About one-quarter of the present total land area of the Netherlands has been reclaimed from the sea and from lakes during the past 800 years, the greatest achievement being the conversion of the former Zuyder Zee into a freshwater lake, the IJsselmeer, and the reclamation from it, to date, of four major polders together occupying 165,000 hectares. Besides agricultural uses, the more recent schemes provide for recreation, afforestation, nature conservancy and new towns.
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