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All Germany Aachen Kleine Wache
AO Edited

Kleine Wache

A former customs station on the border of Germany and the Netherlands.

Aachen, Germany

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CoolCrab
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About

Located close to the highest point in the Netherlands is a tiny little house known as Kleng Wach, Kleine Wache, or the Small Watch. It has marked the border for over a century, and the stone next to it for much longer. 

The building was built somewhere in the 1890s on one of the main streets between Germany and the Netherlands near the town of Vaals. It was used until 1995 when the Schengen Agreement made it obsolete. Not long after,  the municipality of Vaals rented out the building to the local history association Sankt Tolbert Vaals.

Under the watch of the historical association, the building became the smallest and highest museum in the Netherlands. The museum contains a few maps, historical items, border stones, and focuses on the history of smuggling. 

Right behind the building is a small white borderstone, which belongs to some of the oldest border markings of the county. The stone dates back to around 1545, which shows that the border was remarkably stable the last half millennium despite the turmoil that occurred in the area.

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Borders Museums Buildings History & Culture

Know Before You Go

The museum is open irregularly, but there is a phone number posted on the door. If you call it, they may come over to open it if anyone has time. The people who run the museum are volunteers and happy to share their passion, so do not hesitate to try.

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CoolCrab

Published

February 23, 2022

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  • https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kleine_Wache
Kleine Wache
119 Alte Vaalser Str.
Aachen, 52074
Germany
50.768938, 6.023275
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Nearby Places

Vaalserberg

Vaals, Netherlands

miles away

Labyrint Drielandenpunt

Vaals, Netherlands

miles away

The Toaster

Aachen, Germany

miles away

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Aachen

Germany

Places 3
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Vaalserberg

Vaals, Netherlands

miles away

Labyrint Drielandenpunt

Vaals, Netherlands

miles away

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Aachen, Germany

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Aachen

Aachen

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