The history of tranquil and attractive living places continues to this day, 400 years later. Dutch houses, with their large windows, fresh flowers, and elegant yet functional furnishings, often feel like warm cocoons, secure from the unpredictable weather outside. In the Netherlands, it never rains but it pours -- wind, water, and snow arrive with great frequency. But despite the adversity, people continue to build homes here, turning their faces toward the sun even as they lose many roofs over their heads. The Netherlands has a population of 16 million people, most of whom live in an area no larger than Connecticut. This means that everyone knows someone who owns a house with a garage, because those are the only kinds that get built in the Netherlands. People also know someone who owns a vacation home, because those are very popular too. In fact, according to some studies, 90% of the Dutch would like to own a house on the beach or by the lake someday. But perhaps what's most interesting about the Netherlands is not how much people want things, but rather how they go about getting them. The majority of houses have two stories and contain between 3,000 and 5,000 square feet of living space. They're sold with everything included: furniture, appliances, even dishes and clothes. Buyers pay a deposit and then make monthly payments over time with no mortgage at all!