Selfkant

Selfkant (German pronunciation: [ˈzɛlfkant]) (Dutch: Selfkant (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈzɛɫfkɑnt]) or Zelfkant) is a municipality in the Heinsberg district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the most westerly municipality in Germany since 1919 — before, the title was held by Gravelotte in Alsace-Lorraine. Its border with the Netherlands is 27 kilometres long, while the border with the rest of Germany is only 6 kilometres long.

History

The most important domain in Selfkant in the Middle Ages was the castle and village of Millen, the residence of the lords of Millen, which became part of the domain Heinsberg in 1282. In 1499 these were joined by the duke of Jülich and Millen became the seat of an Amtmann. The places Tüddern, Wehr, Süsterseel and Hillensberg belonged to the Amt Born and after 1709 to the Amt Sittard.

From 1794 to 1815 Selfkant was part of the French canton Sittard (department of the Roer). After the Congress of Vienna it became part of the Prussian Rhine province. The border with the Netherlands which was then fixed continued to exist until shortly after the Second World War.