The Netherlands is world-renowned for its flat landscape and innovative water management. About 26% of the country sits below sea level, and nearly 50% of its land is less than one meter above sea level. This geography is the result of centuries of land reclamation, where 'polders' (land reclaimed from the sea) were created using dikes and windmills to pump out water. Amsterdam is the constitutional capital, famous for its canal system, but The Hague is the administrative capital and the seat of the government and the International Court of Justice. The name 'Netherlands' literally means 'Lower Lands.' The country is a founding member of the EU and is one of the most densely populated nations in Europe. Because of its vulnerability to rising sea levels, the Netherlands has developed some of the most advanced flood defense systems in the world, including the Delta Works, which consists of a series of dams, sluices, and storm surge barriers.