Hans Island

Submitted by Dimby on August 3, 2025
Hans Island shouldn’t be considered a true land border. It’s a tiny rock island that has no inhabitants. Aside from the fact that Greenland is only a territory, there are probably dozens of countries that would be “neighbours” if this type of border were considered. Netherlands-Germany? France-Netherlands? El Salvador-Nicaragua? Surely there are rocks in the shared sovereignty of the Gulf of Fonseca that could be disputed into halves or even thirds with Honduras!

For the record, there are similar scenarios of other countries sharing islands. However, most countries usually opt for “condominium” agreements, where they share co-sovereignty. Canada and Denmark almost did this with Hans Island in 2012. But would we have to consider countries to be neighbours if they shared territory with each other?

Anyway, to end this rant, please ignore Hans Island. It isn’t a real border. There are no inhabitants. It’s solely for the EEZ. Maybe one day I’ll become rich and powerful and pay to have a 1-kilometre canal dug across the island…

18 Comments
+2
Level 73
Aug 3, 2025
Imagine oil is found along the border, then the real Whiskey War begins.
+1
Level 83
Aug 3, 2025
Or what if they found whiskey?
+14
Level ∞
Aug 3, 2025
Thank you @Dimby!!!

I hate, hate, hate Hans Island and wish someone would just blow it up.

Because, on every freaking quiz there is someone who has to comment "but what about Hans Island" as if they are having an original thought.

+5
Level 81
Aug 3, 2025
Those types of comments are a prime example of performative intellectualism. You know the people who write them are already aware of how JetPunk treats territory borders.
+1
Level 9
Aug 4, 2025
Quizmaster showing hate before gta 6 Is crazy
+4
Level 77
Aug 4, 2025
Clearly you've never read his comments about Belgium
+3
Level 20
Aug 3, 2025
I can give you a half-answer on the Gulf of Fonseca question, which is no, there are no land borders running through it. All of the disputed islands were entirely given to one country or another by the International Court of Justice.

The gulf itself is a condominium between the three countries. This gets tricky when you consider the implications. If the three countries share the water, then Nicaraguan territorial waters border El Salvadoran land, and vice-versa.

So should this count as a border? Given that the D.R. Congo and Tanzania are considered to have one, maybe so.

+3
Level 83
Aug 3, 2025
Ah, but what about unnamed islands and sandbars? Who owns those? There are plenty of unclaimed mini-islands, I bet. They’re likely all condominiums!

Interesting point on the Congo, but that’s fresh water so people could make that distinction. 🤔

+4
Level 63
Aug 3, 2025
It's still a border. What else do you call the political demarcation on the island?
+4
Level 83
Aug 3, 2025
It’s a maritime border, really. How many maritime borders in the world run over random small islands and sandbars no one cares about?
+2
Level 63
Aug 3, 2025
well, if you can stand on it, is it an ocean?
+2
Level 75
Aug 4, 2025
Anybody gonna talk about Passport Island?
+6
Level 83
Aug 4, 2025
… HEY! That’s a good point! Passport Island is bigger than Hans Island and has a land boundary actually used by humans.
+3
Level 9
Aug 4, 2025
Hmmm.. valid point but it still got to be a Border. Hans Island counts as a border between greenland (denmark) and Canada. It may not be permanent inhabited but it's still a border even if it's literally just a Rock. Passport Island also.
+1
Level 45
Aug 4, 2025
It's still a border if you count dependencies, just like the France-Netherlands border on Saint Martin. If dependencies are counted, they should be added; if they aren't (as in most quizzes), they shouldn't be added. This is my opinion.
+3
Level 81
Aug 4, 2025
Question is, would it still be the same if DJT took over Greenland, or Canada for that matter, both were in his sights a short while back.

I think it should have remained as it was with the liquor being passed between the two countries.

+2
Level 83
Aug 4, 2025
I think people from either side would just go and get blasted on the island and leave their bottles behind. Not entirely sure though.
+2
Level 81
Aug 4, 2025
Seemed to work OK for a number of years until the dispute was resolved.