For those of you going on the tripoint tour in September, may I recommend
the following accommodation options:
IF stopping at the Vennbahn enclaves, there is a youth hostel in the old
castle in the centre of Monschau. Probably a good idea to book ahead as it
was full with school ghroups when i was there. There is another youth hostel
which was very pleasant, at the top of the hill leading out of town to the
north, but not as historic.
IN Baarle, there are several hotels in the village itself and severla
bungalow parks and camping grounds in the vicinity. However, may I recommend
the Kamphuis at De BLokken. It is a large brick building about 10m from the
main Belgo-Dutch border, built by a smuggler in the 1950s. The location in
an almost-enclave of the netherlands, the association with border smuggling,
the rural locale, the nearby military bases, the enclave contested in the
1950s about 1km away..., the border itself... all fascintating, and at 3-4km
south of baarle, it is not an unwalkable distance away, and easy to cycle or
drive to/from.
Check it out at www.deblokken.nl I talked with the owner, Kees ("KC") in
October, so if you do book, tell him I sent you. The road to it is a small
farm track (it is probablym ore eaily accessible through Belgium), but as
the dutch track has a small bridge, all you have to do it damage that, and
you have created your own enclave!
And don't forget to smuggle some butter out to Belgium when you leave...
BW
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