Coastline: 800 and 2000

Most of the land reclamation projects in the last five centuries or so were to recover land lost as a result of interference with a fragile ecosystem. The country isn't quite as large as it once was, but most areas that were inhabited when they were lost have been restored.

In the late 20th Century, the Dutch government decided to halt a large reclamation project because the Netherlands was considered large enough, at least for the time being. No further agricultural land was needed, and the project would have disturbed a unique bird habitat.

The Netherlands lies in the flyway from Scandinavia to Africa, and the IJsselmeer (the central body of water) and Waddenzee (the body of shallow water immediately between the mainland and the northern islands) is an important stop for migrating birds, as well as breeding grounds for a large variety of water fowl.

Drawing based on a map in G.P. van de Ven, ed., Man-Made Lowlands, (3rd revised edition, 1996).

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