Büsingen
Encyclopedia
Büsingen am Hochrhein is a German
town (7.62 km² or 2.9 sq mi) entirely surrounded by the Swiss
canton of Schaffhausen
and, south across the Rhine, by the cantons of Zürich
and Thurgau
. It has a population
of about 1,450 inhabitants. Since the early 19th century the exclave has been separated from the rest of Germany by a narrow strip of land of about 700 m at its narrowest containing the Swiss village of Dörflingen
.
Administratively, Büsingen is part of Germany, forming part of the district of Konstanz
, in the Bundesland
of Baden-Württemberg
, but economically, it forms part of the Swiss customs area, as does the independent principality of Liechtenstein
. There are no border controls between Switzerland and Büsingen or the rest of Germany since Switzerland joined the Schengen
zone in 2008/09.
Büsingen is highly regarded as a holiday destination in summer by both German and Swiss visitors from around the area for its recreational areas along the Rhine. The town is also the home of the European Nazarene College, a large (for the town) Bible college
with an international focus.
is the only legal tender in Büsingen; however, the Swiss franc
is far more popular in everyday use as shopping is generally done in nearby Schaffhausen
instead of across the border(s) in Germany.
Owing to its unusual geographical location, it uses public services from both countries, including public transport
, post
and telephone
services, which operate side by side.
To send a letter to Büsingen, one can send it using either a Swiss postal code
or a German one:
Similarly, residents of Büsingen can be reached by telephone using either a German number (with the prefix +49 7734) or a Swiss one (with the prefix +41 52).
Germans who have been registered in Büsingen for more than 10 years are called Alt Büsinger (Old Büsingers) and receive a special recognised status similar to Swiss citizenship. All Büsingers are allowed to purchase real estate or work in Switzerland, even without Swiss citizenship.
In emergencies, either the Swiss or the German police may be called; the Swiss, being closer, usually arrive faster. In the case of a search warrant, both German and Swiss officials are required to be present.
After attending primary school in Büsingen, children may continue their education in either Switzerland
or Germany
. About 70% elect to go to school in closer Switzerland.
The local football
team, FC Büsingen
, is the only German team to play in the Swiss Football League
.
The exclave has been part of the Schengen Area
since 12 December 2008, when Switzerland fully implemented the Schengen Agreement.
was held in Büsingen in which 96% of voters chose to become part of Switzerland
. However, it never happened as Switzerland could not offer anything suitable in exchange, and consequently Büsingen has remained an exclave of Germany ever since. Later attempts were rejected by Switzerland.
The exclave of Büsingen was formally defined in 1967 through negotiations between West Germany and Switzerland. At the same time, the West German exclave of Verenahof
, consisting of just three houses and fewer than a dozen people, became part of Switzerland.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
town (7.62 km² or 2.9 sq mi) entirely surrounded by the Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
canton of Schaffhausen
Canton of Schaffhausen
The Canton of is a canton of Switzerland. The principal city and capital of the canton is Schaffhausen.- History:Schaffhausen was a city-state in the Middle Ages, documented to have struck its own coins starting in 1045. It was then known as Villa Scafhusun. Around 1049 Count Eberhard von...
and, south across the Rhine, by the cantons of Zürich
Canton of Zürich
The Canton of Zurich has a population of . The canton is located in the northeast of Switzerland and the city of Zurich is its capital. The official language is German, but people speak the local Swiss German dialect called Züritüütsch...
and Thurgau
Thurgau
Thurgau is a northeast canton of Switzerland. The population, , is . In 2007, there were a total of 47,390 who were resident foreigners. The capital is Frauenfeld.-History:...
. It has a population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of about 1,450 inhabitants. Since the early 19th century the exclave has been separated from the rest of Germany by a narrow strip of land of about 700 m at its narrowest containing the Swiss village of Dörflingen
Dörflingen
Dörflingen is a municipality in the canton of Schaffhausen in Switzerland.-Geography:Dörflingen has an area, , of . Of this area, 64.3% is used for agricultural purposes, while 26.9% is forested...
.
Konstanz (district)
Konstanz is a district in the south of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Neighboring districts are Schwarzwald-Baar, Tuttlingen, Sigmaringen and Bodenseekreis. To the south it borders the Swiss canton Thurgau and Schaffhausen...
, in the Bundesland
States of Germany
Germany is made up of sixteen which are partly sovereign constituent states of the Federal Republic of Germany. Land literally translates as "country", and constitutionally speaking, they are constituent countries...
of Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
, but economically, it forms part of the Swiss customs area, as does the independent principality of Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein
The Principality of Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. Its area is just over , and it has an estimated population of 35,000. Its capital is Vaduz. The biggest town is Schaan...
. There are no border controls between Switzerland and Büsingen or the rest of Germany since Switzerland joined the Schengen
Schengen Area
The Schengen Area comprises the territories of twenty-five European countries that have implemented the Schengen Agreement signed in the town of Schengen, Luxembourg, in 1985...
zone in 2008/09.
Büsingen is highly regarded as a holiday destination in summer by both German and Swiss visitors from around the area for its recreational areas along the Rhine. The town is also the home of the European Nazarene College, a large (for the town) Bible college
Bible college
Bible colleges are institutions of higher education that specialize in biblical studies. Curriculum is Bible-based and differs from that of liberal arts colleges or research universities. Bible colleges generally exclude the study of philosophy, unlike seminaries and theological colleges...
with an international focus.
Curiosities
Formally the euroEuro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
is the only legal tender in Büsingen; however, the Swiss franc
Swiss franc
The franc is the currency and legal tender of Switzerland and Liechtenstein; it is also legal tender in the Italian exclave Campione d'Italia. Although not formally legal tender in the German exclave Büsingen , it is in wide daily use there...
is far more popular in everyday use as shopping is generally done in nearby Schaffhausen
Schaffhausen
Schaffhausen is a city in northern Switzerland and the capital of the canton of the same name; it has an estimated population of 34,587 ....
instead of across the border(s) in Germany.
Owing to its unusual geographical location, it uses public services from both countries, including public transport
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
, post
Mail
Mail, or post, is a system for transporting letters and other tangible objects: written documents, typically enclosed in envelopes, and also small packages are delivered to destinations around the world. Anything sent through the postal system is called mail or post.In principle, a postal service...
and telephone
Telephone
The telephone , colloquially referred to as a phone, is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sounds, usually the human voice. Telephones are a point-to-point communication system whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to each other...
services, which operate side by side.
To send a letter to Büsingen, one can send it using either a Swiss postal code
Postal code
A postal code is a series of letters and/or digits appended to a postal address for the purpose of sorting mail. Once postal codes were introduced, other applications became possible.In February 2005, 117 of the 190 member countries of the Universal Postal Union had postal code systems...
- Junkerstrasse 86
- 8238 Büsingen
- Schweiz
or a German one:
- Junkerstraße 86
- 78266 Büsingen
- Deutschland
Similarly, residents of Büsingen can be reached by telephone using either a German number (with the prefix +49 7734) or a Swiss one (with the prefix +41 52).
Germans who have been registered in Büsingen for more than 10 years are called Alt Büsinger (Old Büsingers) and receive a special recognised status similar to Swiss citizenship. All Büsingers are allowed to purchase real estate or work in Switzerland, even without Swiss citizenship.
In emergencies, either the Swiss or the German police may be called; the Swiss, being closer, usually arrive faster. In the case of a search warrant, both German and Swiss officials are required to be present.
After attending primary school in Büsingen, children may continue their education in either Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
or Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. About 70% elect to go to school in closer Switzerland.
The local football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
team, FC Büsingen
FC Büsingen
FC Büsingen is a German association football club based in the exclave of Büsingen that competes in the Swiss league system, being the only German club to do so...
, is the only German team to play in the Swiss Football League
Swiss Football League
The Swiss Football League is organised in several leagues.-Proposed system from 2012-13 season onwards:-External links:* * * * *...
.
The exclave has been part of the Schengen Area
Schengen Area
The Schengen Area comprises the territories of twenty-five European countries that have implemented the Schengen Agreement signed in the town of Schengen, Luxembourg, in 1985...
since 12 December 2008, when Switzerland fully implemented the Schengen Agreement.
History
In 1918 a referendumReferendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
was held in Büsingen in which 96% of voters chose to become part of Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. However, it never happened as Switzerland could not offer anything suitable in exchange, and consequently Büsingen has remained an exclave of Germany ever since. Later attempts were rejected by Switzerland.
The exclave of Büsingen was formally defined in 1967 through negotiations between West Germany and Switzerland. At the same time, the West German exclave of Verenahof
Verenahof
Verenahof was a German exclave in Switzerland, administratively part of the German town of Wiechs am Randen...
, consisting of just three houses and fewer than a dozen people, became part of Switzerland.
See also
- Baarle-HertogBaarle-HertogBaarle-Hertog is a municipality belonging to the Belgian province of Antwerp, but for the biggest part located in the Netherlands province of North Brabant. The municipality only comprises the town of Baarle-Hertog proper. On January 1, 2006 Baarle-Hertog had a total population of 2,306...
- Baarle-NassauBaarle-NassauBaarle-Nassau is a municipality and a town in the southern Netherlands, located in North Brabant province. As of 2007 its population was of 6,668.-The border with Baarle-Hertog:...
- Campione d'ItaliaCampione d'ItaliaCampione d'Italia is an Italian comune of the Province of Como in the Lombardy region, occupying an enclave within the Swiss canton of Ticino, separated from the rest of Italy by Lake Lugano and mountains...
- LlíviaLlíviaLlívia is a town of Cerdanya, province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain. It is a Spanish exclave within the French département of Pyrénées-Orientales...
- JungholzJungholzJungholz is a small town in the Austrian district of Reutte, Tyrol that is only accessible via Germany. It has a total resident population of 323 people in its 7 km². The lack of a road connection to anywhere else in Austria led to Jungholz being included in the German customs area until...
- KleinwalsertalKleinwalsertalKleinwalsertal is a part of Austria, but only accessible from Germany to the north, and thus is an Austrian "practical exclave" or "pene-exclave". Prior to Austria joining the European Union, the area had tax-free status....
- VerenahofVerenahofVerenahof was a German exclave in Switzerland, administratively part of the German town of Wiechs am Randen...