In 1949 the Netherlands annexed the German town of Elten as compensation for WWII damages. For years there were negotiations about how Germany could get their land back but finally, in 1957 it was agreed that Germany would pay 280 million Deutsch Marks to have Elten and Tüddern returned back to them on 1 August 1963.
What was the clever foresight?
Businesses knew that Elten would return to German territory on 1 August 1963 and so the night before, Dutch and German exporters filled their vans to the brim with goods like coffee and butter and quietly slept overnight in the town.
When they woke up, the trucks were automatically on German territory and no border crossing was necessary. Therefore, no import duties could be paid and as a result, the business saved an estimated 50 to 60 million guilders (roughly €22,700,000).
The wee village of Elten is now renowned for the “Eltener Butternacht” (Elten butter night).
