Belgian Enclave H7
H7 is the smallest enclave worldwide. It’s as small as one and a half house and part of the backyards. Read more
local name: The Loversche Akkers
Origin: 1198
Number of residents: 3 (17 Oct. 2016)
Surface: 2.469 m²
Circumference: 0,214 km
H7 is the smallest enclave worldwide. It’s as small as one and a half house and part of the backyards. It holds one of the world’s most photographed enclave borders. This particular borderline cuts through the middle of the front door. Hence, the residence has both a Dutch (19) and a Belgian (2) house number. To sort out whether residents should be registered in the Belgian or Dutch population register, a ‘front door’ rule is in force in Baarle. Accordingly, the location of the front door of a property is decisive for the domicile of its inhabitants, as well as which country they get utilities such as electricity, water, telephone and television from.
Shortly after the Dutch mobilisation in 1939, this particular house is occupied by the Dutch military. As they are at first unaware of the fact that part of the house is Belgian, they are forced by the Belgian court into changing the position of their beds and desks: the Dutch soldiers are allowed to sleep but not to work in Belgium.