Many people in the Netherlands expect the world to end in 2012 and thousands say they are taking precautions to prepare for the apocalypse.

According to United Press International, theories on the supposed catastrophe varied, most tied the 2012 date to the end of the Mayan calendar.

Many of those are stocking up on emergency supplies, including life rafts and other equipment.

Some were optimistic about the end of civilization,saying they no longer want to live in the modern world.

"You know, maybe it's really not that bad that the Netherlands will be destroyed," one of the believers said. "I don't like it here anymore. Take immigration, for example. They keep letting people in. And then we have to build more houses, which makes the Netherlands even heavier. The country will sink even lower, which will make the flooding worse."

Information from: UPI.com, http://www.upi.com/