 The city has a number of nearby border crossings . The border with Belarus is only 50 km ( 31 mi ) away , the nearest border crossings are located in ; Bobrowniki ( road crossing located about 50 km ( 31 mi ) from the city limits ) , Kuźnica Białostocka ( road and rail crossing located 60 km ( 37 mi ) from the city limits ) , Siemianówka ( railway – freight traffic ) , Połowce ( road ) and Czeremcha ( railway ) . Since the border with Belarus is also the eastern border of the European Union , as well as the Schengen Area the city is a center for trade in mainly from the east . 
