The Dutch depend on cooperation and compromise to keep their feet dry. For a country which is two-third below sea level, this is an existential necessity.  They use the same approach in politics to broker solutions between parties with conflicting interests in complex matters. This model is also known as the 'polder' or ‘polderen'. The success with which the Dutch apply it to tackling complex issues proves it works. This article shows that the Netherlands is outperforming other countries in this area to the benefit of its citizens.