Everyone knows the Netherlands is a small country. But as we've been able to hear in the news this morning, it's likely going to be a little less small in the near future. After building islands off the coast of Dubai shaped like a palm tree and a map of the world, Dutch engineering companies are now going to undertake a somewhat more interesting task: building a 250,000 acre (about 400 sq miles) island off the coast of Holland, shaped (and here's the kicker) like a tulip. Imagine how that's gonna look on Google Earth. Oh wait - we don't have to:
The reasoning is that we need new places for people to love and industry to settle, and ground prices on the mainland have risen to the point where the cost of this island-building excersize is no longer prohibitive. So watch out, you Brits (and eventually Americans) we're coming your way! Again, this is in the spirit of that old saying: "God created the world, but the Dutch created the Netherlands".
For those of you not too familiar with Dutch geography: both of the lighter-colored island-like areas in the top right of the picture we already created from sheer nothingness before
