Nicknamed "The Stateless State" it is some 10 km southwest of Aix-la-Chapelle/Aachen. Created in 1815 as a result of a dispute between Prussia (later part of Germany) and the United Netherlands - with that geographical section later known as Belgium taking on the claim - as to who would have access to its mines. The original inhabitants and their descendants had no formal nationality - but could serve in either of the armies of the two surrounding states - or have legal disputes settled in whichever court suited the participants best.