Overland Travel Across Borders: A Tale of Two Frontiers
Flat Randstad to Ruhr Economic Lifeline Without Barriers
The long border between Germany and the Netherlands is a predominantly flat, open frontier that has fostered centuries of close trade, cultural exchange, and family ties. This is one of Europe’s most integrated borderlands, where the transition from one country to another is often so subtle that it’s barely perceptible. With both nations being key members of the Schengen Area and the EU, the dozens of crossing points are completely open and unmarked by controls. Major motorways connect the densely populated Dutch Randstad region with the industrial German Ruhr valley, carrying a huge and constant volume of commercial traffic, making it a vital economic corridor.
Joint I. Corps Symbol of Post-War Military Trust
The relationship is so intertwined that it extends beyond economics. In a remarkable display of modern military cooperation, the I. German/Dutch Corps was formed, a unit where soldiers from both nations serve together under a command that rotates between a German and a Dutch general. This level of military integration is a powerful symbol of the deep trust and friendship that exists between two countries that were on opposite sides of World War II. It shows how far the relationship has evolved, turning a former line of conflict into a model of partnership.