Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE NETHERLANDS
Traditionally, when we think of the Netherlands, windmills, wooden shoes, wondrous
flowers, and wheels come to mind. While these things probably will always be a part
of Dutch traditions and landscape, there is another not-as-well-known facet to the
Netherlands and its people—its important and enviable economic position in Europe
and as one of the founding members of the European Union.
Dutch innovation and know-how are responsible for making the computer soft-
ware Windows accessible for blind users through the use of a cordless mouse that
uses sound instead of visual images. And the Netherlands is the only country with
an Internet 2 Abilene link with the United States.
The Dutch seem to have an idea or an answer for just about everything. One
Dutch company had an answer to automobile congestion and pollution problems by
developing a new concept in public transport—People Movers—a combination of
ski-lift design and the already existing airport-style people movers.
Another Dutch firm, Spectrum Buoca, has targeted another type of pollution—the
acrid urine odor that plagues public facilities (particularly during hot weather). Biolo-
gical Urine Odour Control Agent (Buoca) is a mixture of natural enzymes and bac-
teria that “eats” the smelly problem.
It doesn't take too long to discover that the Netherlanders are not only multitalen-
ted; they're also multilingual. The Dutch laughingly refer to their own language as
“more of a throat condition than anything else” and readily join you in your native
tongue. English is the primary second language spoken in the Netherlands, but
French, Spanish, German, and many others are heard daily.
Although the Dutch are seemingly inventing the future, they are not forgetting
their traditions. There are still about 1,000 working windmills that are functioning
the same way they did more than a hundred years ago. A group of 19 windmills may
be found at Kinderdijk in the province of South Holland, some of which you may
tour inside. It's amazing—mills that were built in 1740 are still running.
Wooden shoes may not be worn very often anymore, but thanks to tourists, their
production has continued. Now, almost any Dutch souvenir shop sells them, and a
few farmers in some rural areas still don their wooden clogs when they work in the
fields or stalls.
Search WWH ::




Custom Search