The Netherlands is a densely populated country combining high standards of living with a great democratic tradition. It could well be the prime example of a country that has always had to (and knows how to) mold the natural environment to suit its needs. It is a country that time and time again has won more land from the sea. Perhaps in the near future extra space will be found not just by increasing the country's width but by expanding vertically. This kind of operation would seem to be applicable to many more countries. It raises questions of global significance.