The area around USAG Bavaria - Brunssum is where three country’s borders meet: Belgium, Netherlands and Germany. (Katie Wells)
Installations in this region:
USAG Benelux – Brunssum
NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen
Eygelshoven Army Depot
Zutendaal Air Base
Kleine Brogel Air Base
Volkel Air Base
The tri-border is where the Netherland’s southern-most province of Limburg squeezes between Germany and Belgium. In Limburg, Dutch is the official language, while Flemish and French are spoken in Belgium. Flemish is a variation of Dutch, with key differences. In the same way Britons use crisps for American chips, Dutch and Flemish each have plenty of unique regional words. Flemish is also pronounced in a more French-sounding way. On the other hand, Dutch has all but gotten rid of formal language, while it is kept in Flemish. To add to this complexity, German is used in both Germany and a few nearby parts of Belgium. Helpfully, most people also speak English, but be prepared for a mix of languages.
When border crossing, it is not only languages that will change. Driving culture is a bit different depending on where you travel. In Germany, there is a lot of direction and a strict expectation of rule following. In the Netherlands you will notice that bikes and pedestrians have been prioritized over cars. Belgium seems to blend the two and road quality can change regionally.
Residing between three countries gives you the opportunity to border cross for good deals and specialties. Buy your beer in Belgium, bread in Germany and cheese in the Netherlands. Pop over to Germany for big box electronics or home improvement stores, get a great deal on bulbs or bikes in the Netherlands, and try Belgium for luxury gifts and antiques.
There are many World War II sites in the area. Highlights include the Netherlands and Henri-Chapelle American Cemeteries and visits to the German Westwall bunkers and dragons teeth in the Hürtgen Forest.
The American Battle Monuments Commission Henri-Chappell American Cemetery is the resting place for nearly 8,000 American military who lost their lives during World War II. (Mandy Mills)
The long Middle Ages also looms large in the landscape with castles and ruins dotting the area. Don’t miss a visit to the historic cities of Maastricht or Liège, and wander the small, fairy-tale towns of Monschau or Valkenburg. In Germany, Aachen is a must-see city. It is here that you can step back into the world of Charlemagne, shop in the medieval old town and visit the hot springs that made this place a destination for the Romans.
The tri-border region is also full of surprising natural landscapes. Nearby, the Brunssummerheide offers a heather-coverd heath land with trails and playgrounds. There are the bogs and boardwalks of the High Fens Nature Park in Belgium, perfect for hikes and bike rides in a space that feels like a mystical northern landscape. At Sint-Pietersberg in the Netherlands (south of Maastricht) an entirely different landscape of limestone cliffs, caves and quarries is worth exploring. For wild forest hiking and camping visit Germany’s Eifel National Park.
The Brunssummerheide is adjacent to USAG Benelux Brussum and is a nature preserve full of trails and playgrounds in the unique heath landscape. (Katie Wells)
