Belgium–France border

The Belgium–France border, or more commonly the Franco-Belgian border, separates France and Belgium and is long. Part of it is defined by the Lys river. The western end is at the North Sea. The eastern end is at the Belgium–France–Luxembourg tripoint. The straight distance between these points is.
Since 1995, Belgium and France have been parts of the Schengen Area. This means there are no permanent border controls at this border, but there have been temporary controls.

Provinces and Departments

The Belgian side of the border is shared by, from north to south, the provinces of West Flanders and Hainaut, Namur and Luxembourg.
The French side of the border is shared by, from north to south, the departments of Nord and Aisne and Ardennes, Meuse and Meurthe-et-Moselle.

History

The limits of the border are outlined in the 1820 Treaty of Kortrijk, agreed between France and the then-United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Belgium inherited the border upon its independence, which consists of a number of border posts. Maintenance of and disputes concerning the border are managed by a mixed Franco-Belgian border delimitation commission, which is convened when required. A commission was convened in 2000 concerning the maintenance of the border posts between France and the Belgian province of West Flanders.
In April 2021, one of the border stones in Bousignies-sur-Roc was found to have been moved by a few metres. A farmer was presumed to have moved it to enlarge his field, but the person responsible was not identified.