My Dutch students don't think that the environment surrounding them is very special. However, from an outsider's perspective, it is! The Dutch people interact with their surroundings in many unique ways.
The Netherlands is very low and flat, except for an occasional hill. If you are in the countryside, in a spot with few trees, you can see for miles! These characteristics come from one very important fact: about half of the country is below sea level. This means that much of the land is at a level below that of neighboring oceans. Thus, the Dutch have a very special relationship with water. This is a very delicate relationship that is both rewarding and challenging.
The Netherlands has become an impressive agricultural giant. This means that this small country produces and exports food on a large scale! The United States is ranked number one in value of food exports, but the Netherlands is a close second. For example, the Netherlands is the second largest exporter of vegetables. That is amazing when you consider the fact that America is about 237 times bigger than the Netherlands! More than half of this nation’s land is used for innovative and sustainable agriculture and livestock (cows, goats, sheep) management.
