Kleng Wach

The "Kleng Wach", a former customs office, is the smallest museum in the Netherlands and is furnished with interesting photos, maps and boundary stones. It was built around 1890. During the First World War, this border crossing was hermetically closed with barbed wire by order of the Dutch government. In the early twenties of the last century, the barrier was removed and the residents of the adjacent (German) Vaalserquartier can shop in Vaals for a few hours a day. At the end of the thirties, the border crossing is now closed again by order of the German authorities by means of iron posts. When the Germans invade our country on May 10, 1940, it appears that the fence has been removed and a movable barbed wire barrier has been constructed, so that German troops can advance across this border towards Belgium. After the war, this border crossing is guarded by Dutch military personnel (goers on leave) and customs officers (commissioned officers). In this period the name Klèng Wach (small guardhouse) also arises. In 1951, by order of the German government, the border crossing on Akenerstraat was hermetically closed for the third time. This time it is an iron gate, which is called "Iesere Jardieng" (iron curtain) by the Vaalser population. At the end of 1959, this crush barrier is opened for a few hours a week and the residents of Vaalserquartier, who shop en masse in Vaals at this time, can clear their goods in a wooden construction shed on the German side. At the end of the seventies, the border crossing is still guarded, the iron curtain disappears and concrete posts are placed in its place. After the Schengen Agreement, there are no more permanent border posts and the Klèng Wach falls into disrepair. In 1993, the municipality of Vaals becomes the owner of the customs house and rents it out to the Heemkundekring Sankt Tolbert, which has set up a small museum there; the smallest museum in the Netherlands.