No one notices if you pull this ring

0:06 In Putten, the Netherlands, James pulls on a large metal ring connected

0:11 to a stone that is set into the ground.

0:14 An inscription says, "Lift the Netherlands by this ring and no one will notice".

0:20 Why Is it there?

0:21 I'll say that again.

0:22 In Putten, the Netherlands, James pulls on a large metal ring connected

0:26 to a stone that is set into the ground.

0:29 An inscription says, "Lift the Netherlands by this ring and no one will notice".

0:34 Why is it there?

0:35 The Netherlands is obviously known for a bunch of artificial land.

0:40 You know, like...

0:42 they did all these like water management projects

0:45 to basically do a bunch of land reclamation stuff,

0:48 which, I dunno exactly how that fits together.

0:50 But that's like my first thought since

0:52 we're talking about land in the Netherlands.

0:54 I mean, is this like a public art project or something?

0:57 Is my initial thought.

0:59 It's like, it's meant to...

1:03 It would seem to me that this has no actual practical purpose,

1:06 but that it like is meant to demonstrate an idea,

1:09 which is like, it's a big metal ring that goes into the ground,

1:13 and you can grab it and pull it.

1:15 Yeah.

1:16 And if you were to do that, it would— it's like it's meant

1:21 to suggest you are lifting the Netherlands up higher or something in some way,

1:27 which I don't know what that would represent, but...

1:30 that's what it sounds like.

1:32 Well, the inscription, translated: "Lift the Netherlands by this ring,

1:36 and no one will notice".

1:38 Right, so I guess the question is,

1:40 why would no one notice if you lifted up the Netherlands?

1:42 Is it because the Netherlands...

1:45 the definition of sea level is set in the Netherlands?

1:48 So if you lifted it up, sea level would change everywhere,

1:51 and then it would— I don't know.

1:53 Is there some standard?

1:54 is there some measurement standard or something that is set in the Netherlands?

1:58 So if...

1:59 You know what I mean?

2:00 Does that make sense?

2:02 Mhm.

2:02 Yeah.

2:02 Keep thinking that way.

2:03 Probably not measurement standard, but yeah,

2:06 you're definitely circling the right area there.

2:10 But there is also, I'm pretty sure— Doesn't the Netherlands

2:13 also have a bunch of land that's below sea level?

2:16 It does, yep.

2:17 But it's like, if someone raised that land, you wouldn't be able to tell.

2:24 How would that be possible?

2:26 Well, if you actually could lift that ring any significant distance,

2:30 people would notice, but...

2:33 the inscription is, like you said, Adam— Wait, whoa, whoa.

2:36 (blabbers) The freaking inscription is lying to us?

2:40 Well, land is heavy.

2:41 Land is pretty heavy.

2:43 Yes, yes.

2:44 If someone could actually lift the Netherlands by that ring,

2:47 people would notice.

2:48 But the inscription is, like you said, Adam, it's artistic.

2:52 I think it's still true.

2:54 Okay.

2:54 It's meant to represent something.

2:57 Is it accurate?

2:58 Accurate enough, yeah.

2:59 Okay.

3:00 Yeah.

3:00 Accurate enough.

3:01 Because I would argue that no one would ever notice because you

3:04 would argue— you would— you can't lift land very much, that it's heavy.

3:08 So you're saying if you did actually manage to lift the land,

3:11 people would notice?

3:13 But...

3:14 Yeah, they would absolutely notice if the Netherlands was

3:17 somehow a bit higher than it used to be.

3:19 Well, okay.

3:19 But...

3:20 Okay, alright, Tom.

3:21 You're acting like I'm crazy for thinking that if you lifted the land,

3:26 no one would notice,

3:27 when you told me that it said that if you did it, that no one would notice.

3:30 Well, not all inscriptions are true, you know.

3:32 That's true.

3:33 I would say this is...

3:35 true in an artistic sense.

3:37 And that will make sense once you clock the answer.

3:40 Did you say where this ring is?

3:42 It's in...

3:43 Putten?

3:43 Putten.

3:43 Which is about 50 kilometres, 30 miles east of Amsterdam.

3:47 East, so inland?

3:49 Inland.

3:49 East of Amsterdam.

3:51 And that is important.

3:52 Is it relevant where in the Netherlands the ring is?

3:55 Like where geographically?

3:56 Oh yes.

3:57 Is it at the geographic center of the Netherlands?

4:00 Yes, it is, Adam!

4:01 So, if you lift the Netherlands by that ring...

4:04 No one would notice, 'cause it'd be perfectly balanced.

4:06 It would stay level.

4:08 Correct, yes.

4:09 Ah, okay.

4:09 That is absolutely right.

4:11 That is the gravitational centre of the Netherlands

4:14 as calculated by the wonderfully titled computer geologist,

4:19 Frans Storbeck, in 1984.

4:22 He worked out the centre of gravity, and the same year,

4:25 a stone with a ring was placed there.

4:28 And so in artistic terms, if you like,

4:30 if you were to lift the country from that point, nothing would topple over.

4:35 I would argue that Germany would notice.

4:37 Yes, Germany would certainly noti— Anyone on the border, definitely noticing.

4:42 Whoever wrote this inscription thinks that anyone not

4:45 in the Netherlands doesn't count as a person.

4:47 It's very much cartoon physics here, but question submitter James says,

4:52 "I have personally lifted the country from this ring,

4:54 and I can confirm none of my friends noticed." The Lateral

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5:08 Caption+ by JS* caption.plus| @caption_plus