I stumbled upon Baarle Hertog on a map. I mean, literally, I was zooming into the map at Antwerp searching for landmarks & places to see when I saw this black doodle like thing, on the map near the Belgian-Dutch border and zoomed into it..... and that's how I stumbled upon Baarle Hertog & Nassau. Google maps is the best way to explain how crazy this place border situation is.
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So yeah, ofcourse I wanted see this for myself. However, the challenge was public transport from Brussels (driving is just an easy 1:15hrs). Reaching here by bus & train combo on weekdays takes a bit over 2 hrs while in weekends, with reduced frequency it takes a bit over 3 hrs! 6 hrs travel felt too much for a day-trip and I kept postponing it, until, a friend of mine relocated to Eindhoven! So the trip became a weekend trip with a stop-over at Baarle!
This is 'not' a parking slot, but the border line, going through the streets!!!
For its absolutely weird border line scenario that's been alive since 1198 CE, I'm amused that its still not recognized by UNESCO or EHL. I hope they receive atleast the European Heritage Label to recognize this medieval craziness that's still alive!
To Get There:
On Google Maps: Baarle Hertog Nassau Tourism Office, Town Hall, De Biergrens, Restaurant Den Engel, Art Gallery with 2 numbers, House with 2 numbers, Hof van Baarle vineyard, Death Wire and Old Switch House on Dodendraad route
While exploring the town centre is very much possible on foot, seeing the vineyard or dodendraad are possible only by car/bike. It is possible to hire bikes here. There is a dedicated 40km cycling route which can be taken to explore the border crossings 25 more times, in the outskirts of the town including the vineyard. There is also a dedicated 38km cycling route called Dodendraadpad (Dead Wire Route) that crosses the sites associated with the World War.