The Netherlands

Enchantment of the World

by Martin Hintz

Describes the geography, plants and animals, history, economy, language, religions, culture, and people of the Netherlands

Genres: Geography, Nonfiction, History

144 pages, Library Binding

First published December 1, 1999

Reviews

[Ana Avila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Outdated but great to start getting familiar with the Netherlands.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Introducing the Netherlands, Denmark's worldly, less racist cousin! I already knew of the Dutch as Indonesia's colonizers, as clog enthusiasts, and as the inventors of hagelslag. Despite being only almost twice the size of the state of New Jersey, the Netherlands is the 7th most profitable exporter in the world. Their economy has always been in tip-top shape: In the 9th century AD, Vikings would frequently raid the Dutch coast, then called Frisia, because the region was a significant trading hub even then, so they had, like, lots of stuff, free of charge to anyone with a pointy spear and a seat at Valhalla.

Their country also happens to be in direct threat of being reclaimed by the sea because of the ocean's rising sea levels, and they depend on systems of canals, dikes, and water pumps that must be carefully and continuously controlled so as to fight the water that would otherwise start seeping right back in. Most Dutch are city-dwellers, as much of the remaining land is used for agriculture. Like Denmark, the Netherlands takes advantage of its flat terrain with its excellent bike infrastructure, but its cities are a walker's paradise. I sigh over this image of the Netherlands as a sophisticated, cosmopolitan marketplace, and an exciting place that buzzes, but calmly, without the frantic energy of New York City or the aggressive commercial ambitions of Hong Kong, historic charm in tact.

[Dawn Livingston · Rating 4 out of 5]

My book has a different scene on it, a night scene.

I got this children's book because despite it's large size my library doesn't really have a lot about the Netherlands. Despite being a children's book it's a really good introduction to the Netherlands and it's people. It covers all the things you'd expect/want it too; history, climate, religion, government, agriculture, transportation, communication, the people, language (usually Dutch and English), education, music, sports, food, etc.

I've come to the conclusion after reading this book and another about medieval life that children's books can be a good basic introduction to a variety of things.

If you're curious about the Netherlands then this is the book for you. If your family tree involves the Netherlands, you might want to own this. It's a good book for children or adults.

[Fangyuan Ren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great resource for coming up with a to do list if you are planning to visit the Netherlands! The dutch people have cracked the code. Simple but fancy living, I’d enjoy biking around Amsterdam and visit a few art museums, afterwards maybe get a bouquet of tulips and have a cup of Koffie Verkeerd with Poffertjes or Heineken.
The Dutch are adventurous, apparently some families push baby carriages while ice skating on frozen lakes and have dwarf rabbits as pets!! How amazing!

[Hannah L · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book about the Kingdom of the Netherlands is very informative.
With its colorful graphics and interesting facts, this is a fantastic read for anyone who wants to learn in-depth culture/history for a small amount of pages.

I really enjoyed learning about this country and what it has to offer.
I'll be reading about other nations shortly.

[Emily Griswold Bunty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although about twenty years out of date (published in 1999), it is nevertheless packed with great photos, history, and facts that have mostly aged well. (Late 90s fashion is a riot.) Cover all the essentials such as politics, geography, art, economics, flora and fauna, government, religion, and traditions. A wonderful introduction to the Netherlands. Is love to see a revised edition.

[Darren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting look at a small but vibrant country.

[MK · Rating 4 out of 5]

* This was actually published in 2016 so the info is really up to date. It's written in such a way that the recent election doesn't negate anything in it.*

These books used to be a staple of research libraries. The internet now gives you information at your fingertips but there's still a need for books like this. Instead of flipping to sites, you get a great basic overview of all segments of the country, with great illustrated photos to bring the facts to life.

This book is geared to children yet as an adult I'm really enjoying it. It's written at a level that in complex enough to give me information I'm interested in.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a helpful book with basic facts.

[Angela Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! Very educational!