served as the archive, workspace and exhibition space of the Heemkundekring Amalia van Solms since 1989; it was designated a monument in 1994.

Walking Trails Through Baarle

The Hannebroekpad is a walking trail just under 5 km long through the countryside north of Baarle-Nassau/Hertog. The three Ommetjes Baarle walks can be started at junction 54, at the corner of Nieuwstraat and St. Janstraat in Baarle-Nassau. The 6 km-long Ommetje Tommel passes historic sites, while the 10 km-long Ommetje Broskens leads through the gently rolling landscape of Baarle and along a constructed boardwalk or boot trail. The 5 km-long Miet Pauw wandeling focuses on war and resistance in Baarle and honours Maria Verhoeven, who was popularly known as Miet Pauw. Every year, Baarle’s schools hold a liberation commemoration ceremony at which the resistance monument is handed over by the final-year class of one primary school to the following class.

Border Experiences on Two Wheels

Several old signal boxes and the former Baarle railway station have been preserved along the Bels Lijntje. At Schommelen op de Grens, every swing takes visitors from Belgium to the Netherlands and back again. The Enclaveroute is 50 km long; one variant shortens it to 40 km, crossing the border more than 25 times. Vind alle 30 enclaves comprises an enclave passport and five routes guided by junctions, including four walking routes and one cycling route. At the respective stamping stations, participants collect a stamp as proof of their visit to an enclave. The interactive Dodendraadroute for leisure activities passes through Belgian and Dutch territory, including Baarle-Nassau, and offers 15 themed photo panels, 11 audio stories and four reconstructions. Enclave-tours offers e-bikes, city bikes, tandems, Solex vehicles, cruisers and kick scooters.

Wine and Regional Dining

Happen & Stappen: Flirten met de grens combines a 14 km-long walk with three courses at two restaurants. Hof van Baarle is a cross-border vineyard with vines on Dutch and Belgian soil in the rural area of Boschoven on the edge of the European twin municipality of Baarle-Nassau/Hertog; you can taste its own wines there. From May to September, a service is held at St. Salvatorkapel on Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

Further Destinations

Further destinations: Ulicoten.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Baarle-Nassau.