Vollen, Veen, Ouster, Amstel all have one Dam thing in common

Damn if it don't just make too much sense. 

The Dutch have literally created half of thier country from nothing. The have become masters at managing water and where they want it, what to do when you have too much as well as too little, and how to double the size of thier country or city without annexing, marrying, or going to war.

Dams....... By the way, the meaning of Dam in Dutch is: To block a river intending to control the flow of water. see english dictionary DAM...... damn! Ain't that convenient.

And canals and pumps. Amsterdam is created by first damning the Amstel river, then creating canals through which to control the water, then driving large wooden piles (ala Venice) into the muck and filling these islands with dirt. Install pumps everywhere to move the water from the river to the canal or fromcanal to canal. Almost 50% of Amsterdam comes from reclaimed land. Its a delicate balance that they have perfected.