Apart from an awesome little drink called gin (nope, it wasn’t invented by the Brits), there are a number of other important inventions that are the brainchild of Dutch scientists, architects, and more.
In fact, many Dutch inventions have been groundbreaking.
If you’re anything like me, you’ll be pretty surprised that some of the inventions on this list came from the lowlands. So, without further ado, let’s dive in!
1. The submarine
No, the Beatles didn’t invent the (yellow) submarine, nor did Englishman William Bourne (though he developed the concept).
In the 1620s, it was actually Dutch inventor Cornelis Drebbel who constructed the first vessel that could be navigated underwater.
He was employed by the English Royal Navy, which used the River Thames as a testing ground for the submarine.
The submersible consisted of a wooden frame with leather stretched over it, and it was propelled by oars.
It is actually pretty scary to think that there was only a piece of greased leather protecting you from the freezing ocean. Brrr! 🌊
2. The Olympic flame
Bet you didn’t know that the Olympic flame was originally Dutch! Now you’re impressed, right?
It was, however, invented “by accident” when architect Jan Wils designed the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam.
He created a tall tower with a smoke effect to attract attention. The resulting fire instead became a symbolic element of the games. Hence, it has been a tradition at the Olympics to use the now world-famous flame.
3. The telescope & microscope
Yep, both of them are Dutch inventions! In 1608 (one year before Galileo, say what?!), spectacle-craftsmen Zacharias Janssen and Hans Lipperhey from Middelburg developed the telescope.
The first stellar spyglass consisted of a simple tube and a pair of biconvex and biconcave lenses.
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As far as the microscope is concerned, Dutchmen Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Zacharias Janssen, and Hans Janssen are mentioned as inventors.
Van Leeuwenhoek used a magnifying glass with one lens that could magnify up to 237 times!
4. The eye test
You know when you go to the eye specialist, and you have to read letters ranging from large to small off of a board? Yes? Well, it’s because the Dutch care about our eyesight!
Herman Snellen invented this chart (called the Snellen chart) in 1862.
5. The speed camera
Not quite sure if we should thank the Dutch for this one.
However, the rally driver and inventor Maus Gatsonides is responsible for inventing the first automatic speedometer, which he began producing and selling in 1958.
He used two rubber tubes, which, as soon as the car tyres hit them, would activate the chronometer to measure the speed.
6. CDs, DVDs, and Blu-Ray
Joop Sinjou and Kees Schouhamer Immink are the masterminds behind the compact disc, developed by Sony and Philips. They based the size of the CD’s hole on a Dutch 10-cent coin.
Next to the CD, Philips also invented the cassette tape, the DVD, and Blu-ray — seriously impressive!
7. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
Alright, I’ve got one more of these Dutch inventions! Dutchman Dr Jaap Haartsen came up with the idea for Bluetooth while he was working for the Swedish company Ericsson.
And if that doesn’t convince you that the Dutch are quite the inventors, then guess what? Wi-Fi has Dutch roots too, with Cees Links playing a vital role in its creation in 1997!
He paved the way for Wi-Fi technology as we know and use it today (even though it was actually developed by an Australian organisation called CSIRO).
And the list of Dutch inventions doesn’t end there! Which Dutch invention do you love most?