16 million people live in the Netherlands. The Netherlands is a tiny country about the size of Maryland (which only has 6 million people living in it).
Since there are so many people in such a small area, the Dutch mostly live in tiny apartments in cities. They share front doors and back patios. They share walls and can often hear their neighbors. Living so close can cause frustration and problems, but the Dutch have figured out ways to live with their communities.
For example, when the mailman delivers a package for someone who is not at home to answer the doorbell, the mailman will often just give the package to the neighbors.
After seeing how closely the Dutch lived to their neighbors, I wondered how society could run when the people had such little space. I started looking for ways the Dutch created communities and handled problems that arise from city living.
Cities that have a lot of people crammed into small living spaces can be competitive when it comes to resources and ensuring everyone has enough to live comfortably. I wondered how Dutch communities were so safe and friendly.
To live close to your neighbors, you have to be friendly with them. One example I found of this need for friendliness was in mail delivery.
