STATISTICS OF THE NETHEELANDS. 



493 



sidered sufficient to cut a "new water-way" across the Hoek van Holland 

 (Fig. 282), and to protect this new mouth of the Scheur by means of piers, 

 6,560 and 6,070 feet in length. The result, however, does not appear to have 

 realised expectations, for the new canal is slowly silting up. 



The first Dutch railway was built in 1837, and the network now embraces 

 1,120 miles. One of the most remarkable engineering works in connection 

 with it is the viaduct at Moerdyk, which spans the Hollandsche Diep at a spot 

 where it is 8,355 feet in width. (See Fig. 284.) 



Prosperity is perhaps more universal in the Netherlands than in most other 

 countries in Europe. There are peasants in Friesland and elsewhere credited with 



Fig. 282. -Canal of the Hoek van Holland. 

 Scale 1 : 100,000. 



4°5Ej.C Gp. 



2 Miles. 



the possession of " tons of gold." Nor are these rich yeomen slow to display 

 their wealth in plate and jewellery, and even their cowhouses they occasionally 

 provide with curtained windows, curious china, and rare flowers. But the contrast 

 between them and the proletariate of the large towns is all the more striking. 



Education. — Attendance at school is not compulsory, and as yet by no means 

 universal. Thousands of children are allowed to grow up without education, and 

 even in North Holland 14 per cent, of the adults are unable to read. The instruc- 

 tion in the public schools is secular, but about one-fourth of the children attend 

 denominational private schools. There are three universities. As linguists the 

 Dutch probably excel all other nations. Many are able to converse in French, 



