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试想你回到家,进门后到了客厅就等于到了另一个国家,或者你与父母虽然生活在同一个屋檐下,但却分别睡在不同的国度里……这是何等有趣的生活。
Baarle is a small town with a split personality. It sits right on top of the border between the Netherlands and Belgium. So one part of the town is Dutch, the other part Belgian. Well, life can be pretty confusing because as well as the border sometimes splitting houses in two, there are also little Belgian 1)enclaves in the Dutch part and Dutch enclaves in the Belgian part.
The municipality of Baarle-Nassau in the Netherlands is closely tied to the Belgian enclave of Baarle-Hertog. Very closely tied. Sometimes, neighboring houses are in different countries. It’s a very complicated border.
Resident: (via translator) I live in Belgian territory. My husband was born in the Netherlands and lives in Belgian territory, even though he’s still a Dutch citizen. It’s not a problem.
In fact, the enterprising residents of Baarle actually make the most of the border. Many local stores sell fireworks, for example, because in Belgium, they can be sold all year round, whereas in the Netherlands they’re only available a few days before New Year.
Everything here comes in twos, such as two catholic Churches and two teams workers of 2)raking up the dead leaves. Two teams of firefighters, two police forces, even though they do share a police station. And there are even two mayors. Jan Van Leuven, who’s in charge of Baarle’s 3,000 Belgian inhabitants and Jan Hendrix for the Dutch community, which numbers 6,000. Everyone gets along. It helps that they all speak the same language. When it comes to practicalities, they’re used to making compromises.
Hendrix: (via translator)You pay taxes depending on which country your front door is in. So if it’s in the Nertherlands, then that’s where you pay your taxes and fees, even if the rest of the house is in Belgium.
Newcomers often choose where they live for tax reasons. For others, it’s an emotional decision.
Jan Van Leuven: (via translator) If I feel Belgian, then I live in Belgium. If I feel Dutch, then I live on Dutch territory. It’s psychological.
巴勒是一个有着双重性格的小镇。它正好坐落在荷兰和比利时的边境线上。于是,小镇的一部分属荷兰,另一部分则属于比利时。镇上有的地方一间房子会被国境线一分为二,而且在荷兰那边有比利时人的聚居地,而在边界另一边的比利时也有荷兰人的聚居地,这里的生活因此变得相当混乱。
荷兰的巴勒纳绍镇与巴勒海托赫的比利时人聚居地关系密切,而且是非常密切。在有的地方,相邻的房子分别属于不同的国家。这真是一条很复杂的边界。
居民:(通过翻译)我住在比利时属地。而我的丈夫生在荷兰,现在他身为荷兰人,却住在比利时。不过这不是什么问题。
事实是,有生意头脑的巴勒居民确实尽量利用这个边界线。举例说,这里的许多商店销售焰火。因为在比利时,商店可以全年销售焰火,而在荷兰,商店只能在新年到来前的几天销售焰火。
这时的所有东西都是成双成对的。比如说,这里有两个天主教堂,有两支扫枯叶的队伍,还有两支消防队和两支警察队伍——尽管他们共用同一个警察局。这里甚至有两位镇长。扬·冯·劳温管理着巴勒的三千比利时居民,而扬·亨德里斯负责的则是有着六千居民的荷兰部分。大家都相处融洽。大家说的是同一种语言,这一点对相处有好处。而涉及到现实情况,大家早已习惯了相互妥协让步。
亨德里斯:(通过翻译)居民根据自己房子前门所在的国家纳税。所以如果房子的前门在荷兰,那么即便这所房子的其余部分都在比利时境内,那你也要向荷兰政府缴税。
新来的人常常会以纳税作为选择居住地的理由,而对于其他人来说,这是一个情感决定。
劳温:(通过翻译)如果我觉得自己是个比利时人,那我就去比利时那边住;如果我觉得自己是个荷兰人,我就会住在荷兰境内。这是心理因素在作怪。
翻译:Portia
Baarle is a small town with a split personality. It sits right on top of the border between the Netherlands and Belgium. So one part of the town is Dutch, the other part Belgian. Well, life can be pretty confusing because as well as the border sometimes splitting houses in two, there are also little Belgian 1)enclaves in the Dutch part and Dutch enclaves in the Belgian part.
The municipality of Baarle-Nassau in the Netherlands is closely tied to the Belgian enclave of Baarle-Hertog. Very closely tied. Sometimes, neighboring houses are in different countries. It’s a very complicated border.
Resident: (via translator) I live in Belgian territory. My husband was born in the Netherlands and lives in Belgian territory, even though he’s still a Dutch citizen. It’s not a problem.
In fact, the enterprising residents of Baarle actually make the most of the border. Many local stores sell fireworks, for example, because in Belgium, they can be sold all year round, whereas in the Netherlands they’re only available a few days before New Year.
Everything here comes in twos, such as two catholic Churches and two teams workers of 2)raking up the dead leaves. Two teams of firefighters, two police forces, even though they do share a police station. And there are even two mayors. Jan Van Leuven, who’s in charge of Baarle’s 3,000 Belgian inhabitants and Jan Hendrix for the Dutch community, which numbers 6,000. Everyone gets along. It helps that they all speak the same language. When it comes to practicalities, they’re used to making compromises.
Hendrix: (via translator)You pay taxes depending on which country your front door is in. So if it’s in the Nertherlands, then that’s where you pay your taxes and fees, even if the rest of the house is in Belgium.
Newcomers often choose where they live for tax reasons. For others, it’s an emotional decision.
Jan Van Leuven: (via translator) If I feel Belgian, then I live in Belgium. If I feel Dutch, then I live on Dutch territory. It’s psychological.
巴勒是一个有着双重性格的小镇。它正好坐落在荷兰和比利时的边境线上。于是,小镇的一部分属荷兰,另一部分则属于比利时。镇上有的地方一间房子会被国境线一分为二,而且在荷兰那边有比利时人的聚居地,而在边界另一边的比利时也有荷兰人的聚居地,这里的生活因此变得相当混乱。
荷兰的巴勒纳绍镇与巴勒海托赫的比利时人聚居地关系密切,而且是非常密切。在有的地方,相邻的房子分别属于不同的国家。这真是一条很复杂的边界。
居民:(通过翻译)我住在比利时属地。而我的丈夫生在荷兰,现在他身为荷兰人,却住在比利时。不过这不是什么问题。
事实是,有生意头脑的巴勒居民确实尽量利用这个边界线。举例说,这里的许多商店销售焰火。因为在比利时,商店可以全年销售焰火,而在荷兰,商店只能在新年到来前的几天销售焰火。
这时的所有东西都是成双成对的。比如说,这里有两个天主教堂,有两支扫枯叶的队伍,还有两支消防队和两支警察队伍——尽管他们共用同一个警察局。这里甚至有两位镇长。扬·冯·劳温管理着巴勒的三千比利时居民,而扬·亨德里斯负责的则是有着六千居民的荷兰部分。大家都相处融洽。大家说的是同一种语言,这一点对相处有好处。而涉及到现实情况,大家早已习惯了相互妥协让步。
亨德里斯:(通过翻译)居民根据自己房子前门所在的国家纳税。所以如果房子的前门在荷兰,那么即便这所房子的其余部分都在比利时境内,那你也要向荷兰政府缴税。
新来的人常常会以纳税作为选择居住地的理由,而对于其他人来说,这是一个情感决定。
劳温:(通过翻译)如果我觉得自己是个比利时人,那我就去比利时那边住;如果我觉得自己是个荷兰人,我就会住在荷兰境内。这是心理因素在作怪。
翻译:Portia