The Netherlands
The Netherlands is located in the north-western of Europe. At the west and north side is the North Sea, in the east is the border of Germany and in the south the border of Belgium. The length of the border is 1.027 km, while the coastline is 451 km long. The Netherlands has an area of 37.354 km2. The landscape is almost everywhere flat. The 323 meter high Vaalserberg in Limburg, with on top the three countries point with Germany and Belgium, is the highest hill in the Netherlands. Over 80% of the surface consists of water and a large proportion (27% of the surface area) of the country and its population located below sea level (NAP). The lowest point in the Netherlands is located near Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel and is 6,76 meters below sea level.
In the north, a line of dunes formed the Wadden Islands, behind which is the shallow Wadden Sea. In the middle of the country is the large inland IJsselmeer, the former Southern Sea. This lake has been closed after the completion of the Afsluitdijk in 1932 from the Wadden Sea and contains freshwater.
Centuries-long the Netherlands struggle against the water and this had a clear impact on the development of the Netherlands. Floods and human intervention had changed the coastline considerably. To protect the land from the water dikes were build since the Middle Ages along the coast and rivers. Another project in the fight against the water are the Delta Works, which were built between 1958 and 1997. Other human intervention in nature are the large tracts of land that have been reclaimed by man from the water, called polders. The biggest polders are the Southern Sea Works, which were built in the 20th century and together cover more than 2.500 square kilometres of new land.
The Netherlands has twelve provinces: Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant (North-Brabant), Noord-Holland (North-Holland), Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland and Zuid-Holland (South Holland). A Dutch province fulfils responsibilities of regional importance and is the connection between the national government (located in The Hague) and the local municipalities. Each province has its own capital city and the capital of the Netherlands is Amsterdam.
The Netherlands has a temperate climate with mild winters and cool summers. It is visited annually by about 10 to 11 million foreign tourists. The main attractions are especially Amsterdam, the port of Rotterdam, The Hague, the Delta Works and the polders. The Netherlands is also well known for its splendid sandy beaches. The coastline offer unlimited opportunities for water sport fanatics, nature lovers and beach fans. The beaches of the Netherlands can be divided in three important groups: the Wadden Islands, the coastline of the provinces North-Holland and South-Holland and the coastline of the province Zeeland.
The country is often referred to as “Holland”. Nevertheless, the official name is the (kingdom of the) Netherlands. Two of the provinces, North-Holland en South-Holland, are the two provinces that together make Holland. Due to the maritime and economic power of these provinces the Netherlands became known worldwide as Holland. To make matters even more confusing the inhabitants of the Netherlands are called Dutch.
People from all over the world still think that the Dutch people wear clogs (wooden shoes) every day. If you’re one of those people, I'm sorry to disappoint you. Contrary to popular belief, most Dutch people don’t wear clogs anymore. The only group of people that still wear them are rural workers. Clogs keep your feet dry, are very safe and wearing them is even considered to be healthy. Currently, there are 25 traditional clog makers who like to demonstrate the profession of clog making. Besides a group of rural workers there’s only one other group of people that enjoys buying and wearing clogs; the tourists. Today most clogs are sold to tourists from all over the world that want to bring home a typically Dutch souvenir.
The Netherlands is located in the north-western of Europe. At the west and north side is the North Sea, in the east is the border of Germany and in the south the border of Belgium. The length of the border is 1.027 km, while the coastline is 451 km long. The Netherlands has an area of 37.354 km2. The landscape is almost everywhere flat. The 323 meter high Vaalserberg in Limburg, with on top the three countries point with Germany and Belgium, is the highest hill in the Netherlands. Over 80% of the surface consists of water and a large proportion (27% of the surface area) of the country and its population located below sea level (NAP). The lowest point in the Netherlands is located near Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel and is 6,76 meters below sea level.
In the north, a line of dunes formed the Wadden Islands, behind which is the shallow Wadden Sea. In the middle of the country is the large inland IJsselmeer, the former Southern Sea. This lake has been closed after the completion of the Afsluitdijk in 1932 from the Wadden Sea and contains freshwater.
Centuries-long the Netherlands struggle against the water and this had a clear impact on the development of the Netherlands. Floods and human intervention had changed the coastline considerably. To protect the land from the water dikes were build since the Middle Ages along the coast and rivers. Another project in the fight against the water are the Delta Works, which were built between 1958 and 1997. Other human intervention in nature are the large tracts of land that have been reclaimed by man from the water, called polders. The biggest polders are the Southern Sea Works, which were built in the 20th century and together cover more than 2.500 square kilometres of new land.
The Netherlands has twelve provinces: Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant (North-Brabant), Noord-Holland (North-Holland), Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland and Zuid-Holland (South Holland). A Dutch province fulfils responsibilities of regional importance and is the connection between the national government (located in The Hague) and the local municipalities. Each province has its own capital city and the capital of the Netherlands is Amsterdam.
The Netherlands has a temperate climate with mild winters and cool summers. It is visited annually by about 10 to 11 million foreign tourists. The main attractions are especially Amsterdam, the port of Rotterdam, The Hague, the Delta Works and the polders. The Netherlands is also well known for its splendid sandy beaches. The coastline offer unlimited opportunities for water sport fanatics, nature lovers and beach fans. The beaches of the Netherlands can be divided in three important groups: the Wadden Islands, the coastline of the provinces North-Holland and South-Holland and the coastline of the province Zeeland.
The country is often referred to as “Holland”. Nevertheless, the official name is the (kingdom of the) Netherlands. Two of the provinces, North-Holland en South-Holland, are the two provinces that together make Holland. Due to the maritime and economic power of these provinces the Netherlands became known worldwide as Holland. To make matters even more confusing the inhabitants of the Netherlands are called Dutch.
People from all over the world still think that the Dutch people wear clogs (wooden shoes) every day. If you’re one of those people, I'm sorry to disappoint you. Contrary to popular belief, most Dutch people don’t wear clogs anymore. The only group of people that still wear them are rural workers. Clogs keep your feet dry, are very safe and wearing them is even considered to be healthy. Currently, there are 25 traditional clog makers who like to demonstrate the profession of clog making. Besides a group of rural workers there’s only one other group of people that enjoys buying and wearing clogs; the tourists. Today most clogs are sold to tourists from all over the world that want to bring home a typically Dutch souvenir.
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