More than 16 million people live in the Netherlands.
Which means that 465 people live on each square kilometre, making it one of the world’s most densely populated countries!

Tolerant

So many people on such a small piece of land requires flexibility, tolerance and a willingness to accommodate others. The so-called polder model is probably the best illustration of this! The polder model stands for consultation and compromise; everyone moderates their demands just a little to create a solution which everyone can accept.

Cosy

Ask a Dutch person to describe his nation, and one of the first things he will say is ‘gezellig’. The Dutch enjoy a ‘gezellig’ cup of coffee together, or go for a ‘gezellig’ day out. The word ‘gezellig’ has warm overtones and expresses how much you enjoy each other’s company or doing something together. The translation that gets closest to the force of this word is ‘cosy’.

Water

Large parts of the Netherlands lie below sea level, and the entire country is criss-crossed by rivers, canals and streams. This low-lying position means the Dutch are always trying to protect themselves against flooding. One impressive example is the Zeeland Delta Works.
Have you heard the famous story of Hansje Brinker?
He protected the Netherlands from a flood by plugging the dike with his finger. A nice story, but sadly untrue. Hansje Brinker never existed, but he has become a symbol of the Dutch fight against the sea.

Cultural melting pot

The Netherlands has become a melting pot of people from different backgrounds and cultures. Amsterdam alone hosts 177 different nationalities; that’s more than in New York!
This makes the Dutch tolerant and open to other cultures. With one pleasant result: restaurants with food from all over the world!