Why the Netherlands is Europe's Most OP Country

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Select video clips courtesy of Getty Images

Select video clips courtesy of the AP Archive

Special thanks to MapTiler, OpenStreetMap Contributors, and GEOlayers

[Iksbrown]

The Ocean: *exists*
The Dutch: "It's free real estate."

[reneheine]

Hats up to the duch! As a German and big fan of the small country I feel proud and grateful of having such neighbors!

[Ambilition]

I thought "damn that's impressive" and than noticed I was only at half point of the video.

[The_Hutske]

I mean as a dutch person, the Netherlands feels like a big engineering project. The whole country feels like its by design. And with it being so flat it's really easy to build infrastructure everywhere.

Its like if you would build the perfect city in city skylines on a flat map.

[daniell]

From the US, I've always wondered how the Netherlands is so damn influential despite its tiny size, being surrounded by the most powerful countries in Western Europe.

[peterharren]

My father is a Dutch immigrant and I think I can honestly say the "Dutch" way of doing things has deeply impacted my view of the world.

[threesixninesix]

When I first arrived in the Netherlands, I was in awe, everything seemed well built, everything was designed with great sense of purpose, the fully integrated nation-wide public transport network blew my mind. The housing was beautiful, old and new. The cycling was years ahead of anywhere in the world, making even Copenhagen look a bit meh. But outside of the big cities is where I liked it most. When I fist arrived into the suburbs I've seen a group of old people being active and happy and cycling together. And then another one, and another one. Then I've seen what the schools look like and how kids get there. Then I've seen town squares buzzing with locals, markets, terraces were packed and people were going up and down the canals, relaxing on their boats. Of course this was summer.
But it was the first time I've seen such a powerful visual representation of quality of life. The work-life balance was visible, and it became very tangible as soon as I started working.
I know the UK is not exactly the worst place in the world or Europe, but comparing it to the Netherlands, it feels like a mad depressing rat race.

[regimes]

As another Dutchman I appreciate you trying to pronounce all our quirky village names

[voiddoctor]

"that most people associate with urban planning YouTubers" had me dying

[Farron]

The worst part, they’re the tallest I. Europe as well. You’re 6ft in anywhere else, you’re considered tall or above average at least. In the Netherlands you’re below average. Mental.

[meneer_kooi]

The reason why the Groningen gas field was closed is because it caused earthquakes across the whole province and that resulted in millions of euros in damage.

[ðÿū]

As a Dutch, I am finally proud of my nationality because RealLifeLore made a video about us.

[STRGHTSXBNZ]

Lol longtime Dutch subscriber and very surprised The Netherlands is finally covered by RealLifeLore.
GEKOLONISEERD YO!

[TatsumiOga]

It's almost as if having a culture of doing your job well and not cutting corners is the best way to run a country

[tRuStThEsCiEnCeBiGoT]

Spain is not west of the Netherlands- it's south. Just because you rotate your map 90 deg clockwise doesn't suddenly make north into east or south into west.

[ryweldonthecoolguy]

They literally won a war against water, the Dutch are way too powerful...

[harmschut]

As a Dutchman I really feel the urge to correct the myth about the amount of the dutch export. A huge part of that isn't real export but is transition!!! Goods arrive in the harbour of Rotterdam and than we transport in smaller containers to the rest of Europe. We DON'T produce that, yet we call it EXPORT, witch suggests that we do produce it .

[joyl]

I'm Dutch. I didn't know the gasfield in Groningen was this big. That explains the reluctance to shut down extraction due to earthquakes damaging buildings in the area.

[Ecclesia_]

The 45 degree angle on European map is a real eye opener! Never realized Netherlands is such a centrally located nation!

[dristor]

A friend of mine played a drinking game where he took a shot every time RLL says "MMMASSIVE". May he rest in peace.