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THE DUTCH…Why the Dutch always pop up like mushrooms in manure!
Rotary Club of Tsawwassen
February 18, 2016
A Watery but Fertile Land • Most of Holland is river delta;
Rhine (Waal, Lek, Ijssel), Maas and Schelde.
• Its history, politics and development closely tied to the sea.
• Netherlands = “Low Lands”, often referred to as “Holland”
• Total – 41,500 sq.km• Population: 17 m. (4th most dense)• World’s 2nd largest food exporter• World’s 2nd largest harbor
Holland Without Dikes• Dike building since Middle Ages;• Protect against the sea• Empty a lake ~ polder• Control river flow
• 75% of population below sea level
• 85% of industry below sea level.
• Schiphol Airport; • 9 ft below sea level• Bottom of former lake;
polder• “Schiphol” = ships’
graveyard• Lowest point in Holland;
24 ft <sea level
Land Reclamation thr. Wind Power
Post Windmill, 1632 Smock Windmill, 1560
Modern Sea Protection
• “Delta Works” 1950 after major floods in Zeeland
• Massive scale: protection against current and future sea storms and sea rises.
• Dike system throughout Holland; Well prepared for Sea Rise of future.
Modern Sea Protection
Holland’s Golden Age (17th C.)
• 1590’s; end of Holy Roman Empire
• Freedom to trade
• Ongoing battles with English, Spain
• Overseas possessions; Cape, Ceylon, Goa, New Amsterdam, Dutch Guinea, and….the Dutch Indies(!)
Overseas Settlements South Africa
• En route to the East Indies, Dutch settlement at the Cape 1652.
• North migration; Boers vs. Xhosa
• Many “Dutch” settlers: French Huguenots
Holland’s Golden Age (17th C.)
• Immense wealth –Dutch East India Co (VOC) – shared investments:– 1st Stock Exchange– Bank of
Amsterdam – 1st true Central Bank
• Book and Money printing – rich tradition to today.
Holland’s Golden Age (17th C.)
• Inquisition & political strife in Europe caused migration of wealth and intellect to tolerant Holland; flourishing of arts & sciences;– French Calvinists (Huguenots)– Sephardic Jews from Portugal– Descartes, Hobbes (philosophy)– Huygens (astronomy)– van Leeuwenhoeck (microscope)– Erasmus, Spinoza (political
science)– Rembrandt, Hals, Vermeer, etc.
Modern Art ~ Vincent van Gogh
• Impact of Holland’s Golden Age still felt today.
• Among the highest densities of art museums in the world.
• Ongoing public support for art restoration and modern art.
Benefits of Maritime Trade(Past & Present)
• Import & exports of spices, teas and coffees.
• Tobacco (all imported):– Holland one of largest
tobacco exporters• Agricultural crops:
– Friesian Holstein– Tulips (~Anatolia)– Dairy (Cheeses)
• Import & export of resources and industrial goods:– To/from Germany,
France
Agri Products and Flowers
Greenhouse Technology Flower & Bulb Exports
Small, but involved..
• Constitutional monarchy• 3rd oldest parliament• Founding member of EU• Signatory to and member of:
– Eurozone, G-10 (=>G20)– NATO, OECD, WTO
Small, but Involved…
The Hague, also called “World’s Legal Capital” hosts:• Permanent Court of
Arbitration• International Court of
Justice• International Criminal
Court• International Criminal
Tribunal of Former Yugoslavia
• Special Tribunal for Lebanon
Canada ~ Holland Relations
• Canadian Troops, principal liberators of Holland, 1945 (Operation Market Garden, Battle of the Schelde, etc.)
• Ongoing annual festivities and remembrance ceremonies at monuments and war cemeteries.
• Large emigration of Dutch to Canada.
What Else…..?
• World’s tallest population (average):– Male 1.81 m (6.0
ft)– Female 1.67 m (5.8
ft)– Diet related?– Good protection
against floods• Tallest woman in the
world;– 320 lbs., 7.4 feet.
What Else…..?Bikes and Canals
What Else…..?Tolerance........for a price
THE END…
1985 Rotary Launches Polio Plus
1985 Rotary Launches Polio Plus
1986 350,000 Polio Cases 125 Countries
1985 Rotary Launches Polio Plus
1986 350,000 Polio Cases 125 Countries
2015 74 Cases 99.9% Eradicated
30 Years into the Polio Plus Program, we are nearly there. Your donation no matter what
the size, will help us achieve our goal of a polio-free world.
The Rotary FoundationAppreciates The Support From
Henk, Andy, Gerry, Johann, JeroenAart and Paul