16 Strange And Crazy Things That Exist Only In The Netherlands!

16 strange and crazy things that exist only in the Netherlands the Netherlands is a small but vibrant country located in Northwestern Europe known for its iconic windmills some of which are centuries old these windmills are not only a proud symbol of the nation but also play a crucial role in shaping the country's beautiful landscape however few know that behind one of the world's most livable Nations lies a darker side perhaps the most surprising aspect is the world's most bustling red light district a place where thousands of legal transactions involving the human body take place daily so why does a country viewed as a paradise for Millions have such a shocking side we'll explore that in this video about 16 shocking facts about the Netherlands number 16 the strange border with Belgium the border between Bay naso in the Netherlands and bleay hog in Belgium is a fascinating and humorous example of geographical and political complexity unlike a straightforward border scene on a map this is a complicated puzzle of tiny interwoven land patches much like an intricate jigsaw puzzle the Border cuts through streets buildings and even private homes yes you read that right if you live in Bal you might wake up in a living room in the Netherlands and have breakfast in a kitchen in Belgium in Bal hertog a small Belgian Enclave is surrounded by Dutch territory while in Bal nasau tiny patches of Belgian land appear brazenly within Dutch territory imagine a family sitting in their house careful not to cross into the wrong part of the room to avoid violating the laws of another country one of the most striking features of this border is how it runs right through buildings in some cases a house is split in half with one part in the Netherlands and the other in Belgium this means residents might have to follow two sets of laws in the same home for instance if you want to open a window on the Dutch side you can freely do so but on the Belgian side you might need to ask for permission street signs and even sidewalks are marked with white crosses to indicate the Border you can literally walk across the street and with just one step go from the Netherlands to Belgium it's convenient if you want to impress your friends by saying you've traveled to another country in just seconds the quirky origin of this border dates to Medieval treaties and historical land agreements between local nobility the Treaty of mastr in 1843 only added to the complexity by formalizing the arrangement without resolving the intertwined land patches the result is a modern Tangled border that reflects historical negotiations and bizarre territorial claims rather than the simple geographical boundaries we expect from a humorous perspective though this is a unique attraction for tourists offering them the chance to stand in two countries at once you could call it a border hopping travel experience in the blink of an eye number 14 the largest red light district in the world Amsterdam's red light district is divided into three areas dealan single jibid and Ru delade the largest of these is dallan located in the heart of the city's oldest district dallan is a maze of narrow alleys lined with around 300 small windows that Captivate every tourist's attention why this is where women pose seductively under red lights apart from that the red light district is also known for its unique shops museums and neon lit performances the working girls must declare their income and pay taxes in return for which the city ensures health heare and improved working conditions for them this is one of the strange aspects of what's happening in Amsterdam's red light district Amsterdam's red light district is one of the most famous in the world not just for the women behind the glass but for the professional way the city manages the trade legalized in the 1980s and taxed since 2011 the sex industry in Amsterdam operates with the city's full oversight the government ensures the rights of workers through free or lowcost healthcare clinics reducing health risks and providing support to help them work in a safe and legal environment recently the city opened a new red light district called my red light where adult service providers can rent their own workspaces and take full control of their earnings without needing intermediaries this initiative aims to improve workers rights and working conditions giving them a private space to share experiences and support each [Music] other number 13 the government bans the sale of gas gasoline and fuel powered vehicles the Netherlands a Pioneer in the green industry has undertaken a series of bold reforms to combat climate change one of the country's decisive steps is to phase out fuel powerered vehicles and promote eco-friendly Alternatives like solar and electric cars currently the Netherlands is developing 15 solar islands with a total of 73,500 solar panels to be installed demonstrating a strong commitment to renewable energy moreover the Dutch government has made a bold decision starting in 2025 the sale of gasoline and diesel cars will be completely banned instead electric and solar powered vehicles will be tax exempt significantly reducing costs and encouraging people to switch to green cars this smart policy not only aims to protect the environment but also stimulates consumer demand additionally the Netherlands plans to install 1,100 more wind turbines by 2030 to fully harness its abundant wind resources this not only only boosts renewable energy production but also creates long-term economic and social benefits for the nation these efforts show that the Netherlands is firmly on track to become a global leader in sustainable development and climate change mitigation number 12 the Netherlands continually closes prisons due to lack of inmates recently the Dutch Ministry of Justice published a remarkable report the total number of inmates in the country's prisons has decreased by 27% between 2011 and 2015 leaving many prisons with few or no inmates resulting in their closure according to the Washington Post the Netherlands is currently one of the European countries with the lowest inmate population with just 57 prisoners per 100,000 people slightly higher than finland's 54 per 100,000 in contrast England and Wales have the highest ratio with 148 prisoners per 100,000 this sharp decline is attributed to changes in how offenders are treated and the overall living conditions rather than merely incarcerating criminals the Netherlands has adopted alternative measures such as community-based education and electronic ankle monitoring one of the most interesting stories involves the Netherlands experiment with open prisons where inmates are allowed to leave during the day for work or education provided they return to the prison at night this system helps them maintain ties with Society minimizing isolation and increasing the chances of successful reintegration after their release the goal is to help inmates develop job skills gain autonomy and better prepare for Life post incarceration another notable initiative is found at a prison in the city of arnam which has implemented incredibly Innovative Rehabilitation programs inmates are encouraged to participate in art classes music lessons and even Personal Finance Management courses these programs not only improve personal skills but also bring joy and inspiration to their daily lives one inmate shared that thanks to the prison art program he discovered a passion for painting and now hopes to pursue it after his release this has completely changed his outlook on the future offering New Opportunities For Life After prison additionally some prisons have implemented a prisoner supervisor prisoner approach this initiative allows certain inmates to take on responsibilities such as Distributing food cleaning living areas and even assisting each other with studies or physical training inmates selected for this program feel a greater sense of responsibility and motivation to rehabilitate creating a more positive living environment within the prison these measures not only help reduce the burden on the prison system but also more effectively integrate offenders back into society as a result the number of under 17 inmates in juvenile detention centers has dropped by 55% while the number of prisoners aged de to 22 has fallen by 44% in 2013 this decline led to the closure of 19 prisons in the Netherlands due to a lack of inmates by March of this year five more prisons were shut down to make use of the empty prison spaces the Dutch government has come up with Creative Solutions some prisons have been rented to Norway in Belgium to house their inmates While others have been converted into Refugee housing although closing prisons has saved costs and allowed for infrastructure reuse it has also posed challenges for prison staff this year the Dutch prison system has faced a labor Surplus with about 1,900 people losing their jobs furthermore approximately 700 more workers are expected to seek new employment as additional prisons close the Dutch government is currently debating whether this drop in prisoner numbers is due to a genuine reduction in crime rates or simply the result of new policies that lead to fewer arrests regardless of the reason this development demonstrates that the Netherlands is making strides in its approach to criminal justice shifting toward minimizing incarceration and focusing on socially restorative Solutions [Music] number 11 a nation with everchanging borders the shape of the Netherlands has significantly changed over the centuries transforming a Land once overwhelmed by water into a thriving and Innovative country known for its water management techniques historically Amsterdam was a Pete bog and Rotterdam was little more than a flooded plane however through the Ingenuity of Dutch Engineers they have become Masters in draining and managing these submerged areas forcing the sea to step back in favor of human development their land reclamation method which involves building dikes and draining flooded areas has completely reshaped the country's landscape a prime example is the province of Zealand located in the far west of the Netherlands which was once predominantly submerged under the North Sea until dkes were constructed now Zealand is a fertile land showcasing the power of modern engineering another example is fand located in central Netherlands currently the largest man-made island in the world this area was once part of the Inland sea known as zuzi until it was reclaimed and developed in the mid 20th century flavorland is not just an engineering Marvel but also a symbol of the Netherlands persistence and determination to reshape its territory overcoming Nature's challenges to create new land number 10 the country of windmills it's no coincidence that windmills have become a symbol of the Netherlands as early as the 10th Century the Dutch began controlling floods by building dikes however it wasn't until 400 years later that they discovered the miraculous power of windmills in their fight to reclaim Land from the sea windmills began to appear everywhere across the Netherlands especially in low-lying areas where water management was most needed initially windmills Were Made of Stone but later they were improved using lighter materials like wood their massive blades which can be tens of meters long harness the power of the wind to drive LGE water wheels pumping water out of rivers this system not only helped drain water but also expanded agricultural land while modern technology has replaced windmills in the drainage process with diesel and electric pumps windmills remain a proud and irreplaceable symbol of the Netherlands currently the Netherlands has more than 1,100 windmills with the oldest dating Back to Before 1,450 a famous site for windmills is zans shans located on the outskirts of Amsterdam this Village is home to to 13 windmills six of which are the oldest and are carefully preserved they line the scenic banks of the Zan River creating a picture perfect scene that attracts tourists from around the world to admire this traditional Beauty windmills are not just a symbol of resilience and innovation in Dutch history but also a testament to their Spirit of overcoming adversity conquering nature and building a strong and prosperous [Music] Nation number nine Wildlife Bridges across highways it's difficult to estimate how many wild animals have died while crossing roads and highways in the Netherlands in the us alone approximately 1 million animals are killed in traffic collisions each day in Vietnam a rare Gore weighing about 800 kg recently appeared in the middle of the road and collided with a truck carrying construction materials at around 5:00 p. m. on February 17th during a patrol on provincial Road 674 located in Section 3 subdivision 6 77 moai commune say the district Kum within the forest area of Chu momay National Park Rangers discovered the gore standing in the middle of the road shortly after the gore charged straight into the truck and died instantly that night on February 17th Chom Ray National Park in coordination with relevant authorities conducted an investigation and confirmed there were no signs of the gore being hunted or trapped according to the Park's management the animal may have wandered due to disruptions and noise caused by road construction in the area leading to this unfortunate accident the gore was a male scientifically named boss gorus belonging to group IB of endangered and rare Wildlife species is classified by the government's decree 32 the Gore's body is currently being processed as a specimen for scientific research and Environmental Education and to protect and ensure the safety of wildlife Crossing roads several countries around the world have constructed special Wildlife Crossings the first Wildlife Bridges were built in France in the 1950s the world's longest Wildlife Bridge located in the Netherlands stretches 8 4.

67 2 m and is named nature BR Xander Kau number eight Dutch men are the tallest in the world the average height of the Dutch is truly impressive the average height for men is 1. 83 M while for women it's 1. 71 M interestingly the height of the Dutch has increased significantly over the past last 200 years in the mid 18th century the average height of Dutch soldiers was around 165 cm which was shorter than the average height of soldiers from other European countries however after 150 years their average height increased by over 20 cm and today the Dutch are recognized as the tallest people in the world with an average height of 183.

0 CM according to scientists one of the main reasons for this phenomenon is natural selection through genetics research search from the London School of hygiene and tropical medicine UK recorded the lives and health of over 94,500 people living in Northern Holland over 30 years from 1,935 to 1967 the results showed that taller individuals tended to have more children than shorter ones contributing to the increase in average height over Generations Beyond genetics the increase in Dutch height may also be related to a nutritious diet particularly rich in dairy products as well as Advanced Health Care Systems all these factors combined have helped make the Dutch one of the tallest populations on the planet number seven the Netherlands is the only country without stray Pets the Dutch are known for their love of pets strolling through the streets of the Netherlands it's easy to spot adorable puppies sitting comfortably in bicycle baskets as their owners cycle around cafes and restaurants in this country are also dog friendly and dogs even receive discounts on public transport according to a recent article in the Dutch magazine Dutch review in the past owning a dog was seen as a sign of social status in the Netherlands the upper class kept dogs as pets or for sporting purposes while the poorer classes used dogs for work in the 19th century the number of dogs in the Netherlands grew significantly however a rabies outbreak caused widespread concern about infection leading many pet owners to abandon their sick dogs in response the Dutch government took action due to concerns about the welfare of the dogs and potential health risks from stray animals a government funded Nationwide sterilization program was implemented reportedly neutering over 70% of stray female dogs which greatly reduced the birth rate according to animal channel the dogs that were sterilized also received health checks and vaccinations to prevent the spread of diseases including [Music] rabies number six every 50 m there's a charging station for electric cars cycling is a popular and highly favored mode of transportation in the Netherlands the total distance that the Dutch travel by bike is equivalent to the distance they travel by train showing the importance of bicycles in daily life the Netherlands is estimated to have at least 18 million bicycles meaning that on average each person owns more than one bike a remarkable figure compared to about 9 million cars on the road in 2013 the European cyclists Federation ranked the Netherlands and Denmark as the two most bike friendly nations with with the Netherlands leading as 36% of the population uses bicycles as their main daily Transportation compared to 23% in Denmark the cycling infrastructure in the Netherlands is comprehensive and highly functional on busy roads there are about 35,000 km of bike parts that are completely separate from motor traffic ensuring safety and convenience for cyclists at Major and busy intersections dedicated traffic lights for bicycles are also installed facilitating safe and easy travel additionally at City centers and Railway stations residents can easily find large bike parking facilities catering to their daily commuting needs in addition to promoting cycling the Netherlands aims to minimize carbon emissions by encouraging the use of electric cars instead of gasoline powered vehicles the government has installed electric charging stations every 50 m on the streets making it convenient for people to charge their electric cars thus promoting the use of eco-friendly Transportation this Focus not only helps the Netherlands maintain a green lifestyle but also contributes to sustainable Environmental Protection for the [Music] future number five masters of flood prevention no country in the world has a more well organized and effective flood prevention system than the Netherlands located in Northwestern Europe the Netherlands is known as a Delta Region with about 2/3 of its land lying below sea level the country's name itself Netherland in Dutch and the Netherlands in English means the lowlands with its lowest point being- 6. 76 M below sea level for centuries the Dutch have battled against water to protect their land Building dikes and using windmills to pump out water this long struggle has led to the creation of the most modern sea defense system in the world among the many water management projects the Maan cring constructed along the new Waterway stands out as the world's only movable storm surge barrier featuring two steel Gates weighing 6 ,800 tons each measuring 210 M long and 22 M High the barrier is connected to a computer system that monitors sea levels and weather conditions automatically closing during emergencies normally the gates remain open to allow ships to pass but if a storm causes sea levels to rise by 3 m the gates will float up and close to block the water completed in 1997 ma lering was the final component of the Delta Works project which includes 16,500 km of primary and secondary dkes water discharge systems tidal Gates locks and many other auxiliary structures since it was put into operation in 1997 Ma lering has only closed once during the major storm of 2007 the Delta Works along with dozens of dyke projects built since the 1960s has kept this flood prone Nation safe this massive barrier protects a vast Delta region in the port city of Rotterdam from the North Sea to defend against extreme natur natural disasters the Dutch government has raised the safety standards of Waterworks to the highest level the safety standard for saltwater barriers is once in 10,000 years while the standard for river dkes is once in 1,250 years the Dutch have spent the 20th century coordinating hydrology flood control soil desalination and irrigation resulting in thousands of square kilometers of freshwater surfaces expanded farmland and residential land the Dutch are so confident in their achievements that are representative from the Ministry of Transport and Water Management said that after completing mace lering they felt they had truly mastered and controlled nature the Dutch sea defense system has been voted by architects around the world as one of the 10 greatest constructions on the planet the Dutch have a saying God created the Earth but the Dutch created the Netherlands highlighting their extraordinary Water Management [Music] abilities number four the largest flower exporter in the world the Netherlands is known globally not only for its famous canals and windmills but also for its special position in the flower industry the country has long been called The Flower Shop of the world the title it has truly earned the Netherlands produces 80% of the world's flower bulbs meaning that eight out of every 10 flower bulbs globally come from this country the flower industry contributes more than 5% to the national GDP highlighting its tremendous importance to the Dutch economy with nearly 90% of the world's Tulip farm the Netherlands has around 11,000 hectares of land dedicated to this iconic flower every year the country produces approximately 4.