Including people over the age of 45 born in the Netherlands to Dutch-born parents, the sampling of 42, people showed that taller men, on average, had more children. Since tall men are more likely to pass on genes that made them tall, the study suggests that the Dutch population is evolving to become taller. Similar studies in the U. These factors suggest that natural selection in the U.
The surge in height of the Dutch population is likely only temporary, similar to Americans growth in height during the 18th century. Moored up in a murky marina, the offshore farm looked more like a barn. It had a curved roof that reminded me of waves, and a gangplank that gave the cows access to an uninviting strip of grass on the dock. The sea breeze brought with it wafts of manure. In the distance, cranes loaded cargo onto ships and barges cruised by laden with petrochemicals.
The herd looked incongruous in the industrial landscape. Since opening last year, the floating farm has become a curious attraction in Rotterdam. Believed to be the first of its kind, the project continues two longstanding Dutch traditions: conquering the ocean and dairy farming, which between them have not only helped shape the Netherlands, much of which was stolen from the sea , but also its people, whose appetite for dairy has fuelled their remarkable growth.
A land of giants, the Netherlands is the loftiest nation on Earth: the average height of a Dutch man is And taller men were less likely to be childless or single. Martin Enserink explains for Science : combined with evidence that taller men tend to have higher incomes, better health and higher ratings from potential sex partners, the new study seems to confirm that sexual selection is alive and well within the Dutch population.
But why? But, among these nations, the Netherlands stands out the most. The Netherlands has witnessed a staggering increase of 20 centimeters in average human height compared to the Dutchmen in the mid th century. The average height of adult Dutch women is around 1. This is why the Netherlands is often referred to as the land of giants. As mentioned before, many nations have witnessed steady growth in their citizens' average height over the past decades.
Just in years, the Dutch people have made tremendous progress in wealth, medical treatment, and hygiene and made a dramatic improvement to their living standards. A group of researchers at Michigan State University have found a direct link between the higher living standard and the dramatic increase in the height of Dutchmen. And from their study, they have found that even a few decades ago, the Dutch people were the smallest in Europe.
Their average height was around 1. But today, they are the tallest in the world. The researchers found that the sharp increase in height of the Dutch people was triggered by the change in the political system of the Netherlands in the mid th century. Before the establishment of the liberal democracy in the Netherlands, this country was a colonial empire. During the colonial period, most of the wealth of the Netherlands was in the hands of high society. But after the establishment of liberal democracy, the wealth started to diffuse among all the groups in Dutch society.
As a result, the income of the average people of Dutch society got a boost. They got access to better medical care, medicine, better products, and nutritious food. Their average lifespan increased and the mortality rate dropped down. Thus, their living standards also improved. This directly contributed to the sharp increase in the average height among the Dutch people. And this explanation is based on pretty straightforward logic.
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