#15 Postcard Trivia 2.20.18
It's true, Dutch athletes dominate speed skating events at the Winter Olympics. What is less true, however, was an explanation by an NBC commentator that Dutch athletes are exceptional speed skaters because they spend so much time skating on frozen canals in Amsterdam (Business Insider 2.11.18). As it turns out, athletes, and all other people in the Netherlands, get around in cars, trains and boats, just like everyone else! The canals do freeze sometimes, and people do enjoy skating on them, but it is not a typical mode of transportation. What is more influential, however, is that Dutch children grow up in a culture that loves speed skating and encourages early proficiency. Funds are dedicated to promote the sport and provide training at an early age. And it doesn't hurt that the Dutch people are among the tallest in the world. Long legs are an advantage in speed skating. So, the canals aren't responsible for gold medal dominance - hard work, training, and dedication make the difference! But the canals are an amazing accomplishment of engineering from the 16th century. Built in a concentric circular pattern around the original core of the city, the network of canals extended the city and transformed a swamp into a viable port and transportation hub that allowed Amsterdam and the country to prosper. The 1960-era postcard above shows canal tour boats at Reederij Plas (Reederij Lake). The card advertises 1 1/4 hour tours of the canals and harbors on the double-deck boats. In addition to the canal system, Amsterdam is remarkable for another early accomplishment.
Which of these "firsts" happened in Amsterdam?
A. first public school system in Europe B. first stock exchange in the world C. first brain surgery performed
Hover cursor over image above or touch image to reveal answer.
