17 Interesting Facts About The Netherlands

Netherlands is a tiny country sandwiched between Belgium and Germany in the West of Europe. Known as the healthiest country, Netherlands is the one to discover great inventions such as the microscope, telescope, and the pendulum clock and the mercury thermometer. The country is a perfect intertwine of tradition and innovation with its visionary architecture and iconic landscapes. You will get to meet the people with tallest genes in the streets of Netherland. The country is an ideal place to discover wooden shoes, art masterpieces, innovative water-management and millions of bicycles. The country holds a number of amazing and intriguing facts to unravel. Here are a few interesting facts about the tiny country, Netherlands.

Netherlands
Netherlands

image: s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com

1. The Healthiest Country

The Netherlands comes at the top in the world for having the most, nutritious, healthy and affordable food among 125 countries in an Oxfam report. The country is hence, known as the “healthiest country.”
source: expatica.com

2. Meet The People With Tallest DNAs

Experts study why Dutch people are so tall
Experts study why Dutch people are so tall

In Netherlands, the average height for men is 184 cm and for women, it is 170 cm. The Dutch people are the tallest in the world. Scientists have reported that it’s because of their DNA, nutrition, and welfare. While some also say that it’s because of their plentiful consumption of dairy products.
source: awesomeamsterdam.com, image: ichef-1.bbci.co.uk

3. Largest Producer Of Beer!

Heineken Beer, made in Holland, Netherlands
Heineken Beer, made in Holland, Netherlands

According to The Brewers of Europe, the Netherlands exports the largest proportion of beer production of any country in the world, i.e., 50%.
source: weekendnotes.com, image: 2.bp.blogspot.com

4. Don’t Confuse It With Holland

Holland Map in Saffron Color in yellow Netherlands
Holland Map in Saffron Color in yellow Netherlands

Netherlands and Holland are not the same. Holland is the western coastal region of the Netherlands. People often confuse Netherlands with Holland. (Comprising of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Haarlem, Leiden and Hague).
source: weekendnotes.com, image: personalexcellence.co

5. Favors LGBT Rights!

Same Sex Marriage is legal in Netherlands
Same Sex Marriage is legal in Netherlands

The Netherlands was the first country to legalize same-sex marriage. It did it in the year 2001.
source: wonderfulwanderings.com, image: thelocal.fr

6. The Top Inventions!

Telescope
Telescope
Mercury Thermometer
Mercury Thermometer

The country is said to have invented the microscope, the telescope, pendulum clock and the mercury thermometer all in the 16th or 17th century.
source: eupedia.com, image: ecx.images-amazon.com, image: jpost.com

7. Wooden Shoes!

People wearing Wooden Shoes
People wearing Wooden Shoes

One interesting fact about the country is that the Dutch have been wearing wooden shoes (clogs) or “Klompen” since ancient times. These clogs later became symbols of the Dutch culture. Today, everyone wears normal shoes, but the Dutch clogs are still a cherished tourist reminder for all visitors.
source: personalexcellence.co, image: aos.iacpublishinglabs.com

8. Wilhelmus: The Oldest National Anthem

It is the oldest national anthem in the world. Both the words and music are the 16th century old. In the national anthem, the Dutch king speaks of his German blood and depicts his loyalty to the Spanish crown.
source: quora.com

9. Don’t Forget Carry Bags!

The local citizens of Netherlands take their own bags to the supermarket before buying their groceries. In case you head to the Netherlands, make sure you go there don’t forget to take your carry bag with you.
source: iamexpat.nl

10. No Cars! Only Cycles

People love bicycle riding in Netherlands
People love bicycle riding in Netherlands

At the beginning of the 1980s, 4,000 citizens of the town made the decision to encourage everybody in the town began to do cycling more rather than using cars. The Dutch town of Houten is also known to be the safest place in the world.
source: brightside.me, image: skrolla.se

11. Smoke A Joint But Beware The Tobacco!

Tobacco is strictly prohibited in Netherlands
Tobacco is strictly prohibited in Netherlands

Amazingly, smoking weed is still allowed in coffee shops, but Smoking tobacco is strictly banned. You can smoke a joint but if they catch you with tobacco, watch out!
source: storyv.com, image: utsa.edu

12. A Spirit To Be Sportsperson

Dutch Soccer Team
Dutch Soccer Team
Dutch Speed Skaters
Dutch Speed Skaters

The Netherlands takes active participation in various sports such as football, hockey, tennis, cycling, golf, volleyball, korfball, handball, swimming and ice-skating. Mainly, the country is recognized due to Dutch football and speed skating worldwide.
source: holland.com, image: wpmedia.o.canada.com, image: independent.ie

13. Too Low From The Sea Level

It’s so low that only 50% or so of its land is more than 1m above sea level. Incredible! Amstersterdam, the capital of The Netherlands is also 2 meters below the sea level. Zuidplaspolder located northeast of Rotterdam reaches a depth of 7.0 meters (23.0 ft) under the mean sea level. This makes it, along with Lammefjord in Denmark, the lowest point of the European Union and western Europe.
source: cherry-call.co.uk

14. Pets Have Special Rights!

No dog is abondoned in Netherlands
No dog is abondoned in Netherlands

The country has stringent laws against animal abuse. A recent official confirmation has declared that there are no abandoned dogs or cats in the country.
source: ba-bamail.com, image: bedandbiscuitaustin.com

15. Have You Ever Seen Rats In Police Force?

Rats Join Dutch Police Force to Sniff Out Crime
Rats Join Dutch Police Force to Sniff Out Crime

The police forces in Rotterdam region the country have been using rats since 2013. They use them for their great sense of smell, drug finding, gunpowder or explosives. Amazingly, the rats are found much faster at finding results than employees in a lab.
source: dutchreview.com, image: i.ytimg.com

16. Highest English Proficiency

English Language Proficiency
English Language Proficiency

Dutch are well versed in speaking English. A survey conducted in 2016 gives 72.16 scores to Netherlands. Denmark and Sweden are second and third respectively. Some nine in ten Dutch people speak English as a second language.
source: Wikipedia, image: s3.amazonaws.com

17. No Diesel And No Petrol

The Dutch government has planned to ban the sales of petrol and diesel-powered cars in 2025 to promote green energy; the motion has been passed by the lower house of Dutch parliament but still needs to be ratified by the Senate. The government’s goal is to have only electric cars driving on Dutch streets in future.
source: expatica.com