Unlike Atlantis, Holland emerges dripping from the sea. Once a crazy pattern of islands, this country has been stitched together through Dutch ingenuity. Engineering feats amazingly bring almost half the land and two-thirds of the population to become sub-sea-level inhabitants. We are among the 2/3's of the population that lives below sealevel. The sea occasionally tries to reclaim it's land. In 1953, a large storm surge that hit at unusually high tide pulled some of this land back into the sea- as well as 1500 inhabitants. A large storm surge system has been installed to keep the sea at bay (yes, that is a pun.) Holland is a land of explorers (Tasmania, named after the Dutchman Tasmin; New Zealand, named after Zeeland, NL). Trading is their game and they are not afraid of change. They "purchased" what is now Manhattan from the Native Ameicans for a mere $24.00... The Dutch were the first to recognize the nationhood of the United States in 1782, and the first to float loans to the U.S. They were strictly neutral in WWI and WWII. There is a strong friendship with the U.S. for help with Nazi liberation (still "bitter" about having their bicycles melted down for German ammunition, the the signs at German vs Dutch football matches read, "Where is my bike!!!") Home of VanGogh, Rembrant, Cory Ten Boom, Vermeer, and now the Reid's. Please join us on our adventures as ExPats!

Updated 05.06.2002 Pamela S. Reid