The Netherlands and the Dutch ― A Physical and Human Geography

This book presents a geographical survey of the Netherlands, reviewing recent and historic developments that made the nation. It is a relatively wealthy country and the Dutch belong to the happiest and healthiest on earth. But these qualities are not evenly spread over the country. The urban agglomeration of Randstad Holland in the west hosts most of the nation’s capital and young, well-educated people whereas older and less-educated people are concentrated in the peripheral areas in the north, east and south.

Interactions between physical and human geographical aspects of the Netherlands are described quite extensively. Its position on one of Europe’s most prominent deltas, its abundance of energy resources and the course of history have all contributed to its present national position and international networks. But early and recent Dutch have also shaped this country. They reclaimed lakes and shallow seas, protected the lowlands against floods, re-allotted land parcels and designed and developed urban areas. Besides its focus on water-related topics, the book also covers social and cultural aspects. The book also discusses future challenges and offers scenarios for solutions.

This is a book for those interested in a wide variety of recent aspects of the geography of the Netherlands described in a historical context. It appeals to students and researchers of many disciplines in geography, urban and landscape planning, water management, history and cultural studies. 

Eduardo De Mulder is a geologist and throughout his professional career he has been employed by the Geological Survey of the Netherlands (TNO) in various positions, from field geologist to manager of the Sustainable Management of the Subsurface business unit. He was Professor at Delft Technical University. Internationally, de Mulder has been President of the International Union of Geological Sciences, initiator and Executive Director of the UN proclaimed International Year of Planet Earth, and the Director of the Earth Science Matters Foundation. He has published 135 scientific publications and books. He is Springer’s editor for the World Regional Geography Series.

Ben De Pater is a human geographer and associate professor at the Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University. He was editor-in-chief of the journal Geografie, published by the Royal Dutch Geographical Society, in 1992-1999. He is the (co)author and (co)editor of (text)books in Dutch about the history and theory of geographical sciences, Europe, North America, beach resorts, Randstad Holland, the geographical history of the Netherlands, and more. He was coauthor of the Comprehensive Atlas of the Netherlands 1930-1950 (2005) and scientific advisor for the Bosatlas van Nederland (2007).

Joos Droogleever Fortuijn is a human geographer and was associate professor and Chair of the Department of Geography, Planning and International Development Studies of the University of Amsterdam. She is first vice-president of the International Geographical Union. She published on urban geography, rural geography, gender, ageing and geography in higher education. The main topics in her publications relate to the gendered aspects of activity involvement and networks of families with children and older women and men from an urban-rural comparative perspective.

Len De Klerk is an urban planner. He worked in various cities as a planning officer and he retired as a professor of urban & regional planning at the Department of Geography, Planning and International Development Studies of the University of Amsterdam. He wrote articles on practical planning issues and several books and book chapters on the history of Dutch city planning in the nineteenth and twentieth century. He is the co-author of The Selfmade Land. Culture and Evolution of Urban and Regional Planning in The Netherlands (2012).

Jerry Van Dijk is an ecologist and assistant professor Restoration Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation at the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development at Utrecht University. His research and teaching focus on the impact of environmental change on ecosystems and biodiversity. He was the editor-in-chief of Landschap (2009-2012), the Dutch journal for landscape research and he is an advisor to several NGO's and the Dutch government on sustainable agriculture and nature conservation.