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18 Surprising Facts About The Netherlands

August 23, 2017 - Articles

1. Dutch men are the second tallest in the world.

@manuelbroekman / Via instagram.com

*googles "flights from NYC to Amsterdam"*

2. The Dutch are the largest consumers of licorice in the world.

It's locally known as "drop," and the population consumes more than 32 million kilos of the chewy stuff per year.

3. Home births are popular in the Netherlands, and account for 20% of all births.

These statistics aren't up-to-date, but for reference, just 0.92% of US births occurred at home in 2013.

4. The Netherlands was the first country to legalize same-sex marriage.

Which they probably recognized as less "bizarre" and more common sense. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

5. Most of Amsterdam is built on wooden poles 12 meters deep.

Because the city was founded on swampy land, most of its buildings rest on wooden piles entrenched in the first layer of sandy river floor. Altogether, there are nearly a million piles supporting Amsterdam, many of which have been replaced with concrete and steel piles over the years for better stability.

6. French fries are served with mayonnaise.

There's also the option of peanut sauce, ketchup and onions, and cheese.

7. The Dutch have the lowest incidence of lactose intolerance.

*bitterly clutches lactose pills*

8. Netherlands ranks as the top country for plentiful, nutritious, and affordable food, according to a 2014 Oxfam report.

9. There are more bicycles than people here.

In 2013, the Netherlands, together with Denmark, was deemed the most bike-friendly country in the European Union.

10. Lisse is home to Keukenhof — also known as the "Garden of Europe" — the largest flower garden in the world.

It maintains up to 800 varieties of tulips.

11. Amsterdam has 1,281 bridges.

They connect the city's 165 canals.

12. De Drie Gezusters ("The Three Sisters") is the biggest pub in all of Europe.

Hopefully it's also home to the most bathrooms of any bar in Europe.

13. An emergency alarm goes off around the whole country on the first Monday of every month.

This monthly warning siren is actually a test alarm, and is run at noon sharp and lasts for 1 minute, 26 seconds without interruption.

14. The Schiphol Airport — the main international airport of the Netherlands — is actually located more than four meters below sea level.

The airport was constructed at the bottom of the Haarlemmer Lake, which was drained in 1852.

15. The Dutch greet each other with three kisses on the cheek.

The practice might seem novel to Americans, but the three-kiss rule is commonplace all throughout the Netherlands, Belgium, and Switzerland.

16. The Dutch usher in the start of spring with Rokjesdag, or skirt day, the day women start showing off bare legs and wearing short skirts again.

Men can participate too by wearing shorts (or skirts!).

17. Christmas is celebrated on December 5 in the Netherlands, and is known as the day when Sinterklaas — the "OG Santa Claus," and the figure upon whom the American Santa Claus is based — brings kids their presents.

Santa Claus is known as “Kerstman” by Dutch children, and is still expected to drop off a few presents every December 24.

18. Every summer, thousands of Dutch children and their parents participate in a four-day evening march called the Avondvierdaagse while slurping on half-cut lemons.

The lemons are topped with peppermints and meant to give the walkers energy.

18 Surprising Facts About The Netherlands

18 Surprising Facts About The Netherlands

Reviewed by MediaBreakOutNg on August 23, 2017 Rating: 5

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