Netherlands farmland reclamation

Definition

Netherlands farmland reclamation refers to the process by which the Dutch have historically converted water bodies into usable agricultural or residential lands using various techniques such as dikes and windmills.

Analogy

Imagine your room is messy with clothes everywhere making it difficult for you to move around or do anything productive. You start cleaning up bit by bit until you reclaim your space back - this is what the Dutch did but with water bodies!

Related terms

Polder: A polder is reclaimed land from a body of water protected by dikes. It's like creating an island within an ocean but instead it's used for farming or living purposes.

Dike/Levee: These are barriers used to prevent flooding from rivers or seas. They act as walls keeping the water at bay.

Windmill: Historically, windmills in Netherlands were used to pump water out of low-lying lands. They are like giant fans that instead of blowing air, they move water.