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On September 5 1944, the governments from Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg who were exiled in London due to the second world war, signed and ratified a treaty by which they would unify their borders economically talking in order to cooperate.
It was long before world war two when the three countries tried a cooperating policy but it didn't really crystallize, it was after the conflict when the countries observed the importance of having a common economic policy to rebuild and industrialize their countries.
The customs union was put into force in 1948 so The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg agreed to abolish customs duties at their common borders, in addition to setting common taxes over products coming from outside the union. And this treaty would incite ever since then the first steps into the European integration.
It wasnt until 1958 that the customs union became a economy unifying treaty that deepened even further in the economic cooperation among its members, guaranteeing the free movement of people, goods and services within its borders.
On 17 June 2008, a new Benelux Treaty was signed. From then on, the cooperation has been focussing on three key themes: internal market & economic union, sustainable development and justice & home affairs.
Benelux union is particularly active when it comes to intellectual property. the three member states decided that it was necessary to create a Benelux trademarks office and a Benelux Designs Office both situated in the Hague. it was in 2005 when the union concluded a treaty that established a “Benelux Organisation for Intellectual Property” that replaced both offices by september 1 2006 when the treaty was put into force. this organisation created by the treaty is the official body for the registration of trademarks and designs in the benelux