After the defeat of Napoleon in 1815 the borders of Europe were redrawn at the Congress of Vienna. New states were formed, territory changed hands, but some borders and areas remain contested.

The newly formed Kingdom of the Netherlands and Prussia could not agree about their new border west of Aachen. They both claimed the area around a valuable zinc mine near the towns of Kelmis and Moresnet. This was one of the two zinc mines in Europe. The countries decided that the small area (3.6 km2) would remain neutral for the time being, governed by both and that in the meantime a commission would solve this dispute. The commission was never formed and so the amazing story of Neutral Moresnet was born that would last for about 100 years.

Neutral Moresnet was officially a condominium, which is a territory that is co-ruled by multiple countries. Both the Netherlands and Prussia (later Belgium and the German Empire) would appoint a commissioner each who then would choose a mayor to rule the neutral territory. The laws introduced by Napoleon remained in force and French francs were the official currency.

You can imagine that this situation was rather confusing for the people living in Neutral Moresnet. Who was governing them really? To whom did they have to pay taxes? Of which country were they citizens? People in Neutral Moresnet were stateless, but they soon discovered several benefits. They barely paid any taxes, they could not be conscripted into any army and no import tariffs meant low prices. This situation soon attracted many migrants who tried to dodge conscription and profit from the low taxes and prices.

For most of the 19th century the zinc industry was the main employer, but as the zinc mine was depleted alternative plans were made to attract business to Neutral Moresnet such as turning it into a gambling paradise, making it the first Esperanto-speaking state and issueing their own stamps to sell. All these attempts failed, but Neutral Moresnet stamps remain the most sought after stamps for philatelists.

After World War 1, when the borders of Europe were redrawn yet again, Neutral Moresnet became Belgian and its special story ended.

Originally posted on Instagram on July 27, 2023