Holland, with its early development of industry and commerce, its early relations with the outside world, and its location at the mouth of the Rhine, could better be likened to Europe's Shanghai: highly international in outlook and comparatively free and open in thinking.
由於工、商業發展極早，國際關係也打開得早，他把位於萊茵河出海口的荷蘭比作「歐洲的上海」﹘﹘國際性大，國民的心態也較開放。