There’s a famous saying here: “God created the world but the Dutch created the Netherlands.” In fact, almost one third of Dutch territory is below sea level. Many methods of water control like windmills and pumping stations were used to dry up the sea and create land. The Dutch even created a new province called Flevoland in the middle of the country that used to be entirely water.
While it might seem crazy to work so hard to build a city out of the ocean and swamp land, this location actually ended up giving the Dutch some of their biggest advantages. Amsterdam is located right on the water in a very good spot for ships to set sail around the world. The region was also a very tolerant place that had much more freedom and safety than the rest of Europe in the 1500s. This caused many people to immigrate from other countries and establish a home in Amsterdam, bringing their international connections with them. In the year 1600, one in three Amsterdammers was an immigrant! This combination of an international population and strategic location led to Amsterdam becoming the center of European trade. Dutch ships started trading things like tulips, spices, herring fish and cheese all over the world. All of this trade allowed Amsterdam to grow and grow, and this eventually led to the Dutch “Golden Age” during the 1600s. The freedom and money of its citizens encouraged growth in science and the arts, leading to many famous Dutch painters like Rembrandt and Vermeer. Have you ever seen Vermeer’s famous painting called Girl with a Pearl Earring? It probably never would have existed if it weren’t for the Netherlands’ watery location!
