15 March 2014

#537 Netherlands


For more info about the Netherlands see received postcard #277.

About some facts written on the postcard:

Margaretha Geertruida "Margreet" Zelle MacLeod (7 August 1876 – 15 October 1917), better known by the stage name Mata Hari, was a member of the Frisian minority from the Netherlands, and was an exotic dancer and courtesan who was convicted of being a spy and executed by firing squad in France under charges of espionage for Germany during World War I.
Vincent Willem van Gogh (30 March 1853 – 29 July 1890) was a post-Impressionist painter of Dutch origin whose work - notable for its rough beauty, emotional honesty, and bold color - had a far-reaching influence on 20th-century art. After years of painful anxiety and frequent bouts of mental illness, he died aged 37 from a gunshot wound, generally accepted to be self-inflicted (although no gun was ever found). His work was then known to only a handful of people and appreciated by fewer still.

The Netherlands is a geographically low-lying country, with about 20% of its area and 21% of its population located below sea level, and 50% of its land lying less than one metre above sea level. This distinct feature contributes to the country's name: in Dutch (Nederland), English, and many other European languages, its name literally means "Low Land" or "Low Country."


Thank you, Anita !

Sent on: March 7, 2014
Received on: March 14, 2014

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