Belgium–France border Belgium–France border The <dfn>Belgium–France border</dfn> separates France and Belgium countries and is 620 km long. Part of it is defined by the Leie river. The western end is at the North Sea ( near De Panne and Bray-Dunes). The eastern end is at the Belgium–France–Luxembourg tripoint (at near Athus and Mont-Saint-Martin). The straight distance between these points is 289 km. Since 1995 Belgium–France are parts of the Schengen Area. This means there are no permanent border controls at this border, but there has been temporary controls. The Belgian side of the border is shared by, from north to south, the
German invasion of Belgium war on Germany at midnight on Central European time. Belgium severed diplomatic relations with Germany and Germany declared war on Belgium. German troops crossed the Belgian frontier and attacked Liège. The Battle of Liège was the first engagement in the German invasion of Belgium and the first battle of World War I. The attack on the city began on 5 August and lasted until 16 August, when the last fort was surrendered. The German invasion led the British to declare war and the length of the siege may have delayed the German invasion of France by Railways needed by the