Channel 4 Learning


Teachers' Notes
The Netherlands

The following sites contain interesting information, and are also suitable for children.

http://www2.holland.com/uk/
- good all round information on the Netherlands

http://www.visitamsterdam.nl/
- an introduction to the country's capital city

http://www.bmz.amsterdam.nl/adam/index_e.html
- Amsterdam's historic buildings

http://www.soccerway.com/europe/netherlands/
- Dutch football information, pictures and more!

http://www.hollandmuseums.nl/
- An interactive guide to the Netherlands' museums and galleries

http://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/UK/welcome.html
- The official website of the Dutch Royal Family

Questions before watching the programme:
How many things can the children think of that are "typically Dutch"?

Questions during viewing:
Are the Dutch people good or bad swimmers? Why?
How do the Dutch really like to travel? Do you think this is a good or a bad thing?

After watching the programme:

STUDENT WORKSHEET

The pupils can answer some of the questions after watching the TV programme, while others need to be researched using an atlas, encyclopædia, text book, the 'We are from' website or other internet sites. Some questions can be filled in on the worksheet, but most will require a separate answer sheet.

Answers to the assignments



  1. The Netherlands Flag (Red, White & Blue)



  2. Map of Europe highlighting the location of The Netherlands



  3. Map of The Netherlands showing the location of Amsterdam and Rotterdam

  4.  
Capital: Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government
Population: 15,981,500
Area: 37,330 sq km
People per sq km: 414
Language: Dutch
Currency: 1 Netherlands guilder, gulden, or florin (f.) = 100 cents

Answers to viewing questions

  1. Because the Netherlands is very low and flat country, much of it is below sea level. Windmills are used to pump water out of the soil so that people can live on the land. Because much of the land is flat, bicycles are an easy and convenient way of getting around.

  2. Reclaimed areas of land in Holland are called polders. Near the coast they are drained when the tide goes out using channels and sluice gates. Inland they are drained using water pumps. They are kept dry using dykes, sand dunes and windmill- or machine-powered water pumps.

  3. The Dutch have special lanes, signs and even traffic lights for cyclists. This is a good idea because it keeps cyclists from dangerous traffic, and encourages more people to use this environmentally friendly form of transport.

Answers to optional assignments

  1. The kind of windmills that are most often used in the Netherlands today are wind turbines that generate electricity. Wind turbines can capture the energy stored in wind and convert it into electricity. The main advantage of wind turbines is that they are the only completely pollution-free and cost-competitive method of generating electricity.

  2. Opinion question. Pupils may highlight the convenience of snack machines for our fast-paced modern lives, or criticise them as providing unhealthy and innutritious food. Which pupil offers the most surprising or funniest answer?!

  3. Clogs are made from wood, which is a hard substance. They used to be popular because they would protect people's feet as they went about their work. However, clogs are also very heavy shoes. Today, strong protective shoes can be made from much lighter, more comfortable materials. These modern alternatives are more practical than traditional clogs.

  4. Opinion question.

Internet Assignment

About 20,000 buildings make up the historical city centre of Amsterdam.