If Holland did not protect itself against flooding, half the country would be under water. After all, a quarter is already below sea level, including all the major cities in the west of the country. Holland has an extensive network of polders, canals and pumping stations to keep itself dry. MuseumsThere are a number of museums, like the Nieuwland museum situated in the polders reclaimed from the Zuider Zee, which show how Holland reclaimed land from the sea, and built the first polders. The Beemsterpolder