Belgian farmer moves French border by mistake to make room for his tractor

Virgin Radio

5 May 2021, 09:13

Oh là là. A Belgium farmer has accidentally moved his country's border with France after getting annoyed by the apparent large stone blocking the way of his tractor. According to BBC News, the farmer moved the historical marking and has redrawn the country's border with France.

Noticed by an eagle-eyed local historian while walking in the forest, the boundary between the two countries has now been moved by 2.29m (7.5ft).

Thankfully, the mistake hasn't caused a frantic hoo-ha and has just raised a few smiles at the shifting of the stone which was set back in 1819 - but it does need to be rectified so it doesn't cause any more trouble. 

David Lavaux, Belgium mayor of Erquelinnes, told French TV channel TF1: "He made Belgium bigger and France smaller, it's not a good idea."

Credit: TF1

He laughed: "I was happy, my town was bigger. But the mayor of Bousignies-sur-Roc didn't agree."

Mayor of French village Aurélie Welonek told La Voix du Nord: "We should be able to avoid a new border war."

It's now up to local Belgian authorities to ask the farmer to put the stone back where he got it from - if he doesn't, he could end up at the Belgian foreign ministry and face criminal charges.

Mayor Lavaux explained: "If he shows good will, he won't have a problem, we will settle this issue amicably."