Baarle

Geschiedenis

Baarle is a village whose territory is divided into a patchwork quilt of Belgian and Dutch properties. The Belgian parts of the village are called Baarle-Hertog and the Dutch elements are called Baarle-Nassau. The Belgian part includes 22 exclaves within Dutch territory. The exclaves, in turn, surround seven Dutch areas. Belgian territory also surrounds an eighth Dutch area near Ginhoven. In 1995 the border was finalized to include a formerly neutral grassland. This village contains three quadripoints.The line of the border means that some buildings straddle both countries. This is the case for a branch of Zeeman. For these properties, the voordeurregel (literally: "front door rule") policy applies: their address lies in the country that contains their front door. The exception is a house on Loveren street with both Belgian (#2) and Dutch (#19) front doors. For convenience, every house number plaque shows a flag.ToponymyThere are various theories about the origin of the name "Baarle" . The last part certainly originates from the -loo suffix, which means forest on sandy ground, next to a settlement. The first part could be interpreted as: baar: a bare, flat or uncultivated land barza: Proto-Germanic word for softwood. Baro or Bera, an old first name. The suffixes Hertog and Nassau refer respectively to the Hertog of Brabant and the House of Nassau which held the Lordship of Breda.