A Rotterdam police officer is facing costly consequences for getting a little too wild in his rollercoaster chase after a public urinator last September.
When trying to arrest him, the officer locked the suspected offender in a crawl space… only to be the one to bust him out, as NOS reports.
Let’s break down the twists and turns. 👇
A splash and a flash
Wild pissers aren’t just targeting canals and metro stations; house façades are under threat too. At least, that was the case for one home in Rotterdam last year.
After an hour and a half, he was freed. By the very same police officer who locked him in there — and finally arrested him.
Hefty fine and a big apology
Police management disapproved of the officer’s methods, and €500 was deducted from his pay.
The officer also apologised via email to 250 colleagues, with some believing the sanction was still too mild.
As for the wild pisser? His case has been dismissed. Apparently, being locked up for an hour and a half was punishment enough (at least on an empty bladder). 😮
What do you think of the sanctions against the arresting officer? Were they too mild? Let us know in the comments!
Want to leave the Netherlands but afraid that you’ll miss the beautiful architecture? These places are modelled after Dutch towns — but are found in all corners of the world!
Dutch architecture is internationally celebrated and admired. So much so, that some countries decided to construct a little bit of the Netherlands for themselves.
These Dutch-shaped towns serve many purposes: for some, they are amusement parks, for others, they are purely residential.
Either way, some of these carbon copies will make you think you ate one too many truffles before heading out for a stroll in a cosy, Dutch neighbourhood.
1. Huis Ten Bosch: Japan’s Dutch experience
The Netherlands, but with neon lights. Image: Miranocchi/Instagram
Perhaps the most surreal of all copycat towns are “Dutch” theme parks. Can you imagine Paleis Huis Ten Bosch — but in Japan and filled with art and tourists? 📸
In 1979, Yoshikuni Kamichika visited the Netherlands and was blown away by its beauty. He was looking to create a unique tourist attraction for visitors to the Omura Bay area in Nagasaki, Japan, and the stunning Dutch houses and canals gave him a jolt of inspiration.
Located in Sasebo, Nagasaki, Huis Ten Bosch was opened in 1992 and cost a massive €2.5 billion!
The money funded the digging of six kilometres of canals as well as the planting of 400,000 trees and 300,000 flowers (the man was dedicated, we have to give him that.)
Bricks were even imported from the Netherlands to ensure that the buildings looked as accurate as possible.
2. Holland Village: China’s slice of the Netherlands
The Japanese were not the only ones to create their own little Netherlands. China once enjoyed a Dutch theme park of its own, Holland Village.
The town was meant to be both a Dutch theme park and a residential area. Holland Village was built in the year 2000 in Shenyang, China.
It boasted canal houses, windmills and replicas of famous Dutch buildings such as its own Amsterdam Centraal and Peace Palace.
Chinese-Dutch entrepreneur Yang Bin was the mastermind behind the project. However, he was arrested in 2002 for tax fraud. All his projects were subsequently declared bankrupt, and Holland Village was demolished in 2009. 😥
3. Holland Village, Shanghai: a Dutch satellite town in China
A Chinese-Dutch ghost town. Image: Banalities/ Wikimedia Commons/CC2.0
Not to be confused with Bin’s Holland Village in Shenyang, this Holland Village (or Holland V, for short) was built in Shanghai and is exclusively residential.
Holland V was intended to act as a satellite town for Shanghai. Modelled after Amsterdam (surprise, surprise), the town consists of adjoining canal houses, and canals (duh) and even has its own De Bijenkorf!
It was hoped that the village would appeal to rich Chinese who lived in the Netherlands but wanted to return to their homeland. In reality, however, the village appealed to very few.
Despite 20,000 residential buildings being built in Holland V in 2023, the project is basically a ghost town. Now, it acts as a backdrop for wedding photos and quirky film productions.
4. Holland, Michigan: quintessential Dutchness in the US
So colourful! Image: Unsplash
Some of these copycat towns can be attributed not to international admirers but to the Dutch themselves. Perhaps a town that best exemplifies this is Holland, Michigan (yep, sounds pretty Dutch.)
This town still offers sightseers a glimpse of Dutch architecture with buildings, windmills and bridges that would convince you that you are in a brightly coloured version of the Netherlands. The town even hosts its famous Tulip Time festival each May.
Ready to move to the US but not quite ready to leave behind the quirks of Dutch life? Perhaps Holland, Michigan, will help you transition.
5. Dutch quarter, Potsdam Germany: a little bit of Dutch in Duitsland
Unfortunately, the quarter didn’t attract many Dutch. Image: Giorgio Michele/Wikimedia Commons/CC4.0
King Friedrich Wilhelm I admired Dutch architecture so much that he decided to build a Dutch quarter in the city of Potsdam, Germany. Modelled after parts of Amsterdam and with similarly styled buildings, Wilhelm I hoped to attract Dutch craftsmen.
The Dutch quarter was nearly lost to the era of the German Democratic Republic, during which it fell into dilapidation. However, following the fall of the Berlin Wall, the quarter was gradually restored and renovated with the help of the Dutch royal family.
6. Oranjestad, Aruba: a colourful take on Dutch architecture
Putting their own spin on things! Image: Depositphotos
It is well known that the Dutch had a colonial hold on Aruba for many years. This inevitably resulted in Dutch architecture cropping up across the tropical island.
However, what’s interesting about this colonial footprint is that the Arubans put their own spin on things.
Instead of the usual brick-coloured buildings, this Dutch-inspired architecture has been dressed up in beautiful pastel colours to better suit its tropical surroundings and culture.
7. Willemstad: perhaps the most colourful ‘Dutch’ town yet
Imagine if Amsterdam took a page from their book! Image: Depositphotos
Even brighter still are the beautiful buildings of Willemstad on the island of Curacao. These brightly coloured houses make the city look like a Dutch Lego land from the water.
Much like Oranjestad, the city didn’t stick to the Dutch style guide when it came to painting this architecture, and we for one, are thankful for it — look at how pretty it is! Those colours are bound to get some serotonin flowing.
8. Orange County Hotel Resort: a Turkish take on the Netherlands
Located in Kemer, Turkey, we must admit, this resort didn’t go wrong with the name. The Dutch are about as tied to the colour orange as the Irish are to shamrocks. To make sure there is no confusion, the resort’s name also features a windmill logo.
But once you lay eyes on the architecture of this resort, you almost question why they felt the need to specify at all. This place is clearly modelled after classic Dutch townscapes!
The only main difference is that their windmills are situated next to swimming pools, not murky canals.
If there are any Dutchies looking to experience some nice holiday weather in the Netherlands for once, look no further!
Could you be convinced that these places were in the Netherlands? Tell us in the comments below!
Listen, there’s a lot to be mispronounced when you first arrive in the Netherlands. You’ll order yourself a “str-oooohp-wafel”, you’ll say “dank-ooh-well,” and then you’ll probably plan a trip to the “ri-jick-es-museum.”
The what?
Y’know, the “rig-echs-museum.”
Can you guess which heavily mispronounced tourist attraction we’re butchering? The one and only Rijksmuseum, of course!
The most mispronounced museum in the world
It turns out we’re not the only ones who tend to scramble our sounds when trying to say “Rijksmuseum.”
In fact, according to a survey shared by Digg, the Rijksmuseum is the most mispronounced museum in the whole world.
As part of the survey, the pronunciation site Forvo was used to determine how many searches were done to check the pronunciation of a number of famous tourist destinations in each country across the globe.
With a whopping 98,000 listens on Forvo, the Dutch tourist attraction won the title of most difficult museum name to wrap your tongue around — all hail queen “rich-ex-museum!” 👑
However, the Rijksmuseum isn’t the only Dutchie to find itself sitting in the list of top 20 most difficult museum names in the world.
The pronunciation of the Kröller-Müller museum also had to be listened to 6,000 times, and the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen enjoyed 5,000 listeners.
Pffft, silly silly tourists. (👀).
Well, how do you pronounce it then?
As a team of internationals with inflated egos, we can confidently say that the correct way to pronounce Rijksmuseum is — to listen to this Dutch woman say it in this advert.
Nailed it? Now you can learn how to pronounce gefeliciteerd!
What do you think is the most difficult Dutch word to pronounce? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
Fancy sharing your breakfast with Donald Trump? With bird flu rampant in the US, Americans need more eggs. The president hopes EU chickens are the answer.
The US has already called on Denmark, Finland and Sweden; now, they want the Netherlands to supply eggs or egg products, Dutch Association of Egg Traders and Egg Product Manufacturers, Anevei, confirms.
Will the Dutch eggs-port?
Suppliers in the Netherlands are considering whether they will comply with the request. 🥚
For one, the Dutch don’t even have access to the ACTUAL fresh egg market in the US, so this deal only concerns egg products (eggs that have been processed, like separated egg whites, yolks, or freeze-dried eggs).
Plus, Trump wants help from the very nations facing his new tariffs, but naturally, Dutch suppliers are worried about costly export consequences.
Damn…. $ 22.29 USD for a tray of eggs?? A big tray (double the normal amount of 10 with 20 eggs) cost us 6 euro's atm in The Netherlands give or take (around $ 6,54 USD). pic.twitter.com/xkPNNtNHs4
Anevei chairman Werner Buck emphasises the financial importance of a longer-term deal this time round.
“The egg processors are looking at what is possible”, he confirms. But don’t worry, Buck does not expect them to sacrifice their Dutch customers’ eggs to meet American demands.
Do you think the Netherlands should supply egg products to the US? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Here’s an open secret: taking designer drugs at parties or festivals is common practice in the Netherlands. 💊
Ecstasy, MDMA, 2C-B, ketamine, or cocaine — if you visit a Dutch festival, you can probably even get your drugs checked for purity at so-called ‘drug control stalls.’
We know that the Dutch have a laissez-faire attitude toward cannabis, but why does this liberalism extend to much harder synthetic drugs?
What is it?
Grinding jaws, endless energy, and widened pupils — if you know what to look for, you’ll find the signs of drug use at any ordinary party or festival in the Netherlands.
Drugs use in the Netherlands
Especially among young adults, party drugs are ever-popular.
Ecstasy pills are famous for their different colours and patterns. Image: Depositphotos
The percentage of people who have tried ecstasy at some point in their lives is far higher than in any other European country, says the National Drug Monitor.
The same trend goes for other drugs. In 2020 alone, more than a quarter (26.2%) of party-goers aged 16 to 35 opted for a line of cocaine before hitting the dancefloor.
Persecution of hard drugs in the Netherlands
While drug use of this scale might also occur in other countries, the Netherlands undoubtedly has a liberal approach to dealing with it.
In the Netherlands, criminal law makes a distinction between soft drugs (alcohol, cannabis and psychedelic mushrooms) and hard drugs (LSD, cocaine, amphetamines etc.).
For both categories, the Dutch apply their (in)famous toleration policy. 😉
Basically, drug use in itself is not a crime, but you’re technically not allowed to produce, carry or own any hard drugs.
Generally, this means that you won’t be prosecuted for carrying a pill or two of ecstasy. However, the drugs will most likely be confiscated, and you risk a fine.
Why do they do it?
If the banning of illegal and hard drugs is more forcefully pursued by other European countries, why isn’t it the same in the Netherlands?
Well, there isn’t a definite answer, but here’s a not-so-glorious fact about the lowlands: the Netherlands, alongside Belgium, is one of Europe’s biggest producers of amphetamines.
In 2022, the police announced that they ‘only’ uprooted 93 production sites, much less compared to the previous years.
In 2019, Politico even said that the Dutch province North Brabant claimed the title of Europe’s biggest producer of synthetic drugs alone.
Then there is also the Port of Rotterdam, Europe’s biggest harbour, which represents a huge entryway for cocaine imports from South America into the Netherlands.
The World Happiness Report for the past year has landed, and we couldn’t be HAPPIER about the results. The Netherlands climbs one spot higher, from 6th to 5th place.
With stroopwafels and frietjes at the tip of your fingers, how could anyone be unhappy?
Saying that, 2024 was also the year of a new right-wing Dutch government, countless train cancellations and breakdown-inducing house prices…
Which countries are the happiest?
Finland keeps its crown as the happiest country for an incredible eighth year in a row. 👑
As expected, the top five happiest countries are dominated by Scandinavian nations, just like in previous years.
The top ten happiest countries are:
Ranking
Country
1
Finland 🇫🇮
2
Denmark 🇩🇰
3
Iceland 🇮🇸
4
Sweden 🇸🇪
5
The Netherlands 🇳🇱
6
Costa Rica 🇨🇷
7
Norway 🇳🇴
8
Israel 🇮🇱
9
Luxembourg 🇱🇺
10
Mexico 🇲🇽
Conversely, countries like Afghanistan, Sierra Leone and Lebanon are ranked at the bottom, reflecting challenges in happiness.
What makes people happy?
Measuring happiness might seem tricky, but researchers have identified key factors like social support, income, life expectancy, freedom and corruption levels.
Jeffrey Sachs, one of the report’s editors, explains that “happiness is rooted in trust, kindness and social connectedness.”
Another editor, Lara Aknin, adds that “human happiness is driven by our relationships with others” and “investing in positive social connections and engaging in benevolent actions are both associated with happiness.”
Who’s counting?
The rankings are based on a thousand inhabitants per country.
While that’s a pretty good number, biological psychologist and happiness professor, Mieke Bartels tells NU.nl that “it is ‘only’ a thousand people. So it is an average,” also pointing out that the differences between countries in the top ten are not very big.
Still, the Netherlands remains among the happiest places on earth — just walk outside. People singing on their bikes and sipping koffie by the canals. What more could you ask for?
Which country did you feel the happiest in? Do you think this ranking is accurate to your experiences? Let us know in the comments below.
Need some Dutch swear words? Welcome to your Dutch swear words guide, where I’ll teach you all the Dutch insults you’ll need for life in the Netherlands.
You see, Dutch curse words are very different to English curse words, often verging on the… incredibly distasteful.
Whether you want to yell at a misbehaving Brit in Amsterdam, or you want to deepen your Dutch-learning experience, here, I’ll show some of the best Dutch swear words.
Stubbed your toe and need to swear fast? Jump to a category below!
(Naturally, as a perfect, idyllic human being, I do not condone the use of any of the following Dutch curse words, profanity or phrases and would NEVER use them myself). 😇
Having said that, let’s begin! And just like eating only one stroopwafel from the package (instead of all of them at the same time like a giant sandwich), it would be a crime not to start with the infamous Dutch “disease-based curses.”
🦠 Dutch curse words based on diseases
Have you ever been so angry at someone that you verbally express your desire for them to get cholera? No? How about typhoid fever? Still no?
That’s weird… At least for some Dutchies, because Dutch swearing quite frequently involves diseases.
That’s right. It is a well-known fact that wishing an illness upon your enemies is a common way to curse in Dutch.
It’s needless to say that the following Dutch swear words and phrases are frowned upon by Dutch society. The only other situation where you should use one of these is, well, never.
Alas, I’m trying to expand your knowledge of all things Dutch, so here’s a list of Dutch curse words and phrases that involve crippling, life-threatening diseases:
🇳🇱
🇬🇧
Krijg de tyfus!
Get tuberculosis!
Krijg de klere!
Get cholera!
Krijg de pest!
Get the plague!
Kankerlijer!
Cancer sufferer!
Tering!
Tuberculosis!
Pleur op!*
F*** off!*
*It’s believed “pleur” comes from “pleuritis” which can be caused by pneumonia.
You’ll also often hear Dutch people use the word kanker (cancer) as an adjective, in front of something that they find, well, shitty. For example, kankerweer is cancer (shitty) weather.
When to use these: You stub your little toe on the corner of a desk at 7 AM, and you are alone on an uninhabited island.
But seriously, we can’t stress this enough: using cancer/kanker in your Dutch swearing is more than frowned upon — it’s a big no-no. 🙅♀️
Thankfully, there are other ways to swear in Dutch that don’t involve diseases. ‘Friendlier’ Dutch swear words exist and can be used to express anger without making life-long enemies.
Of course, things like the weather or other inconveniences of life might incite you to curse under your breath.
Without the need for slurring out diseases, there are words/phrases you can say to express your discontent.
🇳🇱
🇬🇧
Godverdomme
God damn it
Rot op!
Go away!
Potverdorie!
Goshdarnit (it’s what Ned Flanders would use if he were Dutch)
Pannenkoek
Pancake (yes, that’s all)
Stommert
Dumb
Sukkel
Wimp, dork
S**t
(The Dutch like swearing in English)
Opzouten
Go away! (Mainly used around Amsterdam)
Franse slag
French job (when a task is lazily done)
Kut!
Vagina!*
*While this sounds like the English C-Word, this is used very liberally in Dutch and doesn’t have the same severe connotations.
When to use these: Someone eats the last bitterbal at the borrel or double-dips said bitterbal in the mustard cup.
🤦♂️ Insults for men in the Netherlands
You just don’t insult a Dutch person without using the appropriate form of gender, that would be rude. So let’s get you up to speed with some of the most heard curses to sling at Dutch men:
🇳🇱
🇬🇧
Zakkenwasser
Ballsack-washer (Douchebag)
Klootzak
Ballsack (Asshole)
Kloothommel
Scrotum-bumblebee
Mierenneuker
Ant-f**ker
🤦♀️ Insults for women in the Netherlands
🇳🇱
🇬🇧
Kutwijf
Vagina-lady
Heks
Witch
Trut
B*tch
Slet
Sl*t
Lellebel
Sl*t (but cuter)
Hoer
Wh*re (but can be modified, like “Moffenhoer” (German-loving whore)
When to use these: When someone steals the last seat on a train from a pregnant lady or when your Dutch partner cheats on you.
💀 Racist swear words in the Netherlands
Jeeh, this is not a happy-go-lucky article. Despite the progressive outward image of the Netherlands, racism runs deep, and there are plenty of ethnic slurs in the Dutch language to prove it.
However, we don’t think that publicising these is going to benefit the world in any way — if you really want to know Dutch racial slurs (why?), we’ll let you Google that yourself.
👍 Appropriate alternatives to Dutch swear words
Obviously, we all need to vent a bit every now and then, even when you’re among your Dutch inlaws.
Just imagine someone using the knife on the cheese instead of the ‘kaasschaaf‘ without cursing something decent. 😱
So, here are a couple of Dutch swear words that I believe are (almost) totally fine to utter every now and then:
🇳🇱
🇬🇧
Potjandosie
Goshdarnit
Verdorie
Darn it (sort of)
Pindakaas!
Peanut butter! (Oh well)
Helaas pindakaas
Too bad, peanut butter! (Too bad!)
Lomperd
(A rude and insensitive person)
Tandjes
Teethies! (Teachers and parents use this instead of tering (tuberculosis)
Deugniet
(A naughty person)
Besodemieteren
(Scamming something)
Oppleuren
Go away!
🌎 Foreign swear words in the Dutch language
Obviously, the Dutch are great English speakers, so naturally they’ve adopted their fair share of English profanity into the Dutch language: b*tch, f*ck and sh*t have really made it far here.
Luckily some other swears haven’t, and most Dutchies know better than to use the R- and C- words.
Thanks to Narcos, the Dutch also have a soft spot for hijo de puta (son of a b*tch) and the German Scheisse (shit).
Thank god we’ve reached the end; now let’s recover by watching a compilation of cute kittens playing.
What other Dutch swear words do you know? Did we cross the line? Are you my mother, and do you want to berate me for all these Dutch swear words? Share in the comments below!
How do you say swear words in Dutch?
The Dutch love to use the following swear words:
Godverdomme (God damn it)
Kut (Vagina)
Rot op! (Go away!)
Klootzak (Ballsack)
The Dutch also commonly swear with diseases (like tyfus (typhus) or kanker (cancer)), but this is considered extremely rude and generally socially unacceptable.
What is a pannenkoek Dutch insult?
If a Dutch person has used the word pannenkoek to swear at you, well, have a laugh. It literally means “pancake” in Dutch and nothing more.
What is the most offensive word in Dutch?
The most offensive word in Dutch is probably kanker (cancer). This must be combined with other words, like kankerlijer (cancer sufferer). Some people use this word very liberally, but most Dutch people find the swear word incredibly offensive.
Why do the Dutch swear with diseases?
While there is no straight-forward answer to this question. One theory as to why the Dutch swear with diseases is due to their Calvinistic background.
Ah, Amsterdam — the city of canals, bikes, and, apparently, some of the most chemically active sewage in Europe.
The Dutch capital’s wastewater was practically pulsing with MDMA, cannabis, and ketamine, according to new research by the European Drugs Agency (EUDA).
The study analysed sewage from 128 cities across 26 countries last year, and surprise, surprise…
NL drug test results are in (and wild)
Amsterdam gets high and ranks high, taking first place for MDMA, ketamine and cannabis traces in sewage water across Europe, as NU reports.
While Antwerp takes the European crown for cocaine traces (congrats?!), Amsterdam’s levels still top the Netherlands.
Basically, the capital’s sewers are less drainage system, more ongoing afterparty.
Elsewhere in Dutch drains
It’s not just ‘Dam getting wasted; traces were relatively high in other Dutch cities.
Rotterdam, Utrecht, and Groningen also made the MDMA top 10, while Eindhoven was suspiciously absent. 👀
It’s a running joke that Holland is flatter than a stroopwafel, but have you ever wondered what maps of the Netherlands reveal about the landscape? 🤔
From cities more densely packed than passengers in an NS train to wide expanses of open countryside where cows go boe, there’s much to explore.
Here are some fascinating maps of the Netherlands to help you tour this gorgeous country, whether you’re a tourist, adopted Nederlander, or just a curious Dutchie!
1. The Netherlands on a map of Europe
The US doesn’t have a monopoly on red, white, and blue. 😉 Image: Freepik
Sandwiched between Denmark in the north and Belgium in the south lies the tiny country of the Netherlands.
A haven for cheese lovers (and fans of watching people do crazy antics on bikes), this Western European country is best known for its innovative and progressive society.
2. A map of the Dutch provinces
Believe it or not, Holland is only a fraction of the entire Netherlands! Image: Depositphotos
Proving that good things come in teeny-tiny packages, the European part of the Netherlands is divided into 12 provinces:
North Holland: home to sights such as the stunning windmills of the Zaanse Schaans, the cheerful Spaarnestad of Haarlem, and Amsterdam (of course!)
South Holland: a bustling province best known for The Hague’s International Court of Justice, the quaint university town of Leiden, and Europe’s largest seaport in Rotterdam
Utrecht: sharing a name with its capital city, Utrecht, this province is home to dreamy historic sights like Kasteel de Haar, the largest castle in the Netherlands
Zeeland: popularly known as New Zealand’s namesake, it also boasts one of the best storm barriers in the world, the Delta Works 🌊
Gelderland: the Netherlands’ largest province by landmass contains sights ranging from Nijmegen, the Netherlands’ oldest city, to the unspoilt beauty of the Hoge Veluwe
Flevoland: a marvel of Dutch engineering, the Netherlands’ youngest province was reclaimed from the sea and features former islands like the UNESCO World Heritage site Schokland
Groningen: best known for containing the rich gas fields of the north, it is also home to the vibrant student city of Groningen (yes, the city and province share a name!)
Drenthe: famous for its hunebedden (ancient burial mounds), this quiet province has a wealth of stunning sights, including the Dwingelderveld National Park
Limburg: its capital, Maastricht, is a bustling student hub, but the Netherlands’ only ‘mountain’, the Vaalserberg, really puts it on the map 🗻
Overijssel: tourists may flock to this province for Giethoorn, the Venice of the North, but the lively cities of Zwolle and Enschede also beckon for a visit
Friesland: birthplace of the Elfstedentocht, it also boasts its own official language (Fries) and the gorgeous Wadden Islands
North Brabant: the birthplace of Van Gogh, it’s home to places ranging from innovation hub Eindhoven to student city Tilburg
Many Dutchies tend to live in the Randstad, an area in the centre of the country that is made up of cities in the provinces of North Holland, South Holland, Flevoland, and Utrecht.
3. Is Holland crowded? A population density map of the Netherlands
Most of the population tends to live in the Randstad. Image: nerdy.maps/Wikimedia Commons/CC4.0
With an estimated population of over 18 million people jam-packed als haringen in een ton (like fish in a barrel) in its 41,450 square kilometres of area, we’d say that the Netherlands is quite a densely-populated country.
In fact, CBS (the Dutch Bureau of Statistics) predicted that this humble land of cheese and clogs would hit the 19 million population mark as early as 2037. That’s a lot of people in a small area!
However, the majority of the population is concentrated in the Randstad, resulting in bustling cities but a quiet countryside.
4. Map of the Netherlands below sea level
I guess you could say the Dutch give a dam about rising sea levels. Image: Jan Arkesteijn/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain
Let’s just say that there’s a reason why the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg have historically been nicknamed the ‘Low Countries.’
About 26% of the Netherlands lies below sea level, and the lowest point in the country is the Zuidplaspolder at around 6.76 metres below sea level in Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel.
That means that, without the Netherlands’ extensive system of dikes and dams, if you were to stand in front of Amsterdam Central Station, the sea would be well over your head — help!
5. The Dutch mountains: a topographic map of the Netherlands
Despite being mostly flat, the Netherlands does slope upwards on the south-eastern part of the country. Image: Freepik
Although most of the country is as flat as a pannenkoek (pancake), the Netherlands does have one major point of elevation: the Vaalserberg.
This “Dutch mountain” is just a smidge over 322 metres tall, making it taller than three Statues of Liberty (who stands at a more modest 90 metres herself). 🗽
However, if we take the entire Kingdom of the Netherlands into the equation, the highest point is actually on the Caribbean island of Saba, where the summit of Mount Scenery, an extinct volcano, is a steep 887 metres tall.
Though reclaiming a whole province (hoi, Flevoland 👋) from the sea was bloody impressive, it barely scratches the surface of what makes Dutchies true masters of the elements.
The Dutch are considered masters of water management — after all, God might have created the world, but the Dutch created the Netherlands. 😉
7. Bike paths in the Netherlands
As there are more bikes than people in the Netherlands, we’re not surprised by how dense this map of bike paths is! Image: Landgeist
With approximately 23 million owned (and frequently stolen) bikes by 17.6 million Dutchies, we can definitely see why the Netherlands has mapped such a robust system of bike paths.
The map of bike networks in the Netherlands shows the Dutch commitment to biking — not just from the people but also in terms of government infrastructure.
8. Mapped: the difference between Holland and the Netherlands
Despite often being used synonymously (and cheers of Hup Holland Hup whenever the country competes in a match ⚽️), Holland and the Netherlands don’t refer to the same area.
“Holland” comprises the provinces of North and South Holland, whilst “the Netherlands” refers to the country as a whole.
9. Map of the Caribbean Netherlands and Dutch constituent countries
Part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is in the Caribbean. Image: Depositphotos
If you thought the Netherlands was just a tiny European country with weed and windmills, think again. 😉
Squinting at a world map will reveal three tiny islands in the Caribbean that also belong to the Kingdom of the Netherlands: Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba.
These are considered special municipalities of the Netherlands located overseas and can take part in Dutch and European elections.
In addition to the previous tiny islands in the Caribbean, you’ll find a further three islands on a map of the Dutch Caribbean.
These are the Netherlands’ constituent countries: Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten.
Unlike municipalities, these countries are relatively autonomous (they even have their own parliaments), though they depend on the Netherlands for things like defence.
Well, there you have it: a fascinating exploration of the Netherlands’ landscape through a collection of maps.
Which was your favourite map of the Netherlands? Tell us all about it in the comments below!
Maps in the Netherlands: Frequently asked questions
Is the Netherlands crowded?
While the whole country of the Netherlands has only the 27th highest population density in the world, the capital city of Amsterdam houses 4,439 people per square kilometre. In comparison, Hong Kong has 6,789 people per square kilometre. Many internationals find that the Dutch cities are more crowded than what they’re used to.
Is a part of the Netherlands really below sea level?
Approximately 26% of the Netherlands lies below sea level, meaning that quite a bit of the country would be underwater if it weren’t for the Dutchies’ extensive system of dikes.
What is the lowest point in the Netherlands?
The Netherlands’ lowest point is the Zuidplaspolder near Rotterdam, which sits at over 6.76 metres below sea level.
Does the Netherlands have mountains?
Surprisingly, it does… kind of. The European part of the Netherlands is home to the Vaalserberg, which is a little over 322 metres tall.
Whilst not the most physically impressive sight on the horizon, it’s still over three times as tall as the Statue of Liberty.
Meanwhile, the Caribbean Netherlands boasts Mount Scenery — an 887-metre-tall extinct volcano.
Does the Netherlands have more bikes than people?
The Netherlands has a whopping 23 million bikes for 17.8 million people. Now that’s a lot of fietsen (bikes)! 🙌
How many provinces does the Netherlands have?
The Netherlands has a total of twelve provinces:
Groningen, Friesland, and Drenthe in the north
Utrecht, North and South Holland, and Flevoland in the Randstad
Gelderland and Overijssel in the east
Zeeland, North Brabant, and Limburg in the south
Which Dutch provinces border Germany?
All of the provinces on the eastern side of the Netherlands border Germany; these are Groningen, Drenthe, Overijssel, Gelderland, and Limburg.
Donald Trump’s educational policies are pushing hundreds of US-based academics to Europe in search of better opportunities.
Will Dutch universities welcome them with open arms? Naturally, but not without some concern.
US brain drain, Europe’s gain
Amidst mass layoffs in US universities and research institutes, American academics find themselves in a very uncertain position.
Conducting research in the US has become increasingly difficult since the government began denying studies that deal with alleged left-wing ideology, fd.nl reports.
This is the case for scientists proposing research about gender, who are sent a questionnaire about their ideas — the new US government does love free speech.
Budget concerns
It’s not just about trying to attract this wave of US talent to the Netherlands, but also retrieving Dutch academics who currently work across the pond.
However, there are concerns across Europe about financially accommodating the brain drain.
Plus, we all know that an international talent influx won’t exactly appeal to the current Dutch government as they attempt to curb internationalisation in higher education.
Amerikaanse topwetenschappers willen steeds vaker weg. Vanwege censuur, verbod op hun onderzoek of gewoon door megabezuinigingen.
Die kunnen wij hierheen halen! Andere landen zetten er vol op in. Waarom doet het kabinet niets? pic.twitter.com/pP51lNuBiy
Translation: Top American scientists increasingly want to leave. Because of censorship, bans on their research or simply because of mega-budget cuts. We can bring them here! Other countries are fully committed to it. Why is the government doing nothing?
But we’ll make do
The Dutch umbrella organisation for Universities (UNL) hopes for support from the Hague, both when it comes to finances and making it easier for Americans to obtain a visa.
Meanwhile, the Safe Haven Fellowship, which was originally set up for Ukrainian scientists fleeing the war, is now open to Americans as well.
What do you think of the new influx of US scientists into Europe? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
