It had long sought protection in neutrality, but after the country and some of its colonies were occupied during the Second World War, Dutch leaders recognised that the only way to ensure security was to form a peacetime alliance with their European and North American neighbours. Although its vast commercial empire faded long before it joined NATO, international commerce remained crucial to the Dutch economy during the Cold War - and thereafter. This stance and the country’s geography go together, and help to understand the Netherlands’ choices. Over time, this openness also led to a high level of social tolerance on issues as fundamental as life and death and its consideration for issues beyond its frontiers is reflected in the Dutch constitution, which states that “the government shall promote the development of the international legal order”. For a long time, the Netherlands’ long-term exposure to different customs and cultures created an openness of mind that became part of its culture, introducing a balance with the steady influence of the clergy back home. Some even say it became the foundation of the modern corporate model. The government created the Dutch East Indian Company, an amalgamation of Dutch trading companies, which became a business model for the country.
The land of Van Gogh has been a seafaring country for centuries, sending its citizens around the world and establishing a global network of shipping routes and trading partners. A land of commerce and rich agricultural land, it is known worldwide for its exports and its expertise in water management. With a significant part of its territory at, or even under, sea level it is forever battling high winds and strong tides. If ever there were a country that was tributary of its geography, it is the Netherlands, which literally means low countries. Speaking at the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty We who are vitally interested in the security of the North Atlantic area henceforth stand united in our resolve to repel aggression, just as we stand united in our resolve not to attack others.
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