And don’t forget the curious German-speaking region consisting nine municipalities in north-eastern Belgium. Brussels and its exurbs are a fascinating language

And don’t forget the curious German-speaking region consisting nine municipalities in north-eastern Belgium. Brussels and its exurbs are a fascinating language and politics mashup, held together and functioning in part by a particularly Belgian mindset and humour, which is often visible nationally on related topics. My favourite part of what is now Belgium is the even weirder history of a once neutral/condominium/contested territory around Moresnet, where a vague attempt to create a little independent country there led to many of its inhabitants learning Esperanto. For laughs, search for “Baarle-Hertog, Belgium” in Google Maps too. The borders around there seem almost fractal.