Today Amsterdam celebrates its 750th birthday, the grand finale of a year-long line-up of events, marked by an enormous street party, with Heineken and Amstel galore. It’s hard to say what the future holds for a place which lies several metres below sea level. But based on past experience, I wouldn’t bet against the Dutch. There’s a good chance they’ll still be celebrating in another 750 years.
Three burning questions about the Dutch1. Why are they so tall?
As the Dutch population grew in the 17th and 18th centuries, the grass which carpeted the polders turned out to make perfect food for cattle. The Friesian breed, in particular, became a Dutch icon.
Much milk was drunk, and some was turned into cheeses, which were often named after the towns where they were traded, such as Gouda and Edam. As dairy output grew, its consumption also had a curious side effect: it made the Netherlands a nation of giants.
Studies show that in the mid-1800s, the average Dutchman was about 5ft 4in tall; shorter than most Europeans and Americans.
Over the next 150 years, however, as dairy consumption rose, the Dutch soared past everyone else. Today, the average Dutchman is over 6ft tall and the average Dutch woman only 5in shorter, making them the tallest people in the world.