Enclaves/Exclaves
The world is home to 62 territories that are completely surrounded by the land of another country — known as enclaves.
These unique geographic features reveal how complex and fascinating international borders can be.
Remarkably, 30 of these enclaves are located in the towns of Baarle-Hertog (Belgium) and Baarle-Nassau (Netherlands), making Baarle one of the most intricate border regions on Earth.
Each enclave has its own story, shaped by centuries of history, politics, and local identity.
For a complete worldwide overview of enclaves and exclaves, explore this site [global enclave map and guide] — your gateway to understanding the world’s most extraordinary border puzzles.
(Pen) Enclaves Dashboard
My visited creative writing spaces
En (ex) claves
∆ Baarle
∆ Büsingen
∆ Campione d' Italia
∆ Jungholz
Pen-enclaves
∆ Pikeneset pene-enclave (RU)
∆ Golddajávri (NOSE)
Pen-enclaves
What Is a Pen-Enclave?
A pen-enclave (also called a practical enclave) is a territory that is not completely separated from its parent country, but can only be accessed by passing through another state or territory.
In other words, there is no direct road access from the main part of the country.
The only practical way to reach the pen-enclave is via the surrounding territory of another entity.
These rare border situations often result from historical land divisions or treaty adjustments and are fascinating examples of how geography and politics shape modern borders.
The Baarle Enclaves: Europe’s Most Complex Border Between Belgium and the Netherlands
Baarle Enclaves (Belgium / Netherlands)
(Click to visit the Baarle page for maps, history, and photos.)
The Baarle enclaves represent one of Europe’s most intricate and historically rich border arrangements.
Officially located in the Netherlands, the twin towns of Baarle-Hertog (Belgium) and Baarle-Nassau (Netherlands) form a geographical puzzle that dates back to medieval land treaties and feudal ownership disputes.
In total, Baarle-Hertog consists of 22 Belgian enclaves surrounded by Dutch territory. Inside these Belgian areas, there are 7 Dutch counter-enclaves — small parcels of land that belong to the Netherlands but are completely surrounded by Belgium.
To make things even more extraordinary, there is one Dutch enclave entirely within Belgian mainland, adding another layer to this centuries-old cartographic enigma.
The borders of Baarle are not just marked on maps — they physically cut through streets, homes, and shops, sometimes dividing a single building between two countries.
Over time, this peculiar arrangement has come to symbolize peaceful coexistence and cross-border coöperation in Europe.
For a deeper look at the maps, stories, and photos of this fascinating town, visit my full Baarle Enclaves Guided Page.
Büsingen
Büsingen, a unique German enclave nestled within Switzerland, sits between the German state of Baden-Württemberg and the Swiss canton of Schaffhausen.
With roots dating back to the Middle Ages, Büsingen showcases a charming mix of German and Swiss cultural influences.
This area stands out due to its distinctive administrative setup, where both German and Swiss laws are in effect, making Büsingen an intriguing spot for history enthusiasts and those intrigued by cultural diversity.
You'll discover numerous boundary markers here that delineate the precise border between the German enclave and Switzerland.
Büsingen was formerly under Habsburg authority. It was integrated into the Kingdom of Württemberg amidst the Napoleonic conflicts in 1805.
The boundaries were formalized by the Congress of Vienna in 1815, delineating its territorial precincts.
The vehicle registration plate BüS-A is used instead of KN-A in Büsingen.
When a resident of Büsingen drives into a German town, parks the car, and returns later, it's not uncommon to find one or more individuals examining the car's registration plate and discussing it. "Büs-A... never seen that before." Yes, it does exist, although not commonly.
There are roughly 700 cars with this unique registration plate, which may seem exotic to non-residents.
Konstanz
Büsingen is part of the Konstanz district and should technically have a KN registration plate on its vehicles.
However, due to Büsingen's unique situation, the village was granted its own Büs registration plate, exempting it from the KN requirement. This decision aimed to facilitate the work of Swiss border officials.
When a Swiss customs officer in Geneva or Basel sees a German car with a BÜS plate passing through, they know it belongs to the Swiss economic area and might be transporting goods subject to customs. This prompts the officer to stop the BÜS car and inquire, "Did you import something or receive goods for free?"
Additionally, there are cars with BüS-Z license plates, although they are few in number and can be counted on one hand.
These vehicles were imported into Büsingen without paying customs but can only be driven under that status for a maximum of two years.
.png?etag=%229a701-68f0b146%22&sourceContentType=image%2Fpng&quality=85 "Explore the unique license plates used in the area of Büsingen enclave")
Büsingen boasts a unique vehicle registration plate system stipulated in the state treaty.
This distinct characteristic results in vehicles from Büsingen displaying the identifier BüS instead of the typical KN, which would be assigned based on its location in the Konstanz district.
The BüS plates were first introduced in early 1968 to streamline the responsibilities of Swiss customs officers. Vehicles with BüS plates are treated similarly to Swiss vehicles when entering and traveling within Switzerland.
Regular BüS plates are marked with the letter A. Additionally, there are vehicles identified with the letter Z that were brought into Switzerland duty-free and are authorized to operate under this status for a maximum of two years.
Prior to the deregulation of registration plates, BüS plates were the rarest ones issued in Germany. Although BüS temporarily lost its title as the scarcest plate due to the reintroduction of numerous old plates, it still retains the distinction of being the smallest registration district in Germany.
Motor vehicle taxes for Büsingen residents are submitted to the central customs office in Singen (Hohentwiel). However, the key factor affecting these taxes is the rate set by the canton of Schaffhausen, which is notably lower than German rates, particularly for diesel vehicles, and is not based on emission standards.
This variation has previously led German residents to falsely claim residency in Büsingen to take advantage of the reduced vehicle taxes.
And guess what we found while in Büsingen
Jungholz (At)
Jungholz, Austria
The Unique Austrian Exclave in Germany
Jungholz is a fascinating Austrian exclave completely surrounded by Germany. It is located in the northwestern part of Austria, within the district of Tyrol (Tirol).
Despite being part of Austria, Jungholz can only be reached by road through German territory, making it one of Europe’s most interesting geographical anomalies.
Until June 24, 1342, Jungholz was part of Bavaria (Beieren, Germany). On this date, it officially became part of Tyrol (Tirol, Austria) following a historic land transfer.
The exact borders of Jungholz were later defined through agreements signed between the Kingdom of Bavaria and the Austrian Empire (later the Austro-Hungarian Empireor Dual Monarchy) in 1844 and 1850. These treaties established the exclave’s unique political and geographical status that remains to this day.
.jpeg?etag=%2219d1a7-665b72aa%22&sourceContentType=image%2Fjpeg&ignoreAspectRatio&resize=2500,1667&quality=85 "Sorgschrofen Mountain peak marking the Austria–Germany quadripoint near Jungholz, Tyrol.")
Sorgschrofen Mountain (1,636 m)
The Unique Quadripoint of Austria and Germany
The Sorgschrofen Mountain, standing 1,636 meters above sea level, is a remarkable geographical landmark located near Jungholz, Tyrol (Austria).
What makes this mountain truly special is the quadripoint found at its summit — a single point where two Austrian territories and two German territories meet.
This rare international border point makes Sorgschrofen one of only a few quadripoints in the world.
A similar example can be found in Baarle,
a town on the Netherlands–Belgium border, known for its complex patchwork of enclaves, counterneclaves and borders.
The Sorgschrofen quadripoint symbolizes the fascinating history and geography of the Austria–Germany border region, attracting geography enthusiasts and hikers alike.
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