God created the Sea, but the Dutch created The Kingdom of The Netherlands

The Netherlands has a rich history of land reclamation, dating back over 2,000 years when the Frisians first settled and built terpen (earth mounds) for flood protection. This struggle against water became integral to Dutch culture, with significant efforts to hold back the North Sea. Major floods, such as the St. Lucia's Flood in 1287 and the 1953 disaster, underscored the challenges faced. Land reclamation evolved significantly during the medieval period with basic dikes, advancing in the sixteenth century through windmill technology, which enabled more efficient drainage and the creation of polders—arable lands reclaimed from water. By the seventeenth century, projects like the Beemster Polder showcased highly organized and advanced engineering techniques. Today, the Netherlands boasts around 3,000 polders, with about half of its land area reclaimed from the sea. As of 1961, 18,000 square kilometers were added, and approximately 27% of the land lies below sea level, housing over 60% of the population. The phrase "God created the world, but the Dutch created the Netherlands" epitomizes national pride in this extensive transformation and innovation in water management.