Visitors flock to the Drielandenpunt – the “three-country point” – to have the chance to stand in three European countries at the same time.
The Vaalserberg Hill is the location of the tripoint between Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands and so its summit is called Drielandenpunt in Dutch, Dreiländereck (“three country corner”) in German and Trois Frontières (“three borders”) in French.
The Drielandenpunt also holds historical significance, as it marks the meeting point of various shifting borders over time, influenced by wars, treaties and political changes in the region.
On the Belgian side, the tripoint borders the region of Wallonia, a French and German-speaking area. The German side falls within the city limits of Aachen in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. In the Netherlands, the monument lies in the province of Limburg on the southeasternmost edge of the country.
Each side of the border offers different attractions. In Germany, the immediate area is dense woodland, perfect for hiking or cycling. In Belgium, a lift-powered observation tower offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape.
The stone monument sits at a remarkable elevation for the Netherlands, near the country’s highest point. The country also boasts the largest hedge maze in Europe – Labyrint Drielandenpunt – which is said to take an hour to complete.
The current Belgian-German border is slightly east of the old eastern border of the tiny neutral district of Moresnet with Prussia.
This point saw five different borders meet, though no more than four met at once, except possibly between 1917 and 1920, when the border situation was unclear and contested.
Before the modern borders were established, the area was part of various larger political entities, such as the Holy Roman Empire and later the Kingdom of Prussia. The borders were often unclear and disputed.
The region around Drielandenpunt was affected by the Treaty of Versailles (1839), which defined the borders between Belgium and the Netherlands, and between Belgium and Prussia (which later became part of Germany).
After World War One, there were further shifts and disputes over borders in Europe, but the boundaries around the Drielandenpunt largely remained stable.
Today almost the only hint at this complex history is in the Dutch road name, “viergrenzenweg”, which translates to ‘four borders way’.
The site is now a popular stop for tourists in the region. One visitor on Tripadvisor wrote: “Do you want to visit The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany in a few seconds? At this place, you can.
“It’s very touristic with souvenir shops, viewing platforms, eating places. An interesting photo op.”
Another said: “Fun for a quick stop–but it could easily be a longer trip if you like hiking as there are a lot of nice trails. With open borders within Europe, this is an easy place to visit, though the old customs shelter is used as a place to get your parking token.”
