Travel the World - Week 17

This is the 17th week in my Travel the World personal challenge. Each week I am randomly choosing one country (there are 195 countries in the world) and doing a little research on that country. I then select one tidbit of information about the country as inspiration for the card I make.

This week's country is...

Netherlands

More than a quarter of the Netherlands is below sea level.

The Netherlands is a very flat country. The Vaalserberg is the highest point in (the European part of) the Netherlands. It’s only 322.7 meters high (just over 1000 feet) and located in the south-easternmost edge of the country in the province of Limburg. You could also say the Netherlands is as flat as a pannenkoek (pancake).

More than 60% of the Netherlands is agriculture and horticulture. 

Almost 80 percent of the world’s flower bulbs come from the Netherlands.

The Netherlands is one of the least religious countries in Europe with at least 50% of the population considering themselves non-religious.

Because Amsterdam’s soil consists of a thick layer of fen and clay, all buildings are built on wooden poles that are fixed in a sandy layer that is 11 meters deep on average. The Royal Palace at Dam Square is built on no less than 13,659 wooden poles.

With 487 inhabitants per square kilometer, the Netherlands has the highest population density of any European country with more than 1 million inhabitants.

There are over 1,000 windmills still standing from 1850. They are traditionally used for a variety of purposes, from irrigation to grinding grain, only a few still operate commercially. 

Over half of the working population in the Netherlands work part time.

Rotterdam port, which stretches over 25 miles, is the largest sea port in Europe and the ninth largest in the world.

People greet each other with three kisses on the cheek in the Netherlands.

When the Dutch shake hands and when they answer the phone, they say their last name instead of hello.

The people are not big on gushing compliments. For instance, to praise something they will say it is "not bad."

Wooden shoes originated in the Netherlands and were traditionally worn by those working on the land, in factories, or in mines. The oldest surviving wooden shoes date back to 1230.

About 30% of all births happen at home in the Netherlands.

French fries are served with mayonaise in the Netherlands.

This country loves cheese and is the second largest exporter of cheese in the world.

More licorice is eaten in the Netherlands than anywhere else in the world.

The Netherlands has the highest English-proficiency in the world. Eighty-six percent of the people of the Netherlands speak English as a second language.

The Netherlands is home to more bikes than people.

There are around 18 million bikes in the country, including the clever (if not so elegant) bakfiets which combine a bike and a wheelbarrow. Ideal for taking the kids to school, bakfiets are even occasionally used for moving house. 

CDs, DVDs and Blu-Rays were invented in the Netherlands.

With an average height of 184 cm (just over 6') for men and 170 cm (almost 5' 6") for women, Dutchies are the tallest people in the world. Scientists say it’s because of their DNA, nutrition and welfare, others say it’s because of their copious consumption of dairy.

After Scandinavians, the Dutch are the world’s biggest coffee drinkers. They drink no less than 140 liters of coffee a year on average. That’s 3.2 cups a day!

Electric trains service about 600,000 passengers daily and are powered by renewable wind energy.

There is a fake village in the Netherlands for people who suffer from dementia. In the small town of Weesp, there's a gated village called Hogeweyk that is specifically designed to take care of elderly people with dementia. Only patients categorized as having "severe cases of dementia or Alzheimer's disease" are admitted. The village has almost everything you can wish for in a regular town, but it also has 24/7 nurses, caretakers, and doctors available.

I decided to let this Netherlands fact be the inspiration for this week's card... The Netherlands is famous for its tulips, even though they didn't originate there. The Netherlands is the biggest producer and exporter of tulips in the world.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Sets: Stampin' UP! All That You Are and Technique Tuesday Bootiful Tulips stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections 110# White and SU Chocolate Chip and Soft Sky CS

Embellishments: Recollections Rhinestones and SU Ribbon