Map of The NetherlandsMap of The Netherlands Located in North-Western Europe Small country. Area of 41.528 km² 16,7 million inhabitants! 12 provinces, most people live in the western

part of The Netherlands

A very low countryA very low country About 25 % of The Netherlands is

below sea level We are kept save by 1860 km of sea-

and riverdikes and approximately 14.000 km of local waterdefences!

50 % of the Netherlands is less than 1 meter above sea level

Lowest point in the Netherlands is 6.74 meters below sea level

The purple part is less than 1 meter above sea level.

Top of th

Top of this statue the normal sea level

The RandstadThe Randstad

Population of 7.1 million inhabitants and still growing, 43 % of the total population of The NL

Economical, financial, cultural and political heart of the country

The area that is enclosed by the Randstad is called ‘The Green Heart’. It’s an rural area, with a lot of forests and countryside

Amsterdam, the biggest city in the Randstad

The North Sea flood of The North Sea flood of 19531953

The North Sea flood of 1953 was a major flood caused by a heavy storm in 1953

Most of the South-West of the Netherlands flooded

1835 people died

The Delta WorksThe Delta Works A series of huge construction

projects to protect the Netherlands against the sea

Building took 47 years in total (1950-1997)

Famous sea barriers are the ‘Oosterscheldekering’, the ‘Measlantkering’ and the ‘Volkerakdam’

Measlantkering Oosterscheldekering Volkerakdam

The Delta Works have been declared one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World  by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Afsluitdijk Afsluitdijk (Enclosure Dam)(Enclosure Dam)

A major causeway between the Dutch provinces North-Holland and Friesland

Encloses the IJsselmeer from the Waddensea Build in 1927 till 1932 30 kilometre long dam The A7 motorway crosses the entire dam

Waddeneilanden Waddeneilanden ( Wadden ( Wadden Sea Islands)Sea Islands)

Chain of islands in the north of the Netherlands Popular holiday location for Dutch and German

tourists One of the Word Heritage Sites Famous for its beautiful nature and coasts. Habitat of many seals and seabirds.

From west to east: Texel, Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland, Schiermonnikoog

Mainport: Port of Mainport: Port of RotterdamRotterdam

Till 2004 the busiest port in the Till 2004 the busiest port in the world, now the fourth biggest in the world, now the fourth biggest in the world and by far the biggest of world and by far the biggest of EuropeEurope

Most important for the port are the Most important for the port are the ‘petrochemical industry’ and ‘petrochemical industry’ and ‘general cargo transshipment ‘general cargo transshipment 

handlingshandlings’’

The ‘Europoort’ and the The ‘Europoort’ and the ‘Maasvlakte’ are parts of ‘Maasvlakte’ are parts of the port that have been the port that have been reclaimed from the water reclaimed from the water

Mainport: Mainport: Amsterdam Airport SchipholAmsterdam Airport Schiphol

Biggest Dutch airport, 15th busiest by passenger traffic

One of the main airports in Europe 17th largest airport for cargo tonnage

Schiphol has large shopping areas as an additional attraction for passengers or non traveling visitors

The entrance

The Dutch Monarchy Independent monarchy since 1815 Since 1980 Queen Beatrix of the

Netherlands is our monarch “Koninginnedag” (Queen’s Day) is a

national holiday on the 30th of April. On this day, the Dutch celebrate the

anniversary of the Dutch Queen. It’s a day with a lot of celebrations all

over the country.

The Dutch Queen : Beatrix der Nederlanden

City of City of SteenwijkSteenwijk

General information

• Population: 18.000

• Province: Overijssel

• Municipality:

Steenwijkerland

History

• Oldest reference from 1141

• Town privileges in 1255

• Very important in war between Spain and Holland (1568-1648)

Famous buildings

• Sint-Clemens-church

• Rams Woerthe

• Small church

Former City Walls

Former City walls

• The city walls were there to defend the city of Steenwijk against attacks from foreign enemies.

• They were built in the 14th century and were in use until the 19th century.

The Market & The Rechter

The Market • Big square in the centre of Steenwijk

• Every saturday there is a market for all kind of goods

Rams Woerthe

• Rams Woerthe is a big park in the centre of Steenwijk.

Sint Clemens Church

• This is the biggest church in Steenwijk.

• The first church on this place was built in the 10th century.

• The current church was built in 1409

• It is one of the highest church-towers of The Netherlands

Boterwaag

• The Boterwaag is an old building, where they used to weigh things like cheese and butter for the market.

Giethoorn

Giethoorn is a village in the Dutch province Overijssel. It is about 5 km from Steenwijk. Giethoorn used to be a car-free town. In the old part of the village there were no roads, now there is only a cycling path. All the transport was done by water over one of the many canals. That’s why Giethoorn is known as ‘’Venice of the North’’ or ‘’Venice of the Netherlands’’.

The village owes it characteristic appearance to peat digging. This peat digging led to the formation of large and small lakes. To transport the peat ditches and canals were excavated. Many houses are built on little islands, reached through a high bridge.

In Giethoorn you find museums, art galleries and expositions. There are also a lot of nice restaurants on the waterfront. In the summer it’s very busy with all the boats, but if it freezes you can skate on the lakes and canals in the winter.

Smit’s Paviljoen Summer

Oude Aarde Winter

Something which is typical Dutch is a mill. In Giethoorn is a mill without its sails. This mill has been rebuilt and now a teacher of our school and his family are living in it.

A view from the air

• Our school was funded in 1901 by mr. Jan Hendrik Tromp Meesters. He was a very rich man and a benefactor of our municipality.

•At this moment the school has more than 1300 students.

•Almost all the students travel by bike to school.

Some pictures inside our school

DecorationsSome places in our school are nicely decorated with art made by our students