the dutch - presentation to tsawwassen rotary

THE DUTCH…Why the Dutch always pop up like mushrooms in manure!

Rotary Club of Tsawwassen

February 18, 2016

A Watery but Fertile Land • Most of Holland is river delta;

Rhine (Waal, Lek, Ijssel), Maas and Schelde.

• Its history, politics and development closely tied to the sea.

• Netherlands = “Low Lands”, often referred to as “Holland”

• Total – 41,500 sq.km• Population: 17 m. (4th most dense)• World’s 2nd largest food exporter• World’s 2nd largest harbor

Holland Without Dikes• Dike building since Middle Ages;• Protect against the sea• Empty a lake ~ polder• Control river flow

• 75% of population below sea level

• 85% of industry below sea level.

• Schiphol Airport; • 9 ft below sea level• Bottom of former lake;

polder• “Schiphol” = ships’

graveyard• Lowest point in Holland;

24 ft <sea level

Land Reclamation thr. Wind Power

Post Windmill, 1632 Smock Windmill, 1560

Modern Sea Protection

• “Delta Works” 1950 after major floods in Zeeland

• Massive scale: protection against current and future sea storms and sea rises.

• Dike system throughout Holland; Well prepared for Sea Rise of future.

Modern Sea Protection

Holland’s Golden Age (17th C.)

• 1590’s; end of Holy Roman Empire

• Freedom to trade

• Ongoing battles with English, Spain

• Overseas possessions; Cape, Ceylon, Goa, New Amsterdam, Dutch Guinea, and….the Dutch Indies(!)

Overseas Settlements South Africa

• En route to the East Indies, Dutch settlement at the Cape 1652.

• North migration; Boers vs. Xhosa

• Many “Dutch” settlers: French Huguenots

Holland’s Golden Age (17th C.)

• Immense wealth –Dutch East India Co (VOC) – shared investments:– 1st Stock Exchange– Bank of

Amsterdam – 1st true Central Bank

• Book and Money printing – rich tradition to today.

Holland’s Golden Age (17th C.)

• Inquisition & political strife in Europe caused migration of wealth and intellect to tolerant Holland; flourishing of arts & sciences;– French Calvinists (Huguenots)– Sephardic Jews from Portugal– Descartes, Hobbes (philosophy)– Huygens (astronomy)– van Leeuwenhoeck (microscope)– Erasmus, Spinoza (political

science)– Rembrandt, Hals, Vermeer, etc.

Modern Art ~ Vincent van Gogh

• Impact of Holland’s Golden Age still felt today.

• Among the highest densities of art museums in the world.

• Ongoing public support for art restoration and modern art.

Benefits of Maritime Trade(Past & Present)

• Import & exports of spices, teas and coffees.

• Tobacco (all imported):– Holland one of largest

tobacco exporters• Agricultural crops:

– Friesian Holstein– Tulips (~Anatolia)– Dairy (Cheeses)

• Import & export of resources and industrial goods:– To/from Germany,

France

Agri Products and Flowers

Greenhouse Technology Flower & Bulb Exports

Small, but involved..

• Constitutional monarchy• 3rd oldest parliament• Founding member of EU• Signatory to and member of:

– Eurozone, G-10 (=>G20)– NATO, OECD, WTO

Small, but Involved…

The Hague, also called “World’s Legal Capital” hosts:• Permanent Court of

Arbitration• International Court of

Justice• International Criminal

Court• International Criminal

Tribunal of Former Yugoslavia

• Special Tribunal for Lebanon

Canada ~ Holland Relations

• Canadian Troops, principal liberators of Holland, 1945 (Operation Market Garden, Battle of the Schelde, etc.)

• Ongoing annual festivities and remembrance ceremonies at monuments and war cemeteries.

• Large emigration of Dutch to Canada.

What Else…..?

• World’s tallest population (average):– Male 1.81 m (6.0

ft)– Female 1.67 m (5.8

ft)– Diet related?– Good protection

against floods• Tallest woman in the

world;– 320 lbs., 7.4 feet.

What Else…..?Bikes and Canals

What Else…..?Tolerance........for a price

THE END…

1985 Rotary Launches Polio Plus

1985 Rotary Launches Polio Plus

1986 350,000 Polio Cases 125 Countries

1985 Rotary Launches Polio Plus

1986 350,000 Polio Cases 125 Countries

2015 74 Cases 99.9% Eradicated

30 Years into the Polio Plus Program, we are nearly there. Your donation no matter what

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