Is this weird area on the Belgium-Germany border a walkway or something different?
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As you can see on the image above, Belgium and Germany have a weird border near the Oostkantons. It seems to be some kind of path east of the "real" border. Does anyone know more about this strange path and can you walk on it?
germany borders identify-this belgium
edited Nov 20 '17 at 8:40
smci
1,085912
asked Nov 19 '17 at 18:17
Wout Huygens
852820
 |Â
show 2 more comments
up vote
29
down vote
favorite
As you can see on the image above, Belgium and Germany have a weird border near the Oostkantons. It seems to be some kind of path east of the "real" border. Does anyone know more about this strange path and can you walk on it?
germany borders identify-this belgium
edited Nov 20 '17 at 8:40
smci
1,085912
asked Nov 19 '17 at 18:17
Wout Huygens
852820
Well Willeke, it seems the area covers an even longer terrain than this, so I can't really zoom in. But I mean the small part, which is called the Vennbahn according to Johns-305's answer.
– Wout Huygens
Nov 19 '17 at 19:03
24
If you call this weird you haven't seen the town of Baarle-Nassau yet.
– asdfex
Nov 20 '17 at 11:00
4
@asdfex You mean Baarle-Hertog?
– Alexander
Nov 20 '17 at 11:04
5
@Alexander: Depends on where you are. Baarle-Nassau is the name of the Dutch part. Baarle-Hertog is the Belgian name.
– asdfex
Nov 20 '17 at 12:14
2
I'm surprised there isn't yet a tag for exclaves.
– Andrew Grimm
Nov 21 '17 at 1:55
 |Â
show 2 more comments
up vote
29
down vote
favorite
up vote
29
down vote
favorite
As you can see on the image above, Belgium and Germany have a weird border near the Oostkantons. It seems to be some kind of path east of the "real" border. Does anyone know more about this strange path and can you walk on it?
germany borders identify-this belgium
edited Nov 20 '17 at 8:40
smci
1,085912
asked Nov 19 '17 at 18:17
Wout Huygens
852820
As you can see on the image above, Belgium and Germany have a weird border near the Oostkantons. It seems to be some kind of path east of the "real" border. Does anyone know more about this strange path and can you walk on it?
germany borders identify-this belgium
germany borders identify-this belgium
edited Nov 20 '17 at 8:40
smci
1,085912
asked Nov 19 '17 at 18:17
Wout Huygens
852820
edited Nov 20 '17 at 8:40
smci
1,085912
asked Nov 19 '17 at 18:17
Wout Huygens
852820
edited Nov 20 '17 at 8:40
smci
1,085912
edited Nov 20 '17 at 8:40
smci
1,085912
edited Nov 20 '17 at 8:40
smci
1,085912
1,085912
asked Nov 19 '17 at 18:17
Wout Huygens
852820
asked Nov 19 '17 at 18:17
Wout Huygens
852820
asked Nov 19 '17 at 18:17
Wout Huygens
852820
852820
Well Willeke, it seems the area covers an even longer terrain than this, so I can't really zoom in. But I mean the small part, which is called the Vennbahn according to Johns-305's answer.
– Wout Huygens
Nov 19 '17 at 19:03
24
If you call this weird you haven't seen the town of Baarle-Nassau yet.
– asdfex
Nov 20 '17 at 11:00
4
@asdfex You mean Baarle-Hertog?
– Alexander
Nov 20 '17 at 11:04
5
@Alexander: Depends on where you are. Baarle-Nassau is the name of the Dutch part. Baarle-Hertog is the Belgian name.
– asdfex
Nov 20 '17 at 12:14
2
I'm surprised there isn't yet a tag for exclaves.
– Andrew Grimm
Nov 21 '17 at 1:55
 |Â
show 2 more comments
Well Willeke, it seems the area covers an even longer terrain than this, so I can't really zoom in. But I mean the small part, which is called the Vennbahn according to Johns-305's answer.
– Wout Huygens
Nov 19 '17 at 19:03
24
If you call this weird you haven't seen the town of Baarle-Nassau yet.
– asdfex
Nov 20 '17 at 11:00
4
@asdfex You mean Baarle-Hertog?
– Alexander
Nov 20 '17 at 11:04
5
@Alexander: Depends on where you are. Baarle-Nassau is the name of the Dutch part. Baarle-Hertog is the Belgian name.
– asdfex
Nov 20 '17 at 12:14
2
I'm surprised there isn't yet a tag for exclaves.
– Andrew Grimm
Nov 21 '17 at 1:55
Well Willeke, it seems the area covers an even longer terrain than this, so I can't really zoom in. But I mean the small part, which is called the Vennbahn according to Johns-305's answer.
– Wout Huygens
Nov 19 '17 at 19:03
Well Willeke, it seems the area covers an even longer terrain than this, so I can't really zoom in. But I mean the small part, which is called the Vennbahn according to Johns-305's answer.
– Wout Huygens
Nov 19 '17 at 19:03
24
24
If you call this weird you haven't seen the town of Baarle-Nassau yet.
– asdfex
Nov 20 '17 at 11:00
If you call this weird you haven't seen the town of Baarle-Nassau yet.
– asdfex
Nov 20 '17 at 11:00
4
4
@asdfex You mean Baarle-Hertog?
– Alexander
Nov 20 '17 at 11:04
@asdfex You mean Baarle-Hertog?
– Alexander
Nov 20 '17 at 11:04
5
5
@Alexander: Depends on where you are. Baarle-Nassau is the name of the Dutch part. Baarle-Hertog is the Belgian name.
– asdfex
Nov 20 '17 at 12:14
@Alexander: Depends on where you are. Baarle-Nassau is the name of the Dutch part. Baarle-Hertog is the Belgian name.
– asdfex
Nov 20 '17 at 12:14
2
2
I'm surprised there isn't yet a tag for exclaves.
– Andrew Grimm
Nov 21 '17 at 1:55
I'm surprised there isn't yet a tag for exclaves.
– Andrew Grimm
Nov 21 '17 at 1:55
 |Â
show 2 more comments
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
25
down vote
accepted
The entire area and a good deal West of it used to be German territory at the beginning of the 20th century. In the late 19th century, a railway line was built from Aachen (much further north) to Luxembourg, the Vennbahn. Originally intended to transport coal and iron ore (in different directions) and to connect the area in between to the industrial centres, it was used strategically at the beginning of World War I to transport troops to attack Liège.
Following the Treaty of Versailles, the western half of this area was ceded to Belgium, creating the outermost border line you see on the picture. The Vennbahn would now cross from German to Belgian territory and back multiple times. Belgium argued that the line was of strategic importance (it had been used to prepare the attack on Liège, see above), so as part of the treaty the entire railway line (but only the railway line) from Walheim (near Aachen) to just before Wilwerdingen (in Luxembourg) became Belgian territory.
This led to the creation of multiple exclaves of Germany in Belgium. One was returned in the 1950s after that part of the railway became disused; five survive to the present day.
Nowadays, none of the tracks remain and the line has been refurbished as a cycle path in those areas where German exclaves were created. However, the foreign ministers of Belgium and Germany have confirmed that no renegotiations of the border shall take place so the situation will continue. (The original treaty did not contain provisions in case the tracks were disused — but the railway’s right of way still exists.)
Anecdotally, some residents whose houses and properties are too close to what used to be the railway line have both German and Belgian addresses and get visited by both postmen.
edited Nov 20 '17 at 13:10
psmears
1945
answered Nov 20 '17 at 10:53
Jan
10.4k33766
add a comment |Â
up vote
42
down vote
It's a former railroad line called the Vennbahn.
It appears that way on the map because the former railroad and right-of-way were and still are Belgian territory. That creates the two exclaves of Germany within Belgium in the picture, though there are currently 5.
Seems the trackline has since been removed and paved as a cycle path.
Branch line Ravel L45a completely asphalted
More details here.
answered Nov 19 '17 at 18:30
Johns-305
26.5k5490
8
Two corrections: it still is Belgian territory and the Vennbahn creates five German enclaves instead of two (used to be six). Of the remaining three, one is just south of the screenshot and the other two are near Roetgen. Also interesting to know is that not only the railroad, but also related infrastructure became Belgian territory under the Treaty of Versailles. For instance the thicker part that you can see in the screenshot is the former station of Monschau (Montjoie in French).
– Some wandering yeti
Nov 19 '17 at 22:28
@ptityeti Ah, yes. I was using the past tense for the rail way, not territory. Corrected. Also clarified the two exclaves in the picture.
– Johns-305
Nov 19 '17 at 22:35
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
25
down vote
accepted
The entire area and a good deal West of it used to be German territory at the beginning of the 20th century. In the late 19th century, a railway line was built from Aachen (much further north) to Luxembourg, the Vennbahn. Originally intended to transport coal and iron ore (in different directions) and to connect the area in between to the industrial centres, it was used strategically at the beginning of World War I to transport troops to attack Liège.
Following the Treaty of Versailles, the western half of this area was ceded to Belgium, creating the outermost border line you see on the picture. The Vennbahn would now cross from German to Belgian territory and back multiple times. Belgium argued that the line was of strategic importance (it had been used to prepare the attack on Liège, see above), so as part of the treaty the entire railway line (but only the railway line) from Walheim (near Aachen) to just before Wilwerdingen (in Luxembourg) became Belgian territory.
This led to the creation of multiple exclaves of Germany in Belgium. One was returned in the 1950s after that part of the railway became disused; five survive to the present day.
Nowadays, none of the tracks remain and the line has been refurbished as a cycle path in those areas where German exclaves were created. However, the foreign ministers of Belgium and Germany have confirmed that no renegotiations of the border shall take place so the situation will continue. (The original treaty did not contain provisions in case the tracks were disused — but the railway’s right of way still exists.)
Anecdotally, some residents whose houses and properties are too close to what used to be the railway line have both German and Belgian addresses and get visited by both postmen.
edited Nov 20 '17 at 13:10
psmears
1945
answered Nov 20 '17 at 10:53
Jan
10.4k33766
add a comment |Â
up vote
25
down vote
accepted
The entire area and a good deal West of it used to be German territory at the beginning of the 20th century. In the late 19th century, a railway line was built from Aachen (much further north) to Luxembourg, the Vennbahn. Originally intended to transport coal and iron ore (in different directions) and to connect the area in between to the industrial centres, it was used strategically at the beginning of World War I to transport troops to attack Liège.
Following the Treaty of Versailles, the western half of this area was ceded to Belgium, creating the outermost border line you see on the picture. The Vennbahn would now cross from German to Belgian territory and back multiple times. Belgium argued that the line was of strategic importance (it had been used to prepare the attack on Liège, see above), so as part of the treaty the entire railway line (but only the railway line) from Walheim (near Aachen) to just before Wilwerdingen (in Luxembourg) became Belgian territory.
This led to the creation of multiple exclaves of Germany in Belgium. One was returned in the 1950s after that part of the railway became disused; five survive to the present day.
Nowadays, none of the tracks remain and the line has been refurbished as a cycle path in those areas where German exclaves were created. However, the foreign ministers of Belgium and Germany have confirmed that no renegotiations of the border shall take place so the situation will continue. (The original treaty did not contain provisions in case the tracks were disused — but the railway’s right of way still exists.)
Anecdotally, some residents whose houses and properties are too close to what used to be the railway line have both German and Belgian addresses and get visited by both postmen.
edited Nov 20 '17 at 13:10
psmears
1945
answered Nov 20 '17 at 10:53
Jan
10.4k33766
add a comment |Â
up vote
25
down vote
accepted
up vote
25
down vote
accepted
The entire area and a good deal West of it used to be German territory at the beginning of the 20th century. In the late 19th century, a railway line was built from Aachen (much further north) to Luxembourg, the Vennbahn. Originally intended to transport coal and iron ore (in different directions) and to connect the area in between to the industrial centres, it was used strategically at the beginning of World War I to transport troops to attack Liège.
Following the Treaty of Versailles, the western half of this area was ceded to Belgium, creating the outermost border line you see on the picture. The Vennbahn would now cross from German to Belgian territory and back multiple times. Belgium argued that the line was of strategic importance (it had been used to prepare the attack on Liège, see above), so as part of the treaty the entire railway line (but only the railway line) from Walheim (near Aachen) to just before Wilwerdingen (in Luxembourg) became Belgian territory.
This led to the creation of multiple exclaves of Germany in Belgium. One was returned in the 1950s after that part of the railway became disused; five survive to the present day.
Nowadays, none of the tracks remain and the line has been refurbished as a cycle path in those areas where German exclaves were created. However, the foreign ministers of Belgium and Germany have confirmed that no renegotiations of the border shall take place so the situation will continue. (The original treaty did not contain provisions in case the tracks were disused — but the railway’s right of way still exists.)
Anecdotally, some residents whose houses and properties are too close to what used to be the railway line have both German and Belgian addresses and get visited by both postmen.
edited Nov 20 '17 at 13:10
psmears
1945
answered Nov 20 '17 at 10:53
Jan
10.4k33766
The entire area and a good deal West of it used to be German territory at the beginning of the 20th century. In the late 19th century, a railway line was built from Aachen (much further north) to Luxembourg, the Vennbahn. Originally intended to transport coal and iron ore (in different directions) and to connect the area in between to the industrial centres, it was used strategically at the beginning of World War I to transport troops to attack Liège.
Following the Treaty of Versailles, the western half of this area was ceded to Belgium, creating the outermost border line you see on the picture. The Vennbahn would now cross from German to Belgian territory and back multiple times. Belgium argued that the line was of strategic importance (it had been used to prepare the attack on Liège, see above), so as part of the treaty the entire railway line (but only the railway line) from Walheim (near Aachen) to just before Wilwerdingen (in Luxembourg) became Belgian territory.
This led to the creation of multiple exclaves of Germany in Belgium. One was returned in the 1950s after that part of the railway became disused; five survive to the present day.
Nowadays, none of the tracks remain and the line has been refurbished as a cycle path in those areas where German exclaves were created. However, the foreign ministers of Belgium and Germany have confirmed that no renegotiations of the border shall take place so the situation will continue. (The original treaty did not contain provisions in case the tracks were disused — but the railway’s right of way still exists.)
Anecdotally, some residents whose houses and properties are too close to what used to be the railway line have both German and Belgian addresses and get visited by both postmen.
edited Nov 20 '17 at 13:10
psmears
1945
answered Nov 20 '17 at 10:53
Jan
10.4k33766
edited Nov 20 '17 at 13:10
psmears
1945
edited Nov 20 '17 at 13:10
psmears
1945
edited Nov 20 '17 at 13:10
psmears
1945
1945
answered Nov 20 '17 at 10:53
Jan
10.4k33766
answered Nov 20 '17 at 10:53
Jan
10.4k33766
answered Nov 20 '17 at 10:53
Jan
10.4k33766
10.4k33766
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
42
down vote
It's a former railroad line called the Vennbahn.
It appears that way on the map because the former railroad and right-of-way were and still are Belgian territory. That creates the two exclaves of Germany within Belgium in the picture, though there are currently 5.
Seems the trackline has since been removed and paved as a cycle path.
Branch line Ravel L45a completely asphalted
More details here.
answered Nov 19 '17 at 18:30
Johns-305
26.5k5490
8
Two corrections: it still is Belgian territory and the Vennbahn creates five German enclaves instead of two (used to be six). Of the remaining three, one is just south of the screenshot and the other two are near Roetgen. Also interesting to know is that not only the railroad, but also related infrastructure became Belgian territory under the Treaty of Versailles. For instance the thicker part that you can see in the screenshot is the former station of Monschau (Montjoie in French).
– Some wandering yeti
Nov 19 '17 at 22:28
@ptityeti Ah, yes. I was using the past tense for the rail way, not territory. Corrected. Also clarified the two exclaves in the picture.
– Johns-305
Nov 19 '17 at 22:35
add a comment |Â
up vote
42
down vote
It's a former railroad line called the Vennbahn.
It appears that way on the map because the former railroad and right-of-way were and still are Belgian territory. That creates the two exclaves of Germany within Belgium in the picture, though there are currently 5.
Seems the trackline has since been removed and paved as a cycle path.
Branch line Ravel L45a completely asphalted
More details here.
answered Nov 19 '17 at 18:30
Johns-305
26.5k5490
8
Two corrections: it still is Belgian territory and the Vennbahn creates five German enclaves instead of two (used to be six). Of the remaining three, one is just south of the screenshot and the other two are near Roetgen. Also interesting to know is that not only the railroad, but also related infrastructure became Belgian territory under the Treaty of Versailles. For instance the thicker part that you can see in the screenshot is the former station of Monschau (Montjoie in French).
– Some wandering yeti
Nov 19 '17 at 22:28
@ptityeti Ah, yes. I was using the past tense for the rail way, not territory. Corrected. Also clarified the two exclaves in the picture.
– Johns-305
Nov 19 '17 at 22:35
add a comment |Â
up vote
42
down vote
up vote
42
down vote
It's a former railroad line called the Vennbahn.
It appears that way on the map because the former railroad and right-of-way were and still are Belgian territory. That creates the two exclaves of Germany within Belgium in the picture, though there are currently 5.
Seems the trackline has since been removed and paved as a cycle path.
Branch line Ravel L45a completely asphalted
More details here.
answered Nov 19 '17 at 18:30
Johns-305
26.5k5490
It's a former railroad line called the Vennbahn.
It appears that way on the map because the former railroad and right-of-way were and still are Belgian territory. That creates the two exclaves of Germany within Belgium in the picture, though there are currently 5.
Seems the trackline has since been removed and paved as a cycle path.
Branch line Ravel L45a completely asphalted
More details here.
answered Nov 19 '17 at 18:30
Johns-305
26.5k5490
edited Nov 19 '17 at 22:33
answered Nov 19 '17 at 18:30
Johns-305
26.5k5490
answered Nov 19 '17 at 18:30
Johns-305
26.5k5490
answered Nov 19 '17 at 18:30
Johns-305
26.5k5490
26.5k5490
8
Two corrections: it still is Belgian territory and the Vennbahn creates five German enclaves instead of two (used to be six). Of the remaining three, one is just south of the screenshot and the other two are near Roetgen. Also interesting to know is that not only the railroad, but also related infrastructure became Belgian territory under the Treaty of Versailles. For instance the thicker part that you can see in the screenshot is the former station of Monschau (Montjoie in French).
– Some wandering yeti
Nov 19 '17 at 22:28
@ptityeti Ah, yes. I was using the past tense for the rail way, not territory. Corrected. Also clarified the two exclaves in the picture.
– Johns-305
Nov 19 '17 at 22:35
add a comment |Â
8
Two corrections: it still is Belgian territory and the Vennbahn creates five German enclaves instead of two (used to be six). Of the remaining three, one is just south of the screenshot and the other two are near Roetgen. Also interesting to know is that not only the railroad, but also related infrastructure became Belgian territory under the Treaty of Versailles. For instance the thicker part that you can see in the screenshot is the former station of Monschau (Montjoie in French).
– Some wandering yeti
Nov 19 '17 at 22:28
@ptityeti Ah, yes. I was using the past tense for the rail way, not territory. Corrected. Also clarified the two exclaves in the picture.
– Johns-305
Nov 19 '17 at 22:35
8
8
Two corrections: it still is Belgian territory and the Vennbahn creates five German enclaves instead of two (used to be six). Of the remaining three, one is just south of the screenshot and the other two are near Roetgen. Also interesting to know is that not only the railroad, but also related infrastructure became Belgian territory under the Treaty of Versailles. For instance the thicker part that you can see in the screenshot is the former station of Monschau (Montjoie in French).
– Some wandering yeti
Nov 19 '17 at 22:28
Two corrections: it still is Belgian territory and the Vennbahn creates five German enclaves instead of two (used to be six). Of the remaining three, one is just south of the screenshot and the other two are near Roetgen. Also interesting to know is that not only the railroad, but also related infrastructure became Belgian territory under the Treaty of Versailles. For instance the thicker part that you can see in the screenshot is the former station of Monschau (Montjoie in French).
– Some wandering yeti
Nov 19 '17 at 22:28
@ptityeti Ah, yes. I was using the past tense for the rail way, not territory. Corrected. Also clarified the two exclaves in the picture.
– Johns-305
Nov 19 '17 at 22:35
@ptityeti Ah, yes. I was using the past tense for the rail way, not territory. Corrected. Also clarified the two exclaves in the picture.
– Johns-305
Nov 19 '17 at 22:35
add a comment |Â
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Clash Royale CLAN TAG
Well Willeke, it seems the area covers an even longer terrain than this, so I can't really zoom in. But I mean the small part, which is called the Vennbahn according to Johns-305's answer.
– Wout Huygens
Nov 19 '17 at 19:03
24
If you call this weird you haven't seen the town of Baarle-Nassau yet.
– asdfex
Nov 20 '17 at 11:00
4
@asdfex You mean Baarle-Hertog?
– Alexander
Nov 20 '17 at 11:04
5
@Alexander: Depends on where you are. Baarle-Nassau is the name of the Dutch part. Baarle-Hertog is the Belgian name.
– asdfex
Nov 20 '17 at 12:14
2
I'm surprised there isn't yet a tag for exclaves.
– Andrew Grimm
Nov 21 '17 at 1:55