>To sub-pot the already potted: Some time in the 13th century
1198 to be exact. A copy of the deed is shown in Breckelmans, 1965, "
Belgische Enclaves in Nederland", a Dutch book on the history of Baarle. The
deed is in latin, the photo of which is accompanied by a transcription of
the Latin, but no translation into Dutch, let alone English. However, I have
had the Latin translated.
Late 1500s Netherlands broke away from Hapsburg rule, and what is now
Belgium remained Spanish Netherlands, with Baarle on the border. At end of
30 years war, 1648, it survived because the Lady of Baarle-Hertog was in
agreement with the local cleric to keep her area Catrholic as the Lord of
Dutch Baarle was closing the churches in Calvinist zeal. The northernmost
enclave, the tiny one left off the Dutch map, was the site of a barn used as
a church by Catholics from Tilburg who came to it as the nearest Catholic
church. Thus the Catholic church in B-H survived.
spanish Netherlands passed to Austria in 1740s, then both were annexed to
France in c.1800.
1815, together they formed Kingdom of Netherlands, but split again in 1830
with Belgiuan independence.
Boundary at Baarle determined on basis of ownership of individual plots due
to complexity of situation.
Baarle was only part of Belgium not occupied by Germans in WW1 (apart from a
patch behind allied lines near Ostend). A clandestine radio station set up
there listened in to German radio transmissions.
Dutch ringed the village in barbed wire to prove they were neutral, as
Germany had erected a fence along the Dutch-Belg boundary to stop refugee
and spy flows.
Baarle liberated by Poles in 1944. An American bomber crew shot down nearby.
c.1950-60, argument over H17, large enclave near main border, as Dutch had
considered it theirs for some time. A Belgian bought the old houses there,
charged (higher) Belgian rents, and opaerated a casino in defiance of Dutch.
He felled trees to block roads to the enclave.
In ICJ court case 1960, court determined it was Belgian.
Main section of boundary finally determined in 1970s and enclave boundaries
fixed in 1995. H22, a third of a plot listed in the 1830s cadastral
determinat9ion as disputed, was finally awarded to Belgium and delimited.
2001: model of village with motors to raise each enclave for viewing at the
push of a button due to be operational for tourism purposes. Steel "dots" to
mark boundary in streets also for tourist, not legal, purposes.
BW
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