This is NL

A great part of Dutch heritage is intertwined with the land and particularly with the nation’s ‘battle with the water’. This small country, largely below sea level, has always been fighting to keep habitable land and even to gain more of it. This is the source of a centuries-old tradition of innovation, from dykes through windmills to steam-powered pumping stations. Read our story about water in the Netherlands.

There are more ‘typically Dutch’ things that have evolved as a direct or indirect consequence of the way this country is shaped. Its famous cheese wouldn’t taste the same if the cows weren’t grazing on grass grown in the clay soil of the polders. The tulips, just as famous, can only be grown on the scale they are because of the Dutch climate and the sandy soils of the flower bulb region and other parts of the country, such as Zeeland. Read more about the blooming Netherlands.

Back to the heritage theme. Just as closely connected to the country’s image as the polders, the tulips and the bikes are Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Gogh. The Dutch masters and their successors are part of Dutch identity. This small country has brought forth a surprising number of world-famous artists. Read more in our article about Dutch heritage.

Lovely, all this cultural history, isn’t it? But is the Netherlands still relevant now? Glad you’re asking. This is a country defined by its spirit of innovation, a country where engineers and designers are never afraid to break new ground and turn the boldest ideas into reality. Explore this topic in our ‘New Dutch’ feature.