Netherlands, land and water

This picture, in a way, was taken at a spot in the Netherlands where water is most plentiful. The foresaid abundance of the water doesn't flow through the ditches and isn't floating as clouds in a typical Dutch skyscape. The most striking water aspect of this spot is.... that there hardly is any.
This picture is taken of the lowest spot in the Netherland, in the 'zuidplaspolder' near 'Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel'. The spot, in the picture situated quite near the horizon, just before the railroadtrack, is situated 6,74 meter, (over 22 feet) below 'NAP', the average level of the North Sea. Without human interferende, in the picture the water would reach the lamp on top of the lamppost.  

That the outstanding worldwide reputation of Dutch civil engineering and water research are fully justified, may be examplified by this sluice and lock, called 'snelle sluis' (fast sluice). Building this construction in 1829 with which water from the belt canal is sluiced into the tidal river 'Hollandse IJssel', marked the beginning of reclaiming the zuidplaspolder by inpoldering.
A circumstance that made such public works possible is a system of water governance authorities, 'waterschappen', 'hoogheemraadschappen' en 'zuiveringsschappen', that, for centuries now, has resulted in having the common interest of safety and 'dry feet' prevailing over 'quick wins' like short time cost saving by neglecting maintenance.

In the polder itself, one can find pumping-stations at precise locations, that transport and pump up the water, step by step, until it can be sluiced onto the Hollandse IJssel, a tidal river, with an average level of 4 meters above sea level. River, Belt Canal, high- intermediate- and lower canals.... in a Dutch polder landscape setting, it is not so hard to show water levels, that are meters apart, just a few meters away from each other. 

In the ring canal at this pumping station of the Zuidplaspolder, shown in the foreground, the water will have been pumped up via a grid of canals over 6 meters until the level is at about sea level. The Hollandse IJssel in the background is a tidal river and the water level at Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel usually ranges around 4 meters abóve sea level. That is why the roads from the belt canal to the dike of the river, are so steep.

Foreign visitors usually get a bit nervous about the idea of dwelling, working and playing well below the sea surface. But most Dutch people are used to the idea that over 75% of the Gross Domestic Product is earned below sealevel. We tend to worry about it only when there are fierce gales at sea or the dikes of our rivers are under high pressure as a result of more and more extra water to be transported within the same amount of time from upstream areas.