10 fun facts about the Netherlands

1. Dutch people are the tallest people in the world
With an average height of 184 cm for men and 170 cm for women, the Dutch are the tallest people in the world. Scientists say it's because of DNA, nutrition and well-being, others say it's because of the enormous consumption of dairy products in the Netherlands.

2. More bicycles than people
Did you know we have 22.7 million bicycles in the Netherlands and 17,5 million people? This means that the average Dutch person has 1,3 bicycle. Well, we Dutchies go everywhere on our bike!

3. Amsterdam is built entirely on stilts and has 1200 bridges.
Because the soil of Amsterdam consists of a thick layer of clay, all buildings are built on wooden piles that are fixed in a layer of sand that are on average 11 meters deep. The Royal Palace on Dam Square is built on no fewer than 13,659 wooden piles!

4. We love coffee
After Scandinavians, Dutch people are the world's largest coffee drinkers. On average we drink 140 liters per year, which is about 3.2 cups per day.

5. About 86% of the people speak English as their second language
All Dutch children learn English at school and visitors from abroad are often impressed by the level of speaking English.

6. There are more than 37,000 kilometers of bicycle paths in the Netherlands.
With a lot of bikes also comes a lot of bicycle paths of course!

7. Almost a third of the Netherlands is below sea level
The Netherlands is a water country. Our coast is 450 kilometers long across the North Sea. We have also 4,400 km of rivers, canals and lakes flowing through the country.

8. Greeting eachother includes three kisses
During normal times (read: before corona) we greet each other with three kisses. Typically Dutch, because abroad they often do it differently. Usually people kiss each other once or twice.

9. More sheep than people live on the island of Texel
Texel is an island of thirty kilometers long sandy beach. It’s a true paradise for lovers of beach holidays. The sheep are here to welcome you!

10. The Dutch eat an average of 14,3 kilos of cheese per person per year.
That is why it is only logical that there is an area in the Netherlands that is called Cheese Valley. It consists of four regions: Gouda, Bodegraven-Reeuwijk, Woerden and Krimpenerwaard. Cheese Valley is the best location to find interesting attractions, including fun cheese markets, shops, and museums.