The Dutch for centuries have built dikes around wet, low-lying areas and pumped them dry with windmills. After three, four, or even ten years, when the land is dry, they plant grass and pasture livestock there. One fifth of Holland has been reclaimed this way from the sea.
荷蘭人造地的原理，是將淺水窪地的水用風車抽乾，或在外海築堤圍地，再將水抽走，等三、五年甚或十年地乾後，於底部種植牧草，因此荷蘭的畜牧業很發達。