Belgium Neighbouring Countries on the Map

Belgium’s Buddies Up North

Belgium cozies up to the Netherlands along its northern edge, meeting a nation famous for its charming sights and nifty network of canals.

Netherlands

Perched right above Belgium, you’ll stumble upon the Netherlands, often casually called Holland. These two play nice thanks to geography making them besties in culture and trade. The Netherlands flaunts fields as flat as a pancake, bursting with tulips, and boasts centuries-old windmills amid its maze of canals.

Boundary Breakdown

Belgium and the Netherlands cozy up along a zigzaggy border around 450 clicks long (that’s about 280 miles if you’re counting). They inked this border in the books somewhere between 1839 and 1843, then shuffled it a bit after that infamous shindig, the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 (Wikipedia).

Big rivers like the Scheldt and the Meuse cross these lines, flowing with trade and tales. The Scheldt zips through Zeeland in the Netherlands, making itself helpful for Antwerp’s port.

Land Border	Length (km)	Length (miles)
Belgium-Netherlands	450	280

Navigate Belgium’s dance with the Netherlands, and you’ll find odd little nooks and crannies all over the place. Take Baarle-Hertog, a Belgian spot tangled up with Dutch Baarle-Nassau, forming a puzzle of parcels (Wikipedia).

Curious for more about who else rubs shoulders with Belgium? Check out the neighbors of Germany, France, and Luxembourg.

Belgium’s Eastern Neighbor

Belgium cozies up to Germany on its eastern side. This line on the map isn’t just a boring old divide—it’s a thread of history and geography that’s shaped these nations over the years.

Germany

Germany hangs out east of Belgium, with a border running for about 136 kilometers (or 85 miles, if you’re more into miles) (Wikipedia). This line has danced around quite a bit, especially during the World Wars. For map enthusiasts, it’s a neat part of figuring out where Belgium sits in the grand scheme of things.

Shared Border Details

The back-and-forth of Belgium and Germany’s border has a colorful past. It saw its fair share of edits until World War II waved through. After the war, a bit of shuffling happened when Belgium got a temporary hold on some German land, which they eventually handed back in 1956.

Country	Border Length (km)	Border Length (miles)
France	620	385
Germany	167	104
Luxembourg	148	92
Netherlands	450	280

This line isn’t just a random scratch on the globe but marks the lively historical back-and-forth between Belgium and Germany. The landscape around this region, including the Ardennes with its charming hills and thick forests, played starring roles in some epic wartime showdowns.

For more on how other countries rub elbows with their neighbors, check out our articles on places like Afghanistan neighbors and Albania neighbors.

Getting a grip on the ins and outs of the Belgium-Germany border sheds light on the interesting ties these folks share. Dive deeper into boundary stories with our insights on nations like Austria’s neighbors and Bangladesh’s neighbors.

Belgium’s Southern Neighbor

Taking a closer look at Belgium’s southern neighbors brings us to Luxembourg, a small powerhouse packed with strategic importance.

Luxembourg

Luxembourg chills out just to the southeast of Belgium. These two have a close, historical friendship, connecting them beyond just a line on a map. This duo plays well together and holds a fair share of influence in Europe.

Border Length

Belgium and Luxembourg share a land boundary that stretches about 148 kilometers (or 92 miles if you prefer good old imperial units). This line was drawn way back in 1839 but got tweaked after the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. During this reshuffle, a French-speaking province changed hands, now calling Luxembourg home and setting today’s border scene.

Aspect	Details
Length of Border	148 kilometers (92 miles)
Settlement	Defined in 1839, redrawn in 1919
Total Length of Belgium’s Borders	1,385 kilometers (860 miles)

If you’re curious about how Belgium rubs elbows with other nations, check out our info on France, Germany, and the Netherlands.

The Belgium-Luxembourg link is a prime example of how neighboring countries can be connected through shared stories and common interests. By digging into these borders, you’re not just looking at Europe’s physical divisions, but also peeking into the political and cultural exchanges. Spark your curiosity with some of our other sections, like France or Germany, to see how countries interact and come together.

France: Belgium’s Southern Boundary

Understanding the geography of Belgium is like unlocking a treasure map. One key area to explore is Belgium’s neighborly connection down south with France. Let’s take a peek at the close-knit friendship marked by this extensive boundary.

Distance from Belgium

Down south, where waffles meet wine, Belgium sizes up to France along a sprawling border spanning about 620 kilometers. This not-so-little line marks a path of shared history and cultural exchanges, playing a crucial part in how these European partners groove together on the continent dance floor.

Common Boundaries

Stretching over rolling hills and peaceful plains, this border measures a solid 620 kilometers (Wikipedia). It’s not just a line on a map, but a lifeline for trade shenanigans and jolly jaunts between the two. The lush landscapes and bustling border zones paint a vivid picture of both nations’ collaborative spirit.

Boundary Detail	Measurement
Border Length	620 kilometers
Total Land Boundaries	860 miles (1,385 kilometers)

This border is more than a mark; it’s a highway for cultural camaraderie, economic exchanges, and political partnerships buzzing with historical vibes and modern dealings.

Check out more cross-border adventures involving:

• afghanistan neighboring countries
• albania neighboring countries
• argentina neighboring countries
• bulgaria neighboring countries

These geographical tidbits offer a peek into how borders knit together nations like Belgium with friends near and far.

A Unique Border Situation

Belgium’s borders are anything but simple. The country has some pretty quirky and tangled-up border stuff that make geography buffs and map lovers do a double-take.

Enclaves within Belgium

Let’s chat about Baarle. This place is a real head-scratcher, sprinkled with a bunch of littler chunks called enclaves and exclaves. Think of it like a patchwork quilt— with one part named Baarle-Hertog, that’s Belgium’s, and the other, Baarle-Nassau, in the Netherlands. Way back in 1843, 365 border posts were planted here to keep the peace, but you end up with Belgian land in Dutch shoes, and Dutch bits snuggled into Belgium’s backyard. The place is a geopolitical jigsaw puzzle.

Enclave	Country	Location
Baarle-Hertog	Belgium	Inside the Netherlands
Baarle-Nassau	Netherlands	Inside Belgium

Complex Border Realities

Belgium’s borders are like your Grandpa’s old toolbox—full of fixes and changes. Treaties and tweaks, like the one in the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, have shaped these borders into what they are now.

• Baarle-Hertog and Baarle-Nassau: These spots take the cake when it comes to border craziness. You can be in Belgium and just by stepping over a line in the sidewalk, you’re in the Netherlands. Even inside some buildings!

• Vaalserberg Tripoint: Picture standing with one foot in Belgium, the other in Germany, and a hand in the Netherlands. That’s the tripoint at Vaalserberg—talk about being in three places at once!

• Meuse River Realignment (2018): Just a few years back, in 2018, folks decided to tidy things up along the Meuse River near Limburg. Belgium and the Netherlands did a little land swap to keep things smooth and simple.

These kooky border setups show the power of diplomacy and precise geographic lines for Belgium. If you’ve got a thirst for wacky international boundary stories, this small European country packs a punch of curious tales.

If you fancy diving deeper into border oddities, you might get a kick out of reading about Austria’s neighbors, Czech Republic’s buddies, and Croatia’s neighboring pals. Give ‘em a read!

Historical and Diplomatic Relations

Belgium’s rich tapestry of treaty agreements and international disputes with neighboring countries has woven its role in shaping the region. This has given Belgium its unique flavor in the grand recipe of global politics.

Treaty Agreements

Long way from a small country in Europe, Belgium has carved out a space at the big kids’ table with some slick treaty moves. Back in ’48, they signed the Treaty of Brussels with heavyweights like the UK, France, Netherlands, and Luxembourg. This wasn’t just a casual brunch date; it set the stage for Belgium to be a founding member of the Atlantic Alliance the very next year (Wikipedia). This alliance bumped up Belgium’s clout in both European and world affairs.

Not chilling on just European soil, Belgium’s rolled out its diplomatic red carpet to folks all over the globe. They’re chatty with countries across the Americas, Asia, Africa, and right back around Oceania. Fun times kicked off with Spain back in 1832, and they officially tipped their hat to Slovenia in ’92..

Check out these peacemaker moments:

Treaty	Year	Who’s in the Club?
Treaty of Brussels	1948	UK, France, Netherlands, Luxembourg
Getting Cozy with Spain	1832	Spain
Saluting Slovenia	1992	Slovenia

International Disputes

It’s not all smooth sailin’, though. Belgium’s had a few skirmishes in the neighborhood, especially with the Netherlands. Many of these have set the scene in international courts, such as the International Court of Justice or the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

Drama points include a water-related tiff over the Meuse way back in 1937. Fast forward to ’59, and the Baarle-Hertog enclave ruffled a few feathers. Then came the 2005 Iron Rhine railroad saga, shining a light on the clash of aged treaties versus the buzz of modern build-outs (Wikipedia).

As for shared fan clubs, Belgium and the UK are both on the guest lists of exclusive international hangouts like NATO, the Council of Europe, and the World Trade Organization. Plus, they’ve penned a few side deals like the snazzy Classification Information Protection Agreement and the hip Maritime Cooperation Agreement.

Curious about how Belgium mingles with the world? Jump over to our pieces on Afghanistan’s neighborhood vibe and Austria’s chum circle.