Hello Holland English - Netherlands Embassy in Baku, Azerbaijan

Hello
Holland!
Typically Dutch
All together now
Culture, design and education
‘Dutch talent leads the way’
Technology and innovation
Unusual source of inspiration
2 | People & Society
voorwoord | III
For us, Britain is
not ‘overseas’
In modern times official relations were established between the rebel Dutch republic
and England at the end of the 16th century. Coming to the support of the young nation
Frank and open
in its struggle against
people,
thesociety
Spanish
and
overlords,
health care
Queen Elizabeth I described2 t/m
the 7Dutch
in 1585 as „our most
Historic
ancient and
and
familiar
contemporary
neighbours”. Holland is the second foreign
design, culture and education
8 t/m 13
investor in the UK, and Britain is the second investor in the Netherlands. Anglo-Dutch
Gateway to Europe
14Shell,
t/m 19Unilever,
economy, trade
and farming
cooperation in international
enterprise
is well established. Royal Dutch
Corus Steel and AKZONobel/ICI
Globetrotters
are wellknown
and mediators
examples.
international peace and security
20 t/m 25
Country of tomorrow
26 t/m
31
Dutch cultural heritage
water, technology
is on show and
in every
innovation
major museum in the United
Kingdom.
Dutch masters areEn
over
ook
the years the focus of special exhibitions. The Royal
Betaalbare zorg voor iedereen
4
10
Nederlandsand
OMA
hele wereld
actiefTheatre are regular visitors
Concertgebouw Orchestra
theover
Netherlands
Dance
Internationale studenten over Nederland
12
16in this
willen
gezonde voeding
of the UK. Dutch Wij
design,
architecture
and fashion are gaining a firm foothold
country.
‘Den Haag: hoofdstad van internationaal recht’
Sterk staaltje unieke technologie
Wonen aan het water
Hollandkunde
Roadmap
22
28
32
33
34
It is not surprising that the Dutch community in the United Kingdom has grown fast in
the past decades. It is estimated that around 90.000 of my fellow countrymen found a
living on this side of the North Sea. For us, Britain is not ‘overseas’, we feel very much
welcome and at home in your country.
Ambassadeur van het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden
90.000
Het VK is een sterk op import
georiënteerde markt; één van
de grootste afzetmarkten
voor Nederland; sinds 2000
voor Christus is er al handel
tussen de Britse eilanden en
de lage landen. Naar schatting
wonen er 70.000 tot 90.000
Nederlanders in het
VK.
Photo: United Photos/Hollandse
Hoogte
2 | People & Society
People & Society | 3
No fuss The Dutch are not keen on unnecessary decorum.
We will happily go to a restaurant in jeans. We have little sense
of hierarchy here. So Her Royal Highness Princess Máxima simply
bends down to talk to this little girl. They are probably having
an interesting conversation, because Dutch children are not
afraid of expressing their opinions. Some would call this little girl
impertinent, but to the Dutch she is open and sincere.
All together People of different rank and social status,
to the extent that they exist in the Netherlands, happily live
side by side. In the past, we all had to pull together to keep our
polders and our feet dry, and we continue to pull together now. If
money needs to be collected after a natural disaster somewhere
in the world. If the Dutch football team needs our support. Or if
we can help reduce global warming a little by using low-energy
light bulbs or separating our waste. Dutch society is caring, with
a strong sense of solidarity, all kinds of schemes to help people
on low incomes, a first-class healthcare system, and clubs and
associations with very active memberships.
A frank and open people
Everybody’s equal, even the royal family
Detox day Our welfare state promises all Dutch citizens a
decent life. And Dutch health care is among the best in Europe.
We want to keep it that way, too, even as the demand for care
inevitably rises due to demographic ageing. This will cost a lot of
money, and the Netherlands is already a big spender on health
care. That is why we are letting the market do its job, and why
more attention is being focused on prevention and information.
The ‘detox day’ after a heavy meal or party is now a well-known
concept in the Netherlands.
Freedom and tolerance At the same time, the Dutch
do what they like. We set great store by freedom and tolerance, so
we are more willing to accept things that are controversial or even
prohibited in other countries. Like legalised prostitution and sales
of soft drugs. Provided they are strictly regulated, that is, because
we do like to have things properly under control.
Photo: WFA
4 | People & Society
5
‘Unique mix inspires world’
Affordable care
for all
Everyone in the Netherlands has health insurance, everyone is
allowed to switch between insurance companies, and insurers
may not reject anyone who applies for the basic package. This is
the result of a unique Dutch mix of the advantages of public and
private health care. That unique mix has not gone unnoticed in
the rest of the world.
W
e hebben
een
fijnmazig netwerk
van eerstelijnszorg én
topziekenhuizen
The Americans, for example, came here
searching for inspiration for the reforms to
their healthcare system. One person who
knows all about how health care is organised
in the Netherlands is Roger van Boxtel,
former minister and now CEO of health
insurance company Menzis, one of the four
biggest in the country. He was even invited to
the American Senate to tell them about our
system.
Is this system only possible in
the Netherlands?
What is so unique about Dutch
health care?
Does this unique system pay?
‘Firstly, standards of medical care are
very high here. For the past few years we
have come top of the European Health
Consumer Index. Added to that, we have a
dense network of primary care services and
some top-class hospitals. So health care
is always available locally. The way health
care is organised here is unique too. The
government sets the parameters, but within
them health insurance companies and care
providers have to battle for the consumer’s
favour. The idea is that the consumer – the
patient – gets a good product at a fair price.’
‘Not at all, it could easily be used in other
countries. Switzerland has a similar system,
for example. And now the US is using parts
of our system. We also learn from other
countries. Spain, for example, where health
care is organised regionally. And India,
which has health centres where doctors and
primary care providers work together.’
‘We recently managed to save around half
a billion euros when we discovered that the
cost of generic medicines which are out of
patent could be reduced by about 90%. As
health insurers, we have to take account of
the price when we’re buying care services.’
Is the Netherlands progressive?
‘It certainly is! Take the internet: that’s why
patient power has increased so spectacularly.
There is virtually no household in the
country without a fast internet connection.
Patients form online groups, and share their
treatment experiences with others. That can
cause tension among providers, but patients’
interests are now finally top of their list too.’
Photo: zorginbeeld.nl/Frank Muller
‘my teddy is ill’
Special surgery for sick toys
Toddlers who are fretting about
a sick teddy bear can have their
toy examined and treated by a
special doctor. The doctors are
medical students who do their
very best to make the toy better.
The aim of this special project at
the Netherlands’ eight teaching
hospitals is to give children a
better idea of what happens in
a hospital and reduce their fear
of illness, hospitals and doctors.
At the same time, the students
learn how to deal with children.
And they gain an insight into
paediatrics and child psychology.
The sick bears are treated at a
special outpatients’ clinic. The
doctor might listen to their chest
with a stethoscope, or apply a
bandage. Letting the children
play the role of parent teaches
them that a visit to the doctor is
sometimes necessary.
The Teddy Bear Hospital is
organised once a year by Dutch
medical students who are
members of the International
Federation of Medical Students’
Associations.
6 | People & Society
People & Society | 7
Klederdracht
Vroeger zag je meteen uit welk
dorp iemand kwam. Elk dorp
had namelijk z’n eigen kleding.
Tegenwoordig wordt deze
klederdracht bijna niet meer
gedragen. Toch zijn er nog
steeds bewoners van dorpen
als Volendam, Staphorst of
Arnemuiden die zich dagelijks
in klederdracht hullen om zo de
traditie te behouden.
Kilos and kilos of liquorice
The Netherlands is the biggest producer of liquorice – known as drop in
Dutch – in the European Union. We each eat an average of two kilos every
year. Where the word drop comes from is a mystery. The German for
liquorice is Lakritz, the Italian liquirizia and the French réglisse. But their
version tastes different from our drop. The strange thing is that we are not
entirely sure what actually constitutes drop, as all sweets can in fact be
referred to by this name.
Photo: Erik Smits
Hurray, it’s a boy!
The Dutch eat crispbake crackers with aniseed sprinkles (known as
beschuit met muisjes) to celebrate the birth of a baby. Pink sprinkles for
a girl, blue for a boy. This is a typical Dutch tradition. The sprinkles are
known as muisjes, or ‘little mice’. Historians do not agree as to the origins
of the name. Some say that the shape of the sugar-coated aniseed, with its
little tail, gave rise to the name. Others believe it comes from the mouse’s
natural tendency to breed rapidly.
Photo: Ton Borsboom
Photo: Ton Lammerts
Photo: Inge Yspeert/ Hollandse Hoogte
Photo: Taco van der Eb / Hollandse Hoogte
Lose yourself in the music, until you are aware of nothing else and are in trance.
The newly reopened A2 to Amsterdam makes the heart of the seasoned motorist beat a
Queen’s Day, football matches, skating: the perfect excuse for the Dutch to go clad
Skating 200 kilometres on natural ice in a single day. Madness? Probably, but if the
Armin van Buuren can make it happen like no other. For the fourth year in
little faster. It has been widened from three to six lanes, and there are now far fewer traffic
from head to toe in orange. Orange wigs, glasses, hats ... the crazier the better. The
winter is harsh enough, Friesland province organises the Elfstedentocht – a marathon
succession, readers of British magazine DJ Mag have voted him world’s best DJ.
jams. Strange but true: since the road reopened, it has been raining speeding fines
national colour orange goes back to William of Orange, the father of the nation, who
race through eleven Frisian towns. It is a national event. And although it hasn’t been
led the revolt against the Spanish in the 16th century.
held since 1997, every winter the Dutch follow the weather forecast with keen interest,
Armin is the first DJ ever to have achieved this.
to see if the ice will be thick enough this year.
140
Singing by the
fireplace
In Holland you
get one biscuit with your
coffee. Fortunately, we drink
a lot of coffee: an average of
three cups a day, or around
140 litres a year.
The streets of the Netherlands
are virtually deserted on the
evening of 5 December. Everyone
is indoors, children and grown ups
alike, waiting excitedly for a visit
from St Nicholas, who rides across
the roofs of Holland on his white
horse with his faithful helpers, the
Zwarte Pieten (Black Peters). In
the run-up to the 5th, children put
their shoes by the fireplace and sing
special songs, in the hope that St
Nicholas will fill them with gifts and
pepernoten (spiced mini cookies).
A carrier cycle full of kids
Photo: AFAC
The cycle paths of the Netherlands’ cities are being plagued by a
phenomenon that has risen like a phoenix from the ashes: the carrier cycle.
Mothers and fathers who take their parental duties seriously use them to
transport their offspring from home to school to the sports club and back
home again. In the rain, some carrier cycles can be converted into a covered
wagon with a transparent hood, like a mobile incubator. And the bikes are
not only useful for transporting kids. They have also been spotted carrying
shopping, pets and sports bags.
Photo: Gaby Kooijman
1871
The first
female medical student,
Aletta Jacobs, went to study in
Leiden in 1871. She went on to
become the first female general
practitioner in the Netherlands.
Jacobs fought for her place in
society, and took the first step
towards equality for women in
the Netherlands.
8 | Cultuur & onderwijs
Culture & Education | 9
Masterpiece Travelling along the canals of
Amsterdam, visitors might feel they are in an openair museum of the 17th century. The canals, lined with
magnificent houses, fan out in parallel curves and
eventually flow into the river Amstel. ‘A masterpiece
of human ingenuity’ according to UNESCO. The canal
district is a unique example of architecture and planning,
a reflection of the Netherlands’ economic, political and
cultural heyday in the Golden Age.
Blooming culture
The Golden Age produced
artists whose work is still admired throughout the world
– Rembrandt and Johannes Vermeer, for example. The
philosopher Spinoza was their contemporary and the
humanist Erasmus their forebear. The masters of the
Golden Age were followed in the 19th and 20th centuries
by painters like Vincent van Gogh and Piet Mondrian. The
latter inspired many modern Dutch designers, including
Gerrit Rietveld.
Historic and contemporary
Amsterdam’s canals: UNESCO World
Heritage Site
Typically Dutch The Netherlands is now a
veritable cultural haven. Dutch society is steeped in foreign
influences: fashion, food, sport, festivals, interior design.
Dutch culture is growing and flourishing. Amsterdam’s
Concertgebouw orchestra ranks among the five top
symphony orchestras in the world, and the Nederlands
Danstheater is a world-class modern dance company.
Everywhere in the world you will find Dutch designers,
industrial designers and architects whose work is
internationally acclaimed. Every year, around 200 books are
translated into 50 different languages.
And the future? This looks particularly promising
for Dutch e-culture. Society is digitising and we can no
longer manage without interactive media. So it is only
logical that universities and other higher education
institutions should offer degrees in interactive media and
game design. Dutch dance, design, music and literature
are trendsetting, thanks to our open cultural climate and
arts education. The range of higher education courses is
unparalleled, and almost everyone has a chance to study.
The education system fosters independence, and works
to high academic standards. No wonder that so many
youngsters are keen to come to the Netherlands to study.
Photo: Siebe Swart/Hollandse Hoogte
10 | Culture & Education
11
‘We always take things to extremes’
Architects from all over
the world working together
The headquarters of Chinese state television in Beijing,
Rotterdam’s Kunsthal, the Guggenheim Museum in Las Vegas
and the Prada store in New York have one thing in common.
They were all designed by architecture firm and thinktank OMA,
founded by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas. OMA’s home base is
still in Rotterdam. Managing partner Victor van der Chijs tells us
T
he Dutch
are used
to doing business
internationally
about the internationally renowned partnership.
Is there such a thing as typically
Dutch architecture?
Is that sense of ambition in the
Dutch DNA?
‘No, but Dutch architects are world famous.
And that’s partly down to Rem Koolhaas. A
lot of successful Dutch architects have spent
time with OMA. Dutch architects tend to be
well trained, critical and open-minded, and
they are always looking for unique solutions.
OMA brings talented architects from the
Netherlands and other countries together,
and blends cultures. Architecture does not
depend on individuals, it depends on group
processes. We draw on our internationality.’
‘It could be. Because the Netherlands is
so densely populated, you have to be
innovative and come up with intelligent
solutions. OMA is successful because we
listen to our clients. But the main thing that
sets us apart is that we are always looking for
the right local solutions. You can’t just put
a replica of a building you’ve designed for
New York in Kuala Lumpur. It has to respond
to local conditions, culture and rules. The
Dutch are quick to adapt, they are used to
doing business internationally and they are
receptive to other cultures.’
What is the secret behind OMA?
‘We always work on smart local solutions,
using the knowledge and views of people
from all over the world. We have people
from more than 35 different countries at
OMA. Only 20% of the staff are Dutch. Every
month we receive around 700 unsolicited
applications from all over the world. So we
can select the very best people. Our staff
take things to the extreme, want to innovate,
arrive at new insights. We are always
proudest of our next building.’
Hence the headquarters in Rotterdam?
‘We are keeping our headquarters in
Rotterdam – alongside our offices in New
York, Beijing and Hong Kong – because this
is where our roots are. Also, the Netherlands
is a good place to do business. The Dutch are
entrepreneurial, the infrastructure is good
and we get support from the government. If
there are issues with one of our international
projects, for example, we can always rely on
the help of the Dutch embassy there. And
conversely, they help us with new ideas and
put us in contact with new clients.’
Photo: Rijksmuseum/Eric Smits
rijksmuseum amsterdam
A museum of art and history
Every day, visitors flock to the
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, and
stand amazed at Rembrandt’s
masterpiece The Night Watch.
The Rijksmuseum’s collection
boasts over one million
artefacts, most of which are
works by 17th-century Dutch
masters. The Rijksmuseum is the
Netherlands’ largest and most
important national museum.
The main building first opened
on 13 July 1885. Numerous
modifications were made over
the years, from double ceilings
and secondary walls to climate
control systems and offices of all
kinds. Eventually the time came
for a thorough overhaul, so now
the building is being refurbished,
renovated and restored – an
operation of unimaginable
complexity and scale.
Fortunately, the renovation is
not preventing the general public
from coming in and enjoying the
highlights of the 17th century.
The number of visitors has soared
in the past 125 years, from 250,000
in 1885 to around one million at
the end of the 20th century.
The new-style Rijksmuseum
promises to be a superbly
renovated building that radiates
the atmosphere of the 19th century
once again, yet also has the most
up-to-date facilities. A place
where millions of people from the
Netherlands and abroad can see
the nation’s rich collection in all
its glory.
12 | Culture & Education
1900
Handy in
town
T
he Design Academy
Eindhoven and Delft
University of Technology
have excellent reputations
beyond the country’s
borders. Their degree courses produce
talented graduates, from the Netherlands
and from countries far afield. But what is it
like to live and study in the Netherlands?
This amazing lamp doesn’t bring forth a genie, but it does
produce a wackily-shaped bulb. Or ‘light blub’ as young
designer Pieke Bergmans calls them: lightbulbs in all kinds of
unexpected shapes and sizes. This Dutch-grown miracle bulb
is on show at art gallery Dilmos in Milan.
Sources: Design Academy Eindhoven,
Silvestris, TU Eindhoven, Centraal
museum Utrecht, Hella Jongerius, Frank
Willems, Pieke Bergmans
55,000
The
Lowlands festival attracts some
55,000 visitors every summer. It
has a wide audience, interested
not only in pop music but also in
alternative music, video art and
other forms of entertainment.
Kristun Thors (28), Iceland
‘I was looking forward to the
cycling culture in Holland. I
bought a bike as soon as I
arrived in Eindhoven. I also like
the wacky food, like herring,
stroopwafels (toffee waffles)
and stamppot (potatoes
mashed with vegetables). But
what I notice most are the tall
men with curly hair. You don’t
get them in Iceland.’
Alessia Cadamuro (29) Italy
‘I found out on the internet
that I could do a unique
Master’s here in Holland: the
Man and Humanity Master’s.
Once I arrived here I noticed
straightaway that people are
friendly, and speak English.
But I made most of my friends
here through my course.’
Indira Nurtanti (34) Indonesia
‘I’m used to there being people
everywhere, like in Jakarta, but
it’s not like that in Holland. It’s
like there are more bikes than
people here! Except when
there’s a market, it’s always
busy then.’
The Netherlands
introduced compulsory education
in 1900: all children aged 6 to 12
had to attend school. 85 years
later, primary school as we now
know it was introduced. Children
have to start school at the age of
five. The school-leaving age is 16.
Amazing bulb
The qugo is a clever piece of
brand new Dutch design. Small
and compact, and driven by an
electric motor, handy for getting
around town and quite unique.
With its three wheels, this vehicle is
dynamic, manoeuvrable, yet stable.
The qugo, designed by the founder
of Spyker Cars, has a top speed of
25 km per hour
Dayo Oladunjoye (26)
Nigeria ‘The thing that struck
me from the plane when I
arrived in winter 2007 was
the flat landscape. I had been
warned about the cold, but it
was freezing! There are lots of
good architects from Holland.
That’s why I came to study
here.’
Rony Chan (27) Hong Kong
‘After studying in Eindhoven I
set up a studio here in Holland.
I’m now used to life here,
know people, and I’m close to
major cities like London and
Paris. Dutch design inspires me
more than Chinese design. It’s
creative, innovative and a bit
crazy here.’
Garance Echazarreta (25)
France ‘I think you have to do
your best to fit in. So I invited
my neighbours round, I go to
small shops and I like to try
Dutch food. What’s typically
Dutch? Things displayed on the
windowsill of a large sitting
room window.’
Henry Wilson (27) Australia
‘I did get a bit of a culture shock
when I arrived here. I came to
Holland to study design. But by
studying with students from
other countries and travelling
around Europe I learned more
about myself and other
cultures.’
Rubenesque comfort
Ever thought your old mattress deserved
a second life? And what a life! Designer
Frank Willems devised and produced this
‘Madame Rubens’ concept, transforming
an old mattress into an elegant designer
chair. Willems (31) is a promising graduate of
Design Academy Eindhoven. The water- and
airtight polyurethane coating keeps Madame
Rubens fresh and clean – a thoroughly
modern lady.
High-tech for tiny tots
Porcelain, glass and plastic tape
Long Neck Bottles by Dutch designer Hella Jongerius
(1963) are special vases that are both artworks and useful
objects at the same time. This is typical of Jongerius’
work. One of the most important industrial designers of
her generation, she became known for her innovative
ideas, introducing imperfections into her designs and
deliberately producing misfits.
People & Society | 13
Less stress for premature babies
thanks to the Smart Jacket. It is soft,
with integrated textile sensors so that
electrodes no longer need to be attached
directly to the baby’s sensitive skin.
Babies wear the jacket either in the
incubator or outside, so their parents can
hold and cuddle them. A clever piece of
technology from Eindhoven University of
Technology.
14
Economy, Trade & Agriculture | 15
European giant With a total terminal capacity
of around 420 million tonnes, Rotterdam is one of the
biggest ports in the world. It is way out front on the
European leader board. Situated at the economic heart
of the continent, on the North Sea and with a direct link
to the European hinterland, ‘Mainport Rotterdam’ is one
of the busiest ports in the world. Apart from container
transshipment, bulk goods and oil tanker handling also
account for a major proportion of the port’s activities.
And thanks to its economies of scale, Rotterdam has long
been a favourite port of call for fuel oil buyers.
Healthy industry Although most Dutch
people traded in their clogs for smart shoes many
years ago, the country’s agricultural sector is one of
the most competitive in the world. We are the world’s
second largest exporter of agricultural products, after
the US. Thanks to innovation and tough legislation
Dutch farmers, market gardeners and food processing
companies are reliable producers of natural, healthy
food. Our leading scientific institutes, like Wageningen
University ¬– one of the world’s foremost centres of
agricultural expertise – also make a major contribution.
Setting the standard Besides innovating
in food technology and in agriculture and horticulture,
the Netherlands also sets the standard for logistics and
water management, both in Europe and beyond. Many
established and emerging companies are moving into
the fields of biotechnology and life sciences. They benefit
from the country’s large reserves of agricultural knowhow, a strong chemicals industry and a highly developed
healthcare sector.
Gateway to Europe
Knowledge and innovation drive the Netherlands forward
Sustainable giants No one disputes the fact
that the Netherlands has produced some of the world’s
leading multinationals, like Philips, Heineken, Akzo
Nobel, DSM and Unilever, and has a strong position in
the international financial sector. It is also a fact that
Dutch multinationals have a good record when it comes
to sustainability. Akzo Nobel, for example, leads the
chemical industry table. Philips does well in the market
for personal care and domestic appliances. And Unilever
heads the list of food and drink companies. We’re quite
proud of all that.
Photo: Marijke Volkers
16 | Economy, Trade & Agriculture
Economy, Trade & Agriculture | 17
Multinationals invest in Dutch food research
We want
healthy food!
Healthier, safer and more sustainable food. That is what Dutch
companies want, and that is why they are investing so much
in research. They have helped make the Netherlands a world
leader when it comes to knowledge of food and nutrition.
Foreign scientists and multinationals are very interested in
Dutch research, and are keen to invest in it.
‘W
ageningen
has a
good international
reputation in food
research’
An unhealthy diet can lead to obesity and
illness, like cardiovascular disease. So the
Dutch food industry is working on safe,
healthy products and sustainable production
methods. Companies are keen to profile
themselves as sustainable. ‘How do you
make a healthy choice the easiest choice for
consumers? That’s an important question for
many companies,’ says Jan Maat, managing
director of Top Institute Food and Nutrition
(TIFN), which is partially funded by the
government.
Unique partnerships
Dutch multinationals are keen to invest in
research, into probiotics, for instance, the
drinks designed to keep your intestinal flora
at healthy levels. Or into reducing the salt and
sugar content of food without affecting the
taste. The Netherlands is way ahead of the
field on these issues. ‘Partnerships between
industry and research institutions do not exist
on this scale anywhere else in the world,’ says
Jan Maat. These partnerships, and the results
they have achieved, have also attracted major
foreign investors, like Nestlé of Switzerland,
Danone from France and America’s Kellogg’s.
Years of investing in knowledge
Food is an important source of income for
the Netherlands. Our food industry has a
turnover of around €53 billion a year, 21%
of which is accounted for by exports. We
also know a great deal about nutrition.
While other European countries were
erecting trade barriers during the economic
crisis in the 1930s, the Netherlands kept its
borders open and invested in knowledge
of food, nutrition and farming. As a result,
Wageningen University is now a key player in
the international food sector.
But it’s not only the big multinationals that
are investing in research. Smaller companies
can also subscribe to individual studies. All
this investment ensures that leading journals
regularly publish research results from the
Netherlands.
Good at working together
‘We must not forget that the Dutch are good
at working together,’ says Jan Maat. ‘That is
undoubtedly one of the reasons behind our
success. We look for solutions not through
confrontation, but through collaboration. The
way major competitors get together like they
do here is quite unique. We really do innovate
together.’
Photo: Marijke Volkers
medical gourmets
Welcome to the lab restaurant
It’s impossible to enjoy a meal in
private at the Restaurant of the
Future. Every bite is recorded.
This articulograph, for example,
measures the effects of different
chewing behaviour and the way
we look at food. The restaurant
is unique, the only place in the
world where researchers can
monitor diners over a long period
under controlled conditions.
Absolutely everything is
monitored: the layout and decor
of the restaurant, the effect of
light, the presentation, the route
through the restaurant, taste,
packaging and preparation. This
provides great opportunities for
food manufacturers who want to
test new products. And also for
scientists, who can learn a great
deal about visitors’ eating habits.
Research into consumer choices
and needs is becoming ever more
important. The costs involved
in product development and
marketing are huge. At the same
time, the failure rate of new
products is also high, the majority
disappearing within a year. Every
reason to test them thoroughly
beforehand. ‘Waiter, could I have
some more please?’
The Restaurant of the Future was
set up by Wageningen University,
catering company Sodexo,
software developer Noldus IT
and industrial kitchens supplier
Kampri.
18 | Economy, Trade & Agriculture
19
Fruit and veg from the hothouse
400,000,000
Every year, four million tonnes of goods arrive
at the Port of Rotterdam to be transferred to
other freighters, inland shipping or trucks. The
magazine in your hands was probably shipped via
Rotterdam.
Rows of greenhouses as far as the eye can see, another typically Dutch
scene. The first commercial greenhouses were built in the Netherlands
around 1850, when it was discovered that plants grow faster in continuous
light and an environment with a constant temperature. The quality of the
greenhouses gradually improved over the years. The first official standards
for greenhouses were drawn up in the 1970s, in consultation with pioneers
from industry. And modelling has led to constant improvement. With over
10,000 hectares of greenhouses, the Netherlands now has more than any
other country in the world.
Source: ECT
Illustrious shipbuilder from the Netherlands
Industrialist and shipbuilding magnate Cornelis Verolme (1900-1981) was the
Netherlands’ greatest shipbuilder. His yard, Verolme United Shipyards, built the
biggest ships. One would break the record for biggest Dutch ship, the next for
biggest ship ever built in Holland. For Verolme, it was always a matter of big,
bigger, biggest. A man with great charisma, and great plans. These days Keppel
Verolme (KV) is part of Keppel Offshore & Marine of Singapore, a global market
leader in the building and repair of offshore platforms and specialist ships
Source: Keppel Verolme
Source: FloraHolland
Photo: Rob Verhorst/Hollandse Hoogte
Source: NL Agency
Around a quarter of total exports by value go to Germany, and another quarter
The Netherlands is the world’s biggest flower exporter, even though some of them
Every year, Dutch musicians’ foreign sales climb even higher. André Rieu, Tiësto and
Machines for producing solar panels are not the first thing that comes to mind when
to the rest of Europe. This is followed by Africa, at 20%. Exports to Asia are
are grown abroad. Chinese trade delegations show particular interest in our profitable
Ferry Corsten are top Dutch exports, and several Dutch DJs – Laidback Luke and
you’re thinking about Dutch exports. But masses of these machines are being
currently running at 15%, and to North and South America at slightly over 10%.
flower trade. Our knowledge of logistics and the global trade in flowers remain
Marco V, for example – are rising stars on the foreign club scene. Rock band Within
exported to China. Dutch manufacturer OTB Solar has almost tripled its turnover as a
unparalleled, however.
Temptation is doing particularly well abroad.
result of the huge demand.
Kids’ TV news as
export product
Say cheese!
Holland and cheese. An inseparable combination. The Dutch have been
exporting cheese since the Middle Ages. The best known are Edam
and Gouda, which have enjoyed protected status since 2010. Only the
cheese made here may be called ‘Gouda Holland’ or ‘Edam Holland’,
and it also carries a quality label. Cheese manufacturers in the rest of
the world may only use the words ‘Gouda’ and ‘Edam’. Most Edam and
Gouda cheese is in fact made in Poland and Germany, and quite a lot is
produced in New Zealand and the United States.
Photo: Nationale Beeldbank
Since 2004 Kids News Network has
been exporting the kids’ TV news show
Jeugdjournaal to developing countries.
The show, which has been running for 29
years in the Netherlands, is unique. Fellow
programme-makers in developing countries
are given 18 months’ training in how to
produce their own programme. The idea is
that kids who are given truthful information
will pass it on to others. In developing
countries, 40% of the population are aged
15 or under; the figure in the Netherlands is
15%. The concept has now been ‘exported’
to Suriname, Peru, South Africa, Indonesia,
Zambia, Burma and the Antilles. It is up to
local programme makers to decide on the
content of the programme, as long as it fits
into the basic concept.
Tulip mania
A bunch of tulips in a Dutch shop will cost you around three euros these days.
A far cry from the 17th century, when the tulip was all the rage. At the height
of the ‘tulip mania’, the bulbs fetched eye-watering prices. One was sold
for 5,400 guilders, which at that time would have bought you a magnificent
canalside property in the heart of Amsterdam.
2002
On 1 January 2002 the
euro was introduced in 12 European Union
member states, Monaco, San Marino and
Vatican City. Many Dutch people were sad to
say goodbye to their old currency, the guilder.
Source: Rijksmuseum Photoservice
20 | Internationale vrede en veiligheid
International Peace & Security | 21
Dutch merchants We have been swarming out
across the world’s oceans and continents ever since the 17th
century. And the Dutch still have a tendency to look beyond
the dikes that protect them. We are keen travellers, but we
also like to bring the rest of the world here, too. Our deeprooted interest in other countries and peoples is not restricted
to culture and travel, however. The Netherlands also lobbies
hard for a stable trading environment and international peace
and security.
Honour and prestige Although the Dutch armed
forces are among the most up-to-date and best equipped in
Europe, the Dutch see themselves as a peace-loving, nonmilitaristic people. We have seen our fair share of wars down
the centuries, however. In the 16th century we rose up against
the Spanish, in the 17th century we fought sea battles with
the English over trade. And there is also a more sinister side
to our history. The Dutch slave trade continued until the late
19th century, and in the mid-20th century we were involved in
armed conflict with Indonesia.
Committed In the 21st century, the Dutch are keen
to set an example. We are actively involved in the UN, are
home to several international courts and tribunals and are
aware of our international responsibilities and commitments.
The Dutch constitution even requires the government to
promote the development of the international legal order.
The Dutch government also spends a relatively large amount
on development cooperation and military operations. Current
military operations are mainly intended to maintain peace or
help countries rebuild after armed conflict.
Globe trotters and mediators
The Netherlands’ international outlook has deep roots
Shaping freedom Cooperation with other European
countries is increasingly important to the Netherlands,
given the issues we face: climate change, energy supply
and international security. Though we are individualistic,
demanding the freedom to run our lives as we see fit, we are
also keen on equality, and are known for our preference for
cooperation and unflagging efforts to achieve consensus.
Photo: Nationaal Archief
22 | International Peace & Security
People & Society | 23
Dutch constitution says ‘Promote international legal order’
The Hague: legal capital
of the world
The Netherlands is the only country in the world whose
constitution states explicitly that the government must promote
the international legal order. It is therefore with good reason
that The Hague is known as the legal capital of the world. Many
international legal institutions, including the most famous of
them all – the International Court of Justice – are based here.
‘W
ith all
those
judges, negotiators
and inspectors in
The Hague, we
seek to achieve the
aims set out in our
Constitution.’
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) was
established in the Peace Palace in The Hague
in 1945, and was followed by many more
legal institutions. They had good reason
to choose The Hague as their location. The
Netherlands had good travel connections,
and was well-known as a stable, safe and
reliable country where the rule of law was
respected. Furthermore, an amendment to
the Dutch constitution in the 1950s made the
Netherlands eminently suitable as a centre for
international law.
Working for peace
In essence, the amendment decreed that the
Netherlands would henceforth do its best to
ensure that other countries treat each other
and their own populations with respect.
This is indeed the case: with all the judges,
negotiators and inspectors in The Hague, the
Netherlands seeks to achieve the aims set out
in its constitution: to work for peace, justice
and security, not only at home but all over the
world. The International Court of Justice is
responsible for dealing with inter-state conflicts, except those of a political nature.
Principal judicial organ
The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. Its
role is to adjudicate in specific international
conflicts, to settle legal disputes and to clarify
legal norms. The Court also plays an advisory
role. It advises the General Assembly, the
Security Council and UN organisations. It is
not always easy to distinguish between a
political dispute, a legal dispute and a conflict
of interest. The rule of thumb is that for it to
be a legal dispute, the issue at stake must be
a rule of law.
Fifteen judges
The ICJ has fifteen judges, who are each
appointed for nine years. The president and
vice-president of the Court are both appointed for three years. The judges are nominated
by countries and elected by the UN General
Assembly and Security Council. There is never
more than a single ICJ judge from any one
country. The staff of the Court is also international, and works in two official languages –
English and French. Translations are produced
by a permanent staff of sworn translators.
Photo: EPA/VINCENT JANNINK/POOL
beauty & the beast
Former president and supermodel in court in The Hague
Did former Liberian president
Charles Taylor give Naomi
Campbell an uncut diamond in
1997 or not? The supermodel
gave evidence on the matter
to the Special Court for Sierra
Leone in Leidschendam. Taylor
is suspected of war crimes. He
is alleged to have used blood
diamonds to fund the bloody civil
war in neighbouring Sierra Leone.
Campbell’s appearance before
the court attracted a great deal of
media attention.
The Special Court for Sierra
Leone is just one of many
international courts and tribunals
in The Hague, evidence that the
international community – and
particularly the United Nations
– regards our country as a safe
place for international trials.
Such trials are highly sensitive,
involving people suspected of
terrorism and war crimes.
Since Charles Taylor can still
count on widespread support
in Sierra Leone, the UN Security
Council decided he should stand
trial in The Hague. The United
Kingdom has said that if the
court imposes a prison sentence
on Taylor he may serve it in a
British jail.
24 | International Peace & Security
1991
The Treaty of Maastricht was signed
in December 1991, when the Netherlands held the
Presidency of the European Union. This EU Treaty laid
the basis for political and monetary union. It entered
into force in 1993.
The Netherlands and democracy:
individual freedom of choice
The Netherlands is a parliamentary democracy. Every four
years the Dutch elect a new parliament, which monitors
the government’s actions on behalf of the people.
Officially the government is made up of the head of state
and the ministers, but in fact the monarch has mainly a
representative role. Civil liberties and the rule of law are
firmly embedded in the constitution. The Dutch set great
store by individual freedom, preferences and choice, so you
will hear few protests against gay marriage, abortion and
euthanasia. Most Dutch people regard them not as political
issues, but as matters of individual choice.
Rigorous measures to
tackle Somali pirates
Operation Atalanta is the code name of the anti-piracy campaign
in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. It was set up to protect
ships, especially those carrying World Food Programme supplies,
against pirates operating along the coast of Somalia. This is no
mean task, given the size of the area and the fact that some
20,000 to 30,000 ships pass through the Gulf of Aden every year.
Pirates operate up to 750 kilometres offshore. In April 2010 naval
vessel HNLMS Johan de Witt left for Somali waters to take part
in Operation Atalanta. The Johan de Witt is the sixth Dutch ship
in succession to have been deployed against pirates. The pirates
who are captured and brought on board the ship become the
responsibility of the Dutch Public Prosecution Service.
Law through the
centuries
Every state has its own legal system. Many of
these systems are so similar that they are regarded
as part of a legal tradition. We have two legal
traditions in Europe: civil law and common law.
The Netherlands is one of the countries with a legal
system based on the principle of civil law. Most
countries in mainland Europe use this system,
whereby law is enshrined in codes and professional
judges hand down judgments on the basis of them.
The other system, based on common law, emerged
in England in the 14th century, and spread all over
the world, mainly through the British Empire.
Countries with a common law tradition do not have
written codes. Law is developed there in case law or
precedent, rather than by the legislator.
T
25
he Netherlands is home to some 30
international organisations, from
international courts and tribunals
and European institutions to
organisations like the OPCW (the
Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical
Weapons). Together they employ around 8000
staff, accompanied by almost 6000 family
members. Here are just a few.
Europol gathers and analyses
criminal intelligence, in an attempt
to combat international crime. At
the headquarters in The Hague,
over 620 members of staff work
closely together with colleagues
from the European Union and
other partner states like Australia,
Canada, the US and Norway.
1951
The Treaty of Paris was signed by the
Netherlands, West Germany, France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Italy on 18 April 1951. This marked the birth
of the European Coal and Steel Community, which
later became the EU.
Photo: Peter van Bastelaar/AVDD
The International Criminal Tribunal
for the former Yugoslavia was
established by the United Nations
during the war in the Balkans. Its
purpose is to try individuals
suspected of committing war
crimes during this war, and to
punish them if necessary.
The European Space Agency ESA
has sites in several European
countries. The largest is the
European Space Research and
Technology Centre (ESTEC), the
technological hub of the
organisation. It is located in
Noordwijk.
The International Criminal Court in
The Hague was set up to try
individuals suspected of war
crimes and crimes against
humanity.
The Iran-United States Claims
Tribunal resolves claims relating to
the nationalisation of American
property in Iran. It was established
after the United States released
frozen Iranian assets in exchange
for the release of hostages.
26 | Water,
People Technology
& Society & Innovation
People & Society | 27
Country of tomorrow
The Netherlands has the biggest radiotelescope in the world
Vooruitgang Progress The Dutch are an
innovative people. Not enough land? Then we’ll make
our own. Over 40% of the country has been created
since the Middle Ages, thanks to what were (in their
day) ingenious solutions for reclaiming land and
creating polders. Dark streets? The merchants of the
Golden Age did not have to head home early thanks
to Jan van der Heyden, who developed street lighting
using oil lamps. It was not all good news, however,
because the oil lamp had a tendency to catch fire now
and then. So perhaps it is no coincidence that Van der
Heyden also invented the fire hose. A few years later
Christiaan Huygens invented the pendulum clock,
not because he wanted to keep an eye on the time,
but because of his great love of astronomy (Huygens
discovered Titan and the rings of Saturn), which
required highly accurate timekeeping.
The eyes of the Earth LOFAR (LOw
Frequency ARray) is a recent example of a Dutch
technological innovation in astronomy. In an effort
to see the birth of the universe, thousands of
sensors within a radius of 50 kilometres of Exloo
in Drenthe province create a single highly sensitive
radiotelescope. Linked to eight other stations in
Europe, it forms part of what will be the world’s
largest radiotelescope when it is complete, a hundred
times more sensitive than current telescopes. If
they had known that, Sacharias Jansen and Hans
Lippershey might not have fought over the patent on
their telescope 400 years ago. Compared to LOFAR, it
was little more than a pair of opera glasses.
Thousands of sensors All those sensors
are linked by an extensive fibre-optic network, which
is also available to other disciplines. Agricultural
scientists can, for example, use it to conduct
research into precision farming, using wireless
sensors, which help them optimise production
processes. Geophysicists are mapping the geology
of the northern Netherlands using seismic sensors.
This is producing interesting information about
gas extraction and subsidence. And about water
management, something we’ve been doing since the
Middle Ages, which remains as important as ever.
That’s what you get when more than half the country
is below sea level.
Source: Astron stichting Lofar
28 | Water, Technology & Innovation
People & Society | 29
A unique feat of engineering
‘Controlling the tides:
the moon, the wind and us’
‘One of the seven modern wonders of the world’ is how the
American Society of Civil Engineers refers to the Delta Project,
the system of coastal defences that protects the Netherlands
from high tides. We are a little more modest perhaps, but no less
proud of this unique feat of engineering.
‘N
ederlands
watermanagement
is een belangrijke
inspiratiebron voor de
rest van de wereld’
The series of coastal defences that now
protect the Netherlands from the sea took
57 years of hard work to build. Work started
after the disastrous floods of 1953 (see box).
The Delta Commission was set up three
weeks later. Its members included Johan
van Veen, who had come up with plans for
the Delta Project before the floods, because
of his concerns about the low dikes in the
southwest of the country.
From dam to flood barrier
The storm surge barrier in the Eastern Scheldt
is without a doubt the most impressive
part of the Delta Project. The estuary was in
fact to have been closed off with a normal
dam, but it was never built. Cutting it off
completely would have damaged the natural
environment. Eventually, the Eastern Scheldt
storm surge barrier was built from the artificial
island of Neeltje Jans. After the barrier was
complete, the island was converted into the
Neeltje Jans educational theme park, where
the 66th pillar (which was never used) can still
be seen, as well as a memorial stone bearing
the words ‘Controlling the tides: the moon,
the wind and us’.
Biggest threat: the major rivers
For centuries, however, the sea has not
been the greatest threat to the Dutch. The
three major rivers that flow through the
country – the Rhine, Maas and Waal – have
long posed more of a danger. Having learnt
from experience, we have developed into
the undisputed world champions of water
management. Flooding used to be a frequent
occurrence, but the last time a river dike
burst was in 1926. Things got a little tense
in 1995, when 250,000 people were forcibly
evacuated, but the dikes held. Rigorous
measures were then introduced. Nature
has been left more to its own devices, and
the rivers have been given more room. At
the same time, innovative solutions have
also been introduced. For example using
ingenious groynes that increase drainage
when water levels are high, and keep the river
more navigable when they are low.
Textbook example
Dutch water management serves as a major
source of inspiration for the rest of the world
and a textbook example of how things should
be done. One Dutch company located in the
United States is helping consider ways of
protecting New Orleans from a recurrence
of the flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina
in 2005. The Dutch are happy to help the
Americans and the rest of the world keep
their feet dry.
Photo: Marijke Volkers
the 1953 floods
not only raise the gates, they can
also lower them if necessary.
Taming the sea
1953, the night of 31 January. A
storm is raging, and it’s high tide,
but that’s nothing new. That
night, however, the storm builds
to hurricane force. The disaster
happens in just a few hours.
Seawater pours over the sea
dikes. The polders are inundated,
the water reaches the next ring
of dikes, and they burst. Large
parts of the provinces of Zeeland,
Brabant and South Holland are
flooded, and 1800 people drown.
Over half a century later the
principle seems quite simple: as
soon as the water reaches three
metres above NAP, or Amsterdam
Ordnance Datum, the gates are
closed so that the floodwaters
cannot enter the Eastern Scheldt.
Sixty-five huge concrete pillars
support the storm surge barrier.
They in turn stand on mats laid
on the sea-bed specially for the
purpose. The hydraulic cylinders
that control the floodgates are
also a miracle of technology. They
From the path just above the
Eastern Scheldt storm surge
barrier you can hear the water
thundering past the open gates.
The sheer force of the water can
be seen, heard and felt here. But
the barrier stands firm, a unique
feat of innovative engineering
protecting both Zeeland and the
environment.
30 | Water, Technology & Innovation
Water, technologie & veiligheid | 31
Water management a royal affair
1550
In a country where two-thirds of the land is below sea level,
water management is a truly Dutch affair. Even heir to the
throne Prince Willem-Alexander has been working in the field
for many years, both at home and abroad. In the Netherlands
he chairs the Water Advisory Committee. And as chair of the
United Nations Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Water
and Sanitation he helps solve water-related problems all over
the world.
It rains a lot in the
Netherlands: an average of 600 hours
a year – but there’s plenty of sunshine
between the showers, at 1550 hours a year.
Photo: Kris Kras Design
W
here would the
Netherlands be
without bridges,
windmills
and pumping
stations? The modern versions are
powered by electricity, are often plain
in design and hundreds of metres long
(or tall). The more traditional wooden
bridges and windmills are manually
operated, and often unique. Whether
traditional or modern, however, they
all play a key role in transport and
water management.
The Netherlands has more
than 3000 pumping
stations. There are various
types, designed to pump
different quantities of water
over different heights in
different locations. This is the
electrically-driven J.L.
Hoogland pumping station
at Stavoren in Friesland. The
building with the curved roof
that houses it was designed
by Dutch architect Piet de
Vries.
Source: Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, Amersfoort
The Great Mill at Marrum
in Friesland was built in
1845. It is still used to pump
water in the polder from a
lower to a higher level. This is
quite rare, as modern
pumping stations usually do
the job these days. Their
greater capacity allows them
to raise the water over
greater heights in all weather
conditions.
Photo: Maurice Boyer/Hollandse Hoogte
Photo: Paul van Riel/Hollandse Hoogte
The famous ‘Skinny
Bridge’ (Magere Brug) in
Amsterdam is over 300
years old. The bridge was
built at the request of the
wealthy Mager sisters, or
so the story goes. They
lived opposite each other,
on either side of the
Amstel. The wooden
footbridge allowed them
to visit each other more
easily. A true story? Who
knows? But we do know
that the original bridge
was very narrow – or
‘skinny’.
Dutchman in space
The first Dutchman in space was Wubbo Ockels. In 1978 he was
selected by the European Space Agency to work on a Spacelab
programme. After completing the astronaut training programme, he
took his first trip into space on board the space shuttle Challenger in
1985. Wubbo was responsible for the monitoring equipment on the
flight. A physicist by training, he now works on sustainable energy. His
futuristic yacht Ecolution is a sustainably built ship that is also energyneutral to run.
135,470
There
are 135,470 km of public roads in the
Netherlands, and 57.5 km of motorway per
1000 km2. This gives the country the densest
motorway network in Europe, in a country
with a land area of only 41,526 km2.
Coffee, wine
and rain
Three Dutch inventions have ensured that coffee,
wine and rain will never be the same again. Unlike
other coffee-making equipment, the Senseo coffee
machine uses pads. Douwe Egberts’ Senseo products
have been a great success in both Europe and the US.
The Vacu Vin consists of a stopper and pump that
prevent wine in an open bottle from oxidising,
allowing it to be kept for longer. It has been a huge
success: more than 30 million have been sold in over
80 countries.
Storm umbrella Senz makes light work of wind and
rain. While other umbrellas flap and break, the clever
design of Senz stops it turning inside out. This great
invention from Delft University of Technology can
even cope with force 10 winds.
Photo: george Burggraaff/Hollandse Hoogte
32 | People & Society
People
Facts & Society
Figures |
Interesting facts
Tall and blond
Curtains
The Dutch keep their
curtains open in the
evening because they have
nothing to hide, do not
want to exclude anyone,
or because they want to
show off their fine interior
decoration. Perhaps we
don’t actually know the
reason, and that is why we
are doing in-depth studies
into this custom.
Polders
The tulip has proudly held its ground through the
centuries. The Netherlands is by far the world’s biggest
exporter of flowering bulbs, accounting for 83% of
world exports, 33% of which are tulips. In Holland,
however, roses are the most popular cut flowers.
Wintry
Gezelligheid
Gezelligheid is a typically Dutch word for which there is no
good equivalent in other languages. It is used to describe an
evening playing board games with the family, or drinking
coffee with the neighbours, or sitting by an open fire. In fact
any pleasant occasion shared with friends or family.
Clogs and windmills
Holland is still associated with clogs and windmills.
But clogs are found mainly in souvenir shops these
days, and only around 1200 windmills are still in
operation today, down from over 10,000 in their
heyday in the 19th century.
The Netherlands is famous for
its ‘polder model’. Doing things
in consultation, always seeking
consensus. People of all social ranks
used to work together to build dikes
and create polders (hence the term
‘polder model’).
Celebrations
The most important days of
celebration in the Netherlands
are Queen’s Day (the Queen’s
official birthday), Liberation
Day and St Nicholas’ Eve, or
Sinterklaas. But the Dutch also
like to take to the streets when
their football team (almost) wins
a European championship or
World Cup.
Longest train journey in the
Netherlands: Roodeschool –
Maastricht Randwyck, 5 hours 39
minutes (three changes).
The tulip
Lots of Dutch people are tall, blond and blue-eyed. But
with over three million people from ethnic minorities,
almost two million of whom have a non-Western
background, the Netherlands is quite multi-coloured
these days.
People & Society | 34
Groningen
A permanent feature
of the Dutch winter
dinner table is stamppot:
potatoes mashed with
kale, sauerkraut or carrots
and onions. But you’re
less likely to find the same
fare in restaurants. The
number of establishments
offering non-Dutch
cuisine is on the rise.
Neat and tidy
Lots of things are perfectly acceptable in
the Netherlands. Freedom and tolerance
are considered very important. But
we separate our waste in an orderly
fashion, are very punctual and like to
keep our doorsteps clean.
Friesland
Afsluitdijk: 30 km barrier
and road between the provinces
of Friesland and North
Holland (part of the Zuyder
Zee project).
North Holland
Schiphol: the biggest airport in
the Netherlands (handling an
average of 45,000,000 passengers
and 1.5 million tonnes of freight
each year).
Den Helder
Flevoland
Drenthe
Most sparsely populated
province, with fewer than
200 inhabitants per km2
(the majority of whom live
in rural areas).
Once water, now the
Netherlands’ newest province
(since 1986), and home to
400,000 people.
Overijssel
South Holland
Rotterdam is home to the three
tallest buildings in the country,
at 151, 158 and 165 metres; it
also has the Euromast, which is
185 metres tall.
Full of lakes and criss-crossed
by streams and the river IJssel,
Overijssel province has 300 km of
navigable waterways (frequented
by commercial shipping and
200,000 leisure craft a year).
Amsterdam
Centraal
Den Haag
Centraal
Utrecht
Centraal
Utrecht
More room for car and rail
traffic around the heart of
the Netherlands thanks to its
network of cycle routes.
Rotterdam
Centraal
Gelderland
World famous
The most famous Dutch person of all time is Anne Frank,
who wrote the best known diary in the world, followed by
footballer Johan Cruijff in second place and alleged double
agent Mata Hari in third.
30% of continental container
transport is by inland waterway
(much of it along the rivers
Maas and Waal).
‘s Hertogenbosch
North Brabant
Cover picture: Delft blue
Colofon
The traditional Dutch sea shanty Daar was laatst een
Hello Holland! is a special publication by the Dutch
meisje loos (1744) inspired 41-year-old designer twins
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Truus and Riet Spijkers to create their Delft-blue skirt
Editorial board: Communications Department, Ministry
with nautical details. Feisty females like the song’s
of Foreign Affairs
heroine who runs away to sea are a recurrent theme
Editors: JCM Context (Utrecht)
in their work. Truus comments ‘Our style is influenced
Art direction & design: KrisKras Design (Utrecht)
by the 1920s, when the modern woman first appeared
Printed by: OBT bv, The Hague
on the scene.’
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Zeeland
Western Scheldt tunnel: at 6.6
km, the longest road tunnel in
the Netherlands, connecting
Zeeland-Flanders with ZuidBeveland.
Limburg
Drielandenpunt in Vaals,
where three countries
meet: you can go from the
Netherlands to Germany and
Belgium (and back) in just a
few steps.
Photo: Cynthia Boll
© Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken, Nederland.
P.O Box 20061 | 2500 EB Den Haag
www.minbuza.nl/en
Road of the future (N329):
with a sunken carriageway,
LED lighting and lots of
other technical wonders, both
an example and a source of
inspiration.
300 kilometer
Maastricht
35 | People & Society
People & Society | 36
Gaining ground The Dutch have always lived with water.
Lots of water. And they have fought with it on occasion. But they
were always victorious. In the past the Dutch did battle with dwelling
mounds (or terps), dikes and major coastal defences like the Delta
Project. They even closed off part of the sea – the Zuyder Zee – to
create new land, or polders. And their efforts were successful. Without
them, 40% of the country would be under water.
Go with the flow These days, the Dutch also enjoy the
water. Streams and rivers are increasingly being allowed to go their
own way, and we adapt to them. We are going with the flow, building
our houses around the water. Or on it. More and more residential
areas feature homes with a boat tied to a jetty at the bottom of
the garden. And, alongside the traditional houseboats, people are
increasingly choosing to live in homes built on stilts, or floating on
the water.
Water city There are now a number of residential areas built
completely on the water, like this one in Houten. Steigereiland (‘Jetty
Island’) in the Amsterdam district of IJburg, was one of the first and,
with 110 homes built on the water, one of the biggest too. Groningen
is even building an entire town based on water, known as Blauwestad,
or ‘Blue Town’, with some 1500 homes on or beside the water.
Luctor et emergo
Welkom to the
Netherlands!
Living on the water
Photo: Karel Tomei/Fotonatura
Every hour of the day, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs is hard at work somewhere on
earth helping to build a safe, stable and prosperous world. And representing the interests of
the Netherlands. Because it is a unique country, with a surprising past, an energetic present
and an interesting future. Welcome to the Netherlands!
Photo: Siebe Swart/Hollandse Hoogte