| Holland (The Netherlands) was founded on a low land covered by marshes and forests and around half of it lies at or below sea level. Land reclamation has been the dominant motif of its history and the inland waterways are kept artificially with the aid of sea walls, dykes, pumping stations and reservoirs. The Republic of the Netherlands, which has been a kingdom since 1815, was formed in 1648 when its independence was recognized after the Eighty Years' War. Today, the Netherlands is one of the most develop countries in the world with the highest population density in Europe. |
