Only half the Kingdom of the Netherlands is more than one metre above sea level, and eighteen per cent of its surface area is water. With a population of nearly seventeen million the number of people per square kilometre of land is nearly five hundred, which puts it up close to Bangladesh and South Korea in the population density stakes.....It was not always so. The Dutch Golden Age, in the 17th century, saw economic growth with the Dutch East and West India Companies creating colonies and trading posts across the globe; settlements included New Amsterdam in North America and the Cape Colony in South Africa; art and science flourished. But after the boom came something of a bust, and from Napoleon to Hitler, despite being a constitutional monarchy since 1815 and a parliamentary democracy since 1848, the Netherlands have had their share of troubles.In 1950, all modes of transportation were the same percentage.
Within the first decade, there was a noticeable 20% climb in the number of car usage. The rate of growth of car traffic continued greatly year after year until it reached its peak at 140% in 2000. Train and bicycle traffic rose to an almost similar rate of about 8% while the other modes of transport showed the slowest gain to less than 5%. From 1960 to 1970, the percentage of other public vehicles remained constant despite the continuous upward trend of both train and bicycle usage. Nevertheless, all three categories (train, bicycle and other public transport) persistently escalated until the year 2000 with approximately 20, 18 and 15 percent respectively.
Within the first decade, there was a noticeable 20% climb in the number of car usage. The rate of growth of car traffic continued greatly year after year until it reached its peak at 140% in 2000. Train and bicycle traffic rose to an almost similar rate of about 8% while the other modes of transport showed the slowest gain to less than 5%. From 1960 to 1970, the percentage of other public vehicles remained constant despite the continuous upward trend of both train and bicycle usage. Nevertheless, all three categories (train, bicycle and other public transport) persistently escalated until the year 2000 with approximately 20, 18 and 15 percent respectively.
