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To enlarge click on View All Images, then on Original View.
The Netherlands is frequently associated with polders. This is illustrated by the English saying: God created the world, but the Dutch created Holland.
On this October day we went for a walk in the surroundings of our village. It was a walk in the polder, because we live in a polder, below sea level.
The Dutch have a long history of reclamation of marshes and fenland, resulting in some 3,000 polders nationwide. About half of all polder surface within northwest Europe is located within the Netherlands. The first embankments in Europe were constructed in Roman times. The first polders were constructed in the 11th century. Due to flooding disasters water boards called waterschap (below sealevel) or hoogheemraadschap (above sea level) were set up to maintain the integrity of the water defenses around polders, maintain the waterways inside a polder and control the various water levels inside and outside the polder. Water bodies hold separate elections, levy taxes and function independently from other government bodies. Their function is basically unchanged through this day. As such they are the oldest democratic institution in the country.
That's my World is hosted by Klaus, Ivar, Wren, Fishing Guy & Tom - a Team of experienced bloggers, whom we thank for this wonderful meme.
38 comments:
This is the first time I've heard he word "polder." I did know much of the Netherlands is reclaimed land, though. Thanks, Wil. The photos explain a lot!
VERY interesting! And how green those pictures are!
I have seen the from the air and trevelled by train along the top of some of the dams, but never knew all that. With beautiful pictures to match. Thank you!
Wil: I love these photos, you have captured your land so well. I really enjoyed the story of the Netherlands.
Polder is a new term for me too. Very interesting walk this is for me too. See you next week.
Thanks for bringing back wonderful memories of your beautiful country. It's been 20 years since I was there last ....
Yes, now I'm starting to understand how a polder looks and why.
Your swan couple is so nice!
Thanks for the walk, Wil.
Really, I wish they would invent warm gloves that can handle a camera. Brr
I had to look up the definition of polder thanks for sharing something new w/ us All your shots caught so much beauty
A neat place to be. Just wonderful
How beautiful and green your village is! I had never heard of a polder before either. I can't wait to stump my Dad, the consummate crossword puzzler!
Cold maybe, but also beautiful walk and enjoyed it.
Oh that is interesting, I never heard the word "polder" before. I knew that Holland has "dams" but that there is such a complicated and complex system behind dating back to the middle ages, I did not know.
I see the connection to the democratic body.
Thank you for sharing your world and also for visiting my Vienna :)
I have never heard of polder, the area looks similar to the Somerset Levels. Thanks for the views of your walk.
I enjoyed your slide show...like EG, I had not heard the term polder before.
Very interesting post and the slides are great. I love grasses at the end of autumn with their seed heads so I really enjoyed seeing the ones you showed us here.
I am learning some really neat things with this blogging. I enjoyed the Autumn walk and the educational commentary. Never heard of a "Polder" until today. Thanks for sharing Reader Wil.
What a fantastic post!!! Those pictures are very good. Very enjoyable!!
~Michele~
Mountain Retreat-Canada
Oh I wish I could take a walk with you in your wonderful nature:) Beautiful photos from "your world:)
A Slide Show is a really good idea - Very cool!!!
You shared a lot of your world in this slide show. Thanks for teaching me a new word "polders."
Was that a magpie I saw in one of the early photos?
I always watch the programs on the Netherlands. Not only do I like the scenery, but I am interested in the Engineering aspect also.
Thanks for sharing the information and great photos.
Come visit anytime,
Troy and Martha
#2, Big Bend, is posted
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Thanks for sharing these. They were beautiful! I can imagine that though your hands were nearly frozen it was worth it.
Very interesting post and love the slideshow
Thank you for your history of the polders and wonderful walk through them. I love all the water, the birches, the birds, those beautiful dandylion seed heads, the water grasses and reed and your little dog. A great walk.
Thank you for the wonderful tour. This 2nd week of meme really makes us appreciate the many places that we don't usually see or ever had a chance to visit like the one you showed me in this post. Hope you get to have time to check my world too. Another great job and more to come in the coming weeks.
Thank you for the tour of the polder. Despite the grey sky, it was enjoyable. I particularly liked your dandelions and the lone swan.
Enjoyed those slides very much! Such green countryside! And I now know the word "polder" too!
Lots of nice information which I enjoyed reading.
Didn't know the term 'polder'. Beautiful shots in your slide show too.
Oh very creative way of presenting it...Great one. TC
Thanks for sharing, the dark shot of the clouds is my favourite (10th photo). I learned about polders as a kiid when we visited relatives living in the Alte Land, a part of Northern Germany which is also reclaimed land :)
Very interesing,enjoy reading coner of your world.
Have a nice day.
Excellent! The dam and levy builders from New Orleans should come down to NL to study! ;)
Wonderful!
Cheers, Klaus
It is a wonderful peaceful world that you show us today!
Wonderful slide show! Great info - I certainly learned something today.
Great photos! I also had not heard of "polders", very interesting post!
Gosh this was fascinating info Wil. There is so much about the Netherlands I do not know - that's what is great about the internet - one gets to appreciate countries from far away because of bloggers like yourself. Excellent photos.
Over from authorblog . . .
Fabulous pictures and thanks for the info on "polder." Good to learn something everyday!
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