Netherlands: Things you didn't know about this curious little country

[jw5]

The Netherlands... what is that anyway?​

People around the world are confused. What is this country, The Netherlands? Is it the same as Holland? The Low Countries? And why are its people and language called 'Dutch'?

 

[jw5]

Don't confuse it with Denmark!​

The Netherlands is a country in the northwest of continental Europe. It borders Germany and Belgium. The Dutch coastline is on the North Sea, not far from the UK. In fact, a ferry from The Netherlands to England can take as little as 6.5 hours.

 

[jw5]

Republic of the Seven United Netherlands​

So what's up with its other name, Holland? Well, between 1588 and 1795 the country was known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands. Its provinces were Groningen, Frisia, Overijssel, Guelders, Utrecht, Zeeland, and... Holland. Now, the latter has become shorthand for the entire country.

 

[jw5]

Dutch​

And how about the word 'Dutch,' used by English speakers? Well, that word stems from the old English 'thiod,' which meant 'people' or 'nation,' as Dictionary.com explains. While it used to be a description for both the German and the Netherlandish peoples (leading the Germans to call their country 'Deutschland'), the English language has kept the word 'Dutch' to describe the people of The Netherlands.

 

[jw5]

About one third of the Netherlands is below sea level​

The Dutch have rescued a lot of their land from the water. The country's lowest point is in 'Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel' and lies 6.76 meters below sea level.

 

[jw5]

The fifth happiest country in the world​

Fear of drowning has never ruined a Dutchman's life. According to the World Happiness Report of 2022, the Netherlands is the fifth happiest country in the world. It maintained its position from the 2021 ranking.

 

[jw5]

Amsterdam was built on poles​

As Amsterdam is situated on wet ground, its older houses are built on typical wooden post foundations. These long beams or, basically, whole trees, were 13 to 20 meters (50-65 ft) thick. Arranged in pairs, they were drilled into the ground so that, along with the firmer sediment layer of sand, they could support the building on top of it.

 

[cocobobo]

That's how the Dutch built Batavia/Jakarta... and causes it to sink. Watch vice or BBC YouTube vids Jakarta is sinking.

 

[knowwhatyouwantinlife]

What did the Dutch do during ww1 and ww2? Dont recall any significant contribution?

 

[jw5]

Crooked facades​

Despite the ingenious solution of the poles, older canal houses in Amsterdam have at times sunken to the side a bit. Centuries on top of moor and clay can do that to a foundation!

 

[jw5]

Leaning facades​

However, one odd characteristic of the facades is actually intentional. Older houses in Amsterdam were built to incline a little towards the street, so as to enable movers to haul furniture and other objects into the homes through a window. The stairs of older Amsterdam homes are usually too narrow to fit any big objects.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Where the Dutch Chio boos?

 

[jw5]

The Dutch are the tallest people in the world​

With an average height of 182.5 centimeters (5'9 ft) in men and 168.7 (5'5 ft)in women, they are the tallest people on the planet. This fact was once again confirmed by a study in the medical journal The Lancet in 2019.

 

[Charlie99]

182.5 cm is about 6 ft, whereas172.5 cm is about 5 ft 8

 

[Papsmearer]

What did the Dutch do during ww1 and ww2? Dont recall any significant contribution?

They volunteered to be conquered by Germans and subjugated to them.

 

[Papsmearer]

Where the Dutch Chio boos?

 

[jw5]

182.5 cm is about 6 ft, whereas172.5 cm is about 5 ft 8

177.5 cm is about 5 ft 10.

 

[jw5]

One in eight babies are born at home​

According to expatica.com, as many as one in eight Dutch babies are born at home. This is one of the highest rates of home births in highly developed countries. In the UK, for example, home births account for just 2% of all births per year.

 

[Charlie99]

Wow,
You have different photos readily accessible.
Is she one of your friends?

 

[jw5]

First in the world to legalize same-sex marriage​

The Netherlands made history on April 1, 2001, when the civil marriage of four homosexual couples (three male and one female ) took place in the City Hall of Amsterdam. The Netherlands became the first country to legally recognize a same-sex union.