A lot of this is possible due to the Netherland’s mild climate, flat and fertile soil and favorable geographical location in Europe. The Dutch people also harness the power of the wind and sun with wind turbines and solar panels to create energy!
Due to the Netherlands unique position below sea level, much of the land is vulnerable to flooding. Dutch engineers and scientists have to come up with new effective ways to protect the land. This is called water management. Water management is especially important because the sea level is rising on our warming planet! Right now, the country relies heavily on dikes, dams and floodgates. A dike is basically a man-made wall of soil.
The Dutch aren’t giving in to the water without a fight. In fact, they frequently reclaim land from the sea. This means that they restore land that was once under water into dry, habitable land. Almere, which is the part of the Netherlands where I work, is brand new! The land was reclaimed in the early 20th century, and my secondary school is only forty years old. The Dutch also cooperate with the water. For example, many people live on houseboats in canals. Additionally, the Netherlands uses the water to trade. The city of Rotterdam has the largest trading port in Europe.
