Three years ago, Hans Hermans from Bocholtz found the boundary stone on the Dutch side of the cross-border Avantis industrial area. It is a special stone, namely the so-called Dreiherrenpfahl, "three gentlemen", because there was a border triangle here from 1661 until the Congress of Vienna in 1815. The land of Rode (Simpelveld-Bocholtz), the Duchy of Jülich (Heyden sub-lordship with Richterich and Horbach) and the Free Imperial City of Aachen met at this point.
According to Hans Hermans, the Dreiherrenpfahl was in the "Kilswinkel", where the official boundary stone of the Aachen Empire with the number 213 was located. A footpath ran in this direction from boundary stone 212. The path, then called the "Herrenpfahlweg", was used for the annual border ride.
A protocol from 1772 states: "Number 75, lying post, with eagle, called at the three-headed post".
The stone has now been re-erected on a small pedestal, a few steps from the border. Right next to it is a new cast-iron cross, which the Dutch local history society had rebuilt after the previous cross had become unsightly. Until the Second World War, a wooden cross had stood here in the field, which served as a marker for hikers and miners on their way to work.
The boundary stone and cross were unveiled at a small ceremony and blessed by a priest. Representatives of the Laurensberg and Richterich local history societies also took part in the ceremony on the German side.
The site can be reached from Aachen via Vetschauer Weg in Richterich, towards the border, then turn right and follow the Silberpadweg for about a kilometer.
(Source: Aachener Nachrichten 2003)