HOLLAND AND THE WATER

Abstract

Land characterization, from a geographical point of view, taking into account but one feature, is rather insecure. This fact, evident, as it were, for almost the whole Planet, is not so in the case of Holland. This country, no doubt, is identified by its relationship with water. There may not exist an area in the world where Geography and History are so tightly linkedup with water as Holland and this fact is true if considered from several points of view: the Duthc have constantly fought against the sea so as to be able to defend and keep dry the land which is partly below the sea level (they have indeed gained a good portion of their present territory from the sea). Moreover, Holland, placed in the boundaries of sea and land, has endeavoured to direct al1 her activity towards the sea in order to survive. And if she is today an important country, economically powerful, this is, to a certain extent, due to its traditional maritime trade activity which gave ground to huge accumulations of capital. Her main seaports, even nowadays, are to be included among the busiest in the world. Another kind of relationship between Holland and water which cannot be ignored is its enormously complex hydraulic regulation and its splendid network of canals as a main means of heavy transport. This paper intends to de with its main subject in three parts: the first and longest tries to explain teh geographical framework and its evolution in which man has had a decisive role. The second part will be devoted to the foundations of Dutch economy, people and their relationships. Finally we offer a brief commentary about fluvial regulations in Holland and their economic advantages.