How Many Countries Border Germany? & Facts About Germany’s Borders

Germany is one of the most well-known countries in the world and for good reason. It’s an incredible country.

But what about its neighbours? How many countries border Germany?

This is a common question people have about the country. Lucky for you, I am a full-time traveller and I used to live in Germany, so I am here to provide an answer to your burning question.

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How Many Countries Border Germany?

To sum up this article into one sentence: 9 countries border Germany.

These countries are Denmark, The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Austria, The Czech Republic and Poland.

In fact, Germany has the most borders in Europe out of all the European nations. Pretty cool fact, right?

A picture of a map of Europe. How many countries border Germany? 9 countries.

Germany’s northern border lies with Denmark. Travellers visiting Hamburg or Copenhagen often take a day trip to the other city respectively as the two are relatively close together.

The western borders of Germany are with The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and France. It’s Germany’s west which has the most countries bordering it. Having 4 countries bordering one side of your land is quite a lot!

To the south are Switzerland and Austria as you move into the mountainous region of the Alps, some of which are in southern Germany, south of Munich.

Lastly, Germany’s eastern borders are with The Czech Republic and Poland.

Another picture of Europe on a map but zoomed in on Germany and its surrounding countries.

Germany’s borders are very unique and have changed a lot in the last century, particularly as a result of the World Wars and also the Cold War.

Whichever way you go from Germany, you reach another beautiful country. Germany is really lucky to share 9 borders with such incredible nations.

To summarise, in answer to the question “how many countries border Germany?”, the answer is 9 countries. And they are Denmark, The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Austria, The Czech Republic and Poland.

Countries That Border Germany: Denmark

The German-Danish border is 42 miles (68 kilometres) long, making it one of the shorter borders for Germany.

As I said before, Hamburg and Copenhagen are pretty close together meaning travellers often visit both of them on the same trip. Having visited both cities myself, I can say with certainty that both Hamburg and Copenhagen is worth visiting.

The borer has existed since 1864 following the Danish-German war.

Countries That Border Germany: Netherlands

Germany’s border with The Netherlands is a lot longer than the Danish border, coming in at 350 miles (570 kilometres) long.

The current border has been in place since 1963 as part of the Frontier Treaty.

Some people even have to ask if Amsterdam is in Germany, and of course, the answer is no.

One of the most unique things about the border with The Netherlands is the Three-Border Region where Germany, The Netherlands and Belgium all come together. This leads nicely to Germany’s next border…

Countries That Border Germany: Belgium

Belgium! The German-Belgian border also meets as part of the Three-Border Region. And yes, you can stand in all 3 countries at once. It’s actually quite a popular tourist attraction.

The border between Germany and Belgium is 127 miles (204 kilometres) long and is along Germany’s western borders.

This border has also been changed relatively recently as the modern border was established as a part of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.

Countries That Border Germany: Luxembourg

Surprisingly, Luxembourg is not the smallest border Germany has, despite how small the country is.

The border has a length of 86 miles (138 kilometres) and has been in place since 1815. Germany did annex Luxembourg during WW2 but after the war, its borders remained the same as it reverted its independence.

But 78% of Luxembourg citizens speak German, despite the official language being Luxembourgish.

Europe on a globe. How many countries border Germany? 9 countries.

Countries That Border Germany: France

France also borders Germany to the west, making up the final country to do so. The border is pretty big, at 280 miles (450 kilometres).

A large portion of the border is split by the River Rhine, which splits the country.

The border has been established since the 1600s but has changed a lot over the years of course.

Countries That Border Germany: Switzerland

South of Germany is Switzerland. The border is 225 miles (362 kilometres) long.

The border is one of Germany’s stricter borders as the two countries agreed to strengthen police controls at the border from December 2022 onwards.

The German-Swiss border has been in place since the late 1930s and hasn’t changed since. Due to Switzerland’s neutrality when it comes to world politics, it was never involved in either of the 2 World Wars.

Countries That Border Germany: Austria

Germany’s longest border lies with Austria, to the south. The border spans 507 miles (816 kilometres), so it’s the longest by quite some margin so far.

The border is also made up almost entirely of land, except Lake Constance which is one of the only exceptions. And the borders there are extremely confusing!

Austria’s border with Germany was established in 1871 but has changed a lot since then. After WW2, it reverted back to its pre-war border.

Countries That Border Germany: Czech Republic

East of Germany is the Czech Republic which has a 506-mile (815-kilometre) border so it’s actually very close to being the longest German border, only 1 mile shorter than Austria.

The border is an arc shape, forming a sideways “u” or “n”.

It’s the most recently changed of Germany’s border with the current border being established when Czechoslovakia became the Czech Republic and Slovakia 31 December 1991-1 January 1992.

Countries That Border Germany: Poland

Last but not least of Germany’s borders is Poland, also to the east. It’s also relatively new having been established in November 1990 in the German-Polish Border Treaty.

The border spans 293 miles (472 kilometres) and is one of the “straighter” borders in terms of how it looks.

As you have seen, a lot of Germany’s borders have changed throughout World War 1, World War 2 and the Cold War.

A picture of someone pointing to Poland on a map.

How Many Countries Border Germany: FAQ

Below are some questions related to “How many countries border Germany?” along with my answers.

How many countries landlocked with Germany?

Germany has borders with 4 landlocked countries. They are Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria and the Czech Republic.

How many international borders does Germany have?

Germany has 9 international borders to Denmark, The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Austria, The Czech Republic and Poland.

What countries border Germany to the west?

The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Paris border Germany to the west. Western Germany has the most borders with 4 of the 9 German borders being on the west.

What are the 9 neighbouring countries of Germany in German?

Germany’s 9 neighbouring countries are Denmark, The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Austria, The Czech Republic and Poland. In German, this is Dänemark, Niederlande, Belgien, Luxemburg, Frankreich, Schweiz, Österreich, Tschechien und Polen.

How Many Countries Border Germany: Conclusion

And there you have it, a complete guide to “how many countries border Germany?” along with facts about each of Germany’s borders.

Remember, Germany has 9 bordering countries and they are Denmark, The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Austria, The Czech Republic and Poland.

Hopefully, you have learnt a lot about Germany. It’s incredible to have so many incredible nations bordering one country.