Size is just a number Man

I’ve spent a lot of time talking about the "vibe" of West Virginia, but today I want to look at the cold, hard numbers. When you compare my old home to my new one, the statistics are actually pretty staggering.

Land and People Geographically, West Virginia is about 1.5 times the size of the Netherlands. But here’s the kicker: 20% of the Netherlands is water, and 26% of the country is actually below sea level. Meanwhile, the lowest point in West Virginia is 250 feet above sea level.

Despite being smaller and partially underwater, the Netherlands is packed. There are 18 million people there compared to 1.8 million here. To put that in perspective, the population density in West Virginia is 73 people per square mile. In the Netherlands? It’s 1,260. Back home, you’re never truly alone; here, you can actually find some breathing room.

The "Tulip King" vs. The Mountain Wildflower You can't talk about the Netherlands without talking about flowers. To say there's a difference in scale is an understatement. While West Virginia has a lovely local floriculture scene worth about $25 million, the Netherlands is a global powerhouse.

The Dutch produce over 2 billion tulips annually and control 60% of the world’s flower trade, with an industry valued at over $5 billion. In West Virginia, you might find a nice "U-Pick" farm with a few thousand blooms, but back home, flowers are an industrial-scale obsession.

On the Road The Netherlands has over double the miles of road (88,000 vs 39,000) and nearly 10 million cars compared to West Virginia’s 1.6 million. You’d think more cars would make the Netherlands more dangerous, but it’s actually the opposite. It is roughly 3.5 times riskier to drive in West Virginia based on distance traveled. Between the winding mountain roads and the local driving styles, you definitely have to keep your wits about you.

The "Tall Man" Stats I’m 6’6”. In the Netherlands, I’m tall, but I’m not an alien—about 1 in 50 men are my height. In West Virginia, the average height of a man is 5'10", and that's about two inches shorter than the average Dutchman, my height puts me in the "1 in a thousand" category here. I really am the "tallest thing they’ve ever seen" most days.

What’s in Your Glass? If you’re thirsty, you’re probably drinking soda here—West Virginians drink about 50 gallons a year, double the Dutch average. The Dutch win the caffeine war, drinking 62 gallons of coffee and tea annually, but the biggest shock is the milk.

In West Virginia, the average person drinks about 15 gallons of milk a year. In the Netherlands? It’s a staggering 90 gallons. That’s 341 liters of milk per person! I guess all those Dutch cows are being put to good work. When it comes to alcohol, everyone drinks about the same amount of beer (23 gallons), but the Dutch add 6 gallons of wine to the mix, while West Virginians barely drink one.

The Skies Above: Sun, Rain, and the "Snow Belt" You can’t talk about a new home without talking about the weather. In the Netherlands, we are famous for "grey skies" and constant drizzle. In West Virginia, the weather is much more… dramatic.

Interestingly, West Virginia is actually "wetter" than the Netherlands. The Netherlands gets about 31 inches of rain a year, spread over 190 days—it’s a constant light mist. West Virginia gets 45 inches, but it comes in heavy bursts and thunderstorms. When it rains here, it means business.

Then there is the snow. In the Netherlands, 8 inches of snow per year is normal, and it brings the country to a halt. West Virginia averages 35 inches, but in the higher "Snow Belt," you can see over 100 inches in a single winter. I’ve learned very quickly that a shovel is a mandatory tool here. On the bright side, West Virginia gets 2,200 hours of sunshine a year compared to just 1,600 in the Netherlands. That extra Vitamin D is enough to make even a grumpy Dutchman smile.

The Hard Truths: Life and Guns The most sobering stat is life expectancy. While the average age in both places is 43, a person in the Netherlands is expected to live to 82. In West Virginia, that number drops to 71.

Then, there's the "Elephant in the Room": Guns. In West Virginia, there are roughly 120 guns for every 100 people. In the Netherlands, that number is 2.6.

Coming from a place where gun laws are incredibly strict, the culture here is a massive adjustment. In the Netherlands, you need a year of club membership, psychological screening, and police home inspections just to own one. Using a gun for "self-defense" isn't even a legal option. I’ll be honest: I still look at people carrying guns here with a mix of intimidation and fear. Even though we have guns in our household now, I don’t think I could ever bring myself to carry one.

I guess I still have a few more miles to drive—and a lot more milk to drink—before I truly fit in!