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Netherlands

Facts About the Netherlands

Background: The Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed in 1815. In 1830 Belgium seceded and formed a separate kingdom. The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I but suffered a brutal invasion and occupation by Germany in World War II. A modern, industrialized nation, the Netherlands is also a large exporter of agricultural products. The country was a founding member of NATO and the EC, and participated in the introduction of the euro in 1999.
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government
Currency: euro (EUR)

Geography of the Netherlands

Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany
Geographic coordinates: 52 30 N, 5 45 E
Area:
total: 41,532 sq km
land: 33,889 sq km
water: 7,643 sq km
Land boundaries:
total: 1,027 km
border countries: Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km
Coastline: 451 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters
Terrain: mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Prins Alexanderpolder -7 m
highest point: Vaalserberg 321 m
Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 25%
forests and woodland: 8%
other: 39% (1996 est.)
Irrigated land: 6,000 sq km (1996 est.)
Natural hazards: the extensive system of dikes and dams protects nearly one-half of the total area from being flooded
Environment – current issues: water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic compounds, and nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; air pollution from vehicles and refining activities; acid rain.
Environment – international agreements:
party to:  Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:  Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography – note: located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)

People of the Netherlands

Population: 16,407,491 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years:  18.38% 
15-64 years:  67.9%
65 years and over:  13.72% 
Population growth rate: 0.55% 
Birth rate: 11.85 births/1,000 population 
Death rate: 8.69 deaths/1,000 population 
Net migration rate: 2.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population 
Infant mortality rate: 4.37 deaths/1,000 live births 
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:  78.43 years
male:  75.55 years
female:  81.44 years 
Total fertility rate: 1.65 children born/woman 
Nationality:
noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)
adjective: Dutch
Ethnic groups: Dutch 91%, Moroccans, Turks, and other 9% (1999 est.)
Religions: Roman Catholic 31%, Protestant 21%, Muslim 4.4%, other 3.6%, unaffiliated 40% (1998)
Languages: Dutch
Literacy:
definition:  age 15 and over can read and write
total population:  99% (2000 est.)

Netherlands Economy

Economy – overview: The Netherlands is a prosperous and open economy depending heavily on foreign trade. The economy is noted for stable industrial relations, moderate inflation, a sizable current account surplus, and an important role as a European transportation hub. Industrial activity is predominantly in food processing, chemicals, petroleum refining, and electrical machinery. A highly mechanized agricultural sector employs no more than 4% of the labor force but provides large surpluses for the food-processing industry and for exports. The Dutch rank third worldwide in value of agricultural exports, behind the United States and France. The Dutch economy has expanded by 3% or more in each of the last four years and real GDP growth is likely to be about 3.6% in 2001. The government in 2001 will implement its most comprehensive tax reform since World War II, designed to reduce high income tax levels and redirect the fiscal burden onto consumption. The Dutch were among the first 11 EU countries establishing the euro currency zone on 1 January 1999.GDP: purchasing power parity – $388.4 billion (2000 est.)
GDP – real growth rate: 3.4% (1999 est.), 4% (2000 est.)
GDP – per capita: purchasing power parity – $24,400 (2000 est.)
GDP – composition by sector:
agriculture:  3.3%
industry:  26.3%
services:  70.4% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 25.1% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.2% (1999 est.), 2.6% (2000 est.)
Labor force: 7.2 million (2000)
Labor force – by occupation: services 73%, industry 23%, agriculture 4% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate: 2.6% (2000 est.)
Budget:
revenues:  $134 billion
expenditures:  $134 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
Industries: agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1999), 3.2% (2000)
Electricity – production: 85.294 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity – production by source:
fossil fuel:  90.25%
hydro:  0.11%
nuclear:  4.27%
other:  5.37% (1999)
Electricity – consumption: 97.76 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity – exports: 3.97 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity – imports: 22.407 billion kWh (1999)
Agriculture – products: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock
Exports: $169 billion (f.o.b., 1998), $210.3 billion (f.o.b., 2000)
Exports – commodities: machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs, clothing
Exports – partners: EU 78% (Germany 26%, Belgium-Luxembourg 12%, France 12%, UK 11%, Italy 6%), Central and Eastern Europe, US (2000)
Imports: $152 billion (f.o.b., 1998), $201.2 billion (c.i.f., 2000 est.)
Imports – commodities: machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs, clothing
Imports – partners: EU 56% (Germany 18%, Belgium-Luxembourg 10%, UK 5%, France 6%), US 9%, Central and Eastern Europe (2000)
Debt – external: $0
Economic aid – donor: ODA, $3.5 billion (2000 est.)
Currency: euro (EUR)

History of Netherlands

The Dutch are primarily of Germanic stock with some Gallo-Celtic mixture. Their small homeland frequently has been threatened with destruction by the North Sea and has often been invaded by the great European powers.

Julius Caesar found the region which is now the Netherlands inhabited by Germanic tribes in the first century B.C. The western portion was inhabited by the Batavians and became part of a Roman province; the eastern portion was inhabited by the Frisians. Between the fourth and eighth centuries A.D., most of both portions were conquered by the Franks. The area later passed into the hands of the House of Burgundy and the Austrian Hapsburgs. Falling under harsh Spanish rule in the 16th century, the Dutch revolted in 1558 under the leadership of Willem of Orange. By virtue of the Union of Utrecht in 1579, the seven northern Dutch provinces became the Republic of the United Netherlands.

During the 17th century, considered its “golden era,” the Netherlands became a great sea and colonial power. Among other achievements, this period saw the emergence of some of painting’s “Old Masters,” including Rembrandt and Hals, whose works–along with those of later artists such as Mondriaan and Van Gogh–are today on display in museums throughout the Netherlands.

The country’s importance declined, however, with the gradual loss of Dutch technological superiority and after wars with Spain, France, and England in the 18th century. The Dutch United Provinces supported the Americans in the Revolutionary War. In 1795, French troops ousted Willem V of Orange, the Stadhouder under the Dutch Republic and head of the House of Orange.

Following Napoleon’s defeat in 1813, the Netherlands and Belgium became the “Kingdom of the United Netherlands” under King Willem I, son of Willem V of Orange. The Belgians withdrew from the union in 1830 to form their own kingdom. King Willem II was largely responsible for the liberalizing revision of the constitution in 1848.

The Netherlands prospered during the long reign of Willem III (1849-90). At the time of his death, his daughter Wilhelmina was 10 years old. Her mother, Queen Emma, reigned as regent until 1898, when Wilhelmina reached the age of 18 and became the monarch.

The Netherlands proclaimed neutrality at the start of both world wars. Although it escaped occupation in World War I, German troops overran the country in May 1940. Queen Wilhelmina fled to London and established a government-in-exile. Shortly after the Netherlands was liberated in May 1945, the Queen returned. Crown Princess Juliana acceded to the throne in 1948 upon her mother’s abdication. In April 1980, Queen Juliana abdicated in favor of her daughter, now Queen Beatrix. Crown Prince Willem Alexander was born in 1967.

Elements of the Netherlands’ once far-flung empire were granted either full independence or nearly complete autonomy after World War II. Indonesia formally gained its independence in 1949, and Suriname became independent in 1975. The five islands of the Netherlands Antilles (Curacao, Bonaire, Saba, St. Eustatius, and a part of St. Maarten) and Aruba are integral parts of the Netherlands realm but enjoy a large degree of autonomy.

Map of Netherlands