In the 12th century , local government agencies called `` waterschappen '' -LRB- MISC@1 `` water bodies '' -RRB- or `` hoogheemraadschappen '' -LRB- `` high home councils '' -RRB- started to appear , whose job it was to maintain the water level and to protect a region from floods .

People who live in the LOCATION@1 are called `` MISC@2 '' . Name `` The Netherlands '' means `` the low lands '' .
