The Most Complex Borders in Europe: Why Do We Have Nations?

2015-06-01

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http://tomscott.com - http://twitter.com/tomscott - Yes, plenty of folks already know about the most complicated borders in Europe, in Baarle-Nassau (the Netherlands) and Baarle-Hertog (Belgium). But why did we end up with this particular system? Why do we have nations in the first place? Most historians would say it goes back to something called the Peace of Westphalia, many years ago...

BONUS LINK: My friend Dan W (@iamdanw) also took a trip there, and wrote up a lovely piece on the history of the two Baarles. It's worth a read; http://www.iamdanw.com/wrote/what-are-borders-anyway/