Brrring! Brrring! Bike bells ring all over the Netherlands each school day. Bikes are the most popular way kids in this country get to school. There are many bike paths throughout the Netherlands.
Biking is easy here. Much of the land is flat. In fact, it’s the flattest country in Europe!
The land is special in another way too. About a third of it is below sea level. That means the land is lower than the surface, or top, of the ocean. This can lead to big problems, like flooding.
The people who live in the Netherlands are called the Dutch. For hundreds of years, they have tried to protect themselves from floods. They’ve built thick dirt walls. They’ve also dug canals to help control the water.
These days, the Dutch keep water levels down with the help of machines. One type of machine has two giant doors. The doors swing shut to block water flow when the sea level gets too high.
Keep reading to discover more about the Netherlands!