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The border between the modern states ofBelgium andGermany has a length of 204 km (127 mi).[1]
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TheBelgium–Germany border is crossed by two railways, the railway betweenLiège andAachen, as well as the railway betweenTongeren andAachen. There are around 20 public roads which cross the border, of them 2motorways (controlled-access highways),A3/A44/E40 andA27/A60/E42.
One specific feature of the border is the route of theVennbahn railway.[2] The Vennbahn railway route has been Belgian territory since 1919, under the provisions of theTreaty of Versailles. The Treaty decided that the former German area ofEupen-Malmedy should be ceded to Belgium, along with the entire Vennbahn railway route which crossed the border several times. Border stones can be found on the right and left of the route. Due to the route of the now defunct railway, sixexclaves of Germany, completely surrounded by Belgian territory, as well as one counter-enclave, were created. Today five German enclaves remain surrounded by Belgian territory, consisting of the villageMützenich as well as parts of the districts of Monschaus and Roetgens.[3] Followingland swaps, the sixth enclave and the Belgian counter-enclave, no longer exist.
Both countries belong to theSchengen Area and theEuropean Union Customs Union. There have been no customs checks as such since 1968 and no systematic passport checks since 1995.
