Drenthe, Netherlands

The Netherlands is a country consisting of a mainland in Northwestern Europe and three island territories in the Caribbean Sea. Founded on May 15, 1648, this coastal country has the largest port in Europe, named the Port of Rotterdam. Much cargo, food and agricultural products, is exported to the rest of the world from this location. The Netherlands means “lower countries,” getting its namesake from it’s low, near sea-level elevation. In the late 16th century, land reclamation began and the use of polders created the unique landscape with the canal systems still used to this day. Many people from around the world have been drawn to the Netherlands, famous for tulip fields, windmills and cycling routes, making it one of the most densely populated countries in the world.