Comparisons and Conclusions

Abstract

The urgent problems of population pressure now confronting the Dutch at Government, provincial and municipal levels were referred to in broad terms in Chapter 1. They represent a challenge no less than national survival for the Netherlands as an economic force in Europe. The essential questions at issue are how to meet increasing demands upon land made by a vigorous and increasing population; how to reconcile competing land requirements for agriculture, industry, urban expansion, recreation and modern traffic; how to enable a small country to continue to accommodate and support a large population accustomed to a high standard of living and determined to maintain that standard. The Dutch have shown themselves to be unique among the nations in their ability to make really appreciable additions to the size of their homeland. But magnificent though their reclamation schemes have been, still are and will be, the maximum increase that can take place in the country’s area will scarcely be sufficient to meet the land requirements anticipated for the end of this century for town extensions, industry, motorways and other national purposes.