In the collective imagination, the idea of crossing a border depicts a sudden, or even brutal change of surrounding. In a globalized world, this is less and less the case, especially in the Europe of Schengen.
Having lived in the north of France, I have crossed the border to Belgium so often that it seems it does not even exist anymore. For me, border areas reflect more of a personal geography than a concrete delimitation.
Nevertheless, border areas are for most people a space of exchange more than a place for fast transitions.
The no man’s land found around the former customs have become actual destinations dedicated to a low range tourism in low-taxes commercial areas.
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