THE NETHERLANDS.* 



CHAPTER I. 



GENEEAL FEATURES.— HILLS.-LOGS. 



HE kingdom of the Netherlands is one of the smallest states in 

 Europe — superior to its neighbour Belgium in area, but far 

 beneath it in population, industry, and even commerce. But 

 small as it is on a map, its history entitles it to rank with the 

 foremost nations. Even the soil it occupies had first to be won 

 from the sea, and it is not without emotion that we follow the struggle for 

 freedom upon which a handful of people ventured against an empire embracing 

 at that time two -thirds of the known world. Their independence achieved, the 

 Dutch at once took their place amongst the great states of Europe, and from 

 their small territory the}^ governed colonies scattered all over the world. But 

 a still greater glory belongs to Holland for having been the first to accord a safe 

 asylum to free thought. 



Bogs and marshes separate Holland from Germany, and constitute a stronger 

 boundary than would a range of mountains. In the south the Rhine and 

 Meuse, with their innumerable branches, oppose an equally formidable obstacle 

 to an invader, for only a native of the soil is able to tread his way in this 

 labyrinth of river channels, canals, and ditches. In a former age vast forests 

 still further contributed to the security of the country, and there are some who 

 derive its modern name from Iloiitland, or Wood Land, and not from Holtland, or 

 Hollow Land. 



Though essentially a lowland region, Holland is not quite without its 

 mountains. The most considerable range of hills extends into the country in 

 the extreme south-east. It only attains a height of 690 feet, but is important 

 on account of its coal mines. Wider known is the /S7. Pietersberg (404 feet), 

 near Maastricht, on the Belgian frontier. It has been quarried from immemorial 



* Wc have substituted the letter Y for the Dutch combination Ij, which is pronounced like y in by. 

 The Dutch letter/ sounds like our y in yes. 



