Netherlands

The European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, is known as Netherlands. Netherlands also comprises the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba in the Caribbean. The country is located in the West Europe. Geographically it is situated at 52 30 N, 5 45 E. The country occupies total 41,526 sq km (land-33,883 sq km, water: 7,643 sq km) on earth. It shares its border with the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east. The capital city Amsterdam is located at 52 23 N, 4 54 E.


Netherlands is the founding member of European Union, NATO, OECD. In Benelux economic union, Netherlands shares membership with Belgium and Luxembourg.


HISTORY:- Union of Utrecht was the originator of modern Netherlands. In 1581, Philip II was overthrown and the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands was formed. The republic had occupied many territories. During this age Netherlands had become economically strongest country in the world, but it came to an end because of the business rivalries with England and conflict between republicans and royalists. The uprising of the Batavian Republic had transformed Netherlands into a unitary state. The Kingdom of Holland (1806 – 1810) was established by Napoleon Bonaparte to make a strong hold in Netherlands. In the battle of Leipzig (1810 to 1813), Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated. Netherlands became the part of French Empire. William I of the Netherlands was crowned as the King of the Netherlands on 16th March, 1815. United Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed with Belgium. But Belgium gained freedom in 1830. Netherlands adopted a liberal constitution in 1848.King William III of the Netherlands died in 1890, which put the country into complete dire. It remained neutral in World War I, but invaded by Nazi Germans in the World War II. The country was freed in May 1945 by the Germans.

 

GEOGRAPHY:- The significant geographical characteristic of Netherlands is its  flatness. Netherlands is mostly formed of coastal lowland and reclaimed land. Coasts are low. Southeast region is hilly to mountainous. Coastline is 451 km long. The southwest part is formed of river delta.The lowest point is Zuidplaspolder (-7 m) and the highest point is Vaalserberg (322 m). Floods cause natural hazards very often. Rhine, Waal, Meuse are the three main rivers of Netherlands.

 

CLIMATE:- A temperate and maritime climate prevails in Netherlands with cold summers and tender winters.

 

GOVERNMENT:- The government works as Parliamentary democracy and Constitutional monarchy. The constitution had been adopted in 1815. The three branches of the government are:

Executive branch:- Consists of the monarch (chief of state), prime minister (head of government), cabinet.

Legislative branch:- Consists of the bicameral parliament-First (75 seats) and Second Chambers(150 seats).

Judicial branch:- Consists of the Supreme Court.

Christian Democratic Appeal, Labor Party, Socialist Party, Liberal Party are some of the major political parties. Suffrage is universal above 18.

Head of State--Queen Beatrix

Prime Minister--Jan Peter Balkenende

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Netherlands is decomposed into 12 provinces.

 

CULTURE:- Netherlands is globally known for its windmills, tulips, cheese, wooden shoes, delftware and gouda pottery, bicycles, dikes and surge barriers. Netherlands law system shows a great deal of liberty towards recreational drugs, prostitution, homosexuality, abortion, and euthanasia. Rembrandt van Rijn, Johannes Vermeer, Jan Steen, Jacob van Ruysdael, Vincent van Gogh and Piet Mondriaan are some of the world renowned Dutch painters. It is a country of philosophers. Scientist Christiaan Huygens discovered Titan. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek described single celled creature through microscope. Joost van den Vondel and P.C. Hooft were two great writers of the Dutch Golden Age.

 

ECONOMY:- Netherlands has an open economy which depends highly on foreign trades. It is the16th largest economy in the world and 10th largest in GDP per capita.

GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $638.9 billion; per capita $38,600.

Real growth rate: 3.5%.

Inflation: 1.6%.

Unemployment: 4.1%.

Arable land: 22%.

Agriculture: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock.

Labor force: 7.5 million; agriculture 2.2%, industry 24%, services 73.8% (2007 est.).

Industries: agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing.

Budget:  

Revenues: $302.8 billion

Expenditures: $352.3 billion (2007 est.)

Public debt:47.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, arable land.

Exports: $465.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.): machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs.

Imports: $402.4 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.): machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs, clothing.

Major trading partners: Germany, Belgium, UK, France, Italy, U.S., Russia, China (2006).

Monetary unit: Euro

 

LANGUAGE:- The official languages are Dutch, Frisian.

 

CITIES:- Capital city Amsterdam is the largest city. Other large cities are The Hague, (seat of government), Rotterdam, Utrecht, Eindhoven, Tilburg Almere, Groningen, Breda, Nijmegen

 

POPULATION:- Netherlands is a very populated country of West Europe.

Population:- 16,570,613

Growth rate: 0.5%

Density per sq mi: 1,265

Literacy rate: 99% (2003 est.)

 

RACE:-

Dutch 80.9%

Indonesian (Indo-Dutch, South Moluccan) 2.4%

German 2.4%

Turkish 2.2%

Surinamese 2.0%

Moroccan 1.9%

Antillean and Aruban 0.8%

Other 6.0%

 

RELIGION:-

Roman Catholic 31%

Dutch Reformed 13%

Calvinist 7%

Islam 6%

None 41% (2002)

 

HEALTH:-

Birth rate: 10.53 births/ 1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 8.71 deaths/ 1,000 population (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 4.81 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.25 years

HIV/AIDS deaths: less than 100 (2003 est.)

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 3,187

 

UNICEF:-  UNICEF in Netherlands is popularly known as UNICEF the Netherlands. UNICEF the Netherlands was formed in 1955. Among the main objectives, UNICEF the Netherlands focuses on fund rising, enhancing awareness about the UNICEF activities in Netherlands and children advocacy. UNICEF the Netherlands is assisted by more than 4000 volunteers. It collates funds by mail campaigns, advertising, and other sponsorships. To enrich awareness, it publishes and distributes a huge number of magazines, leaflets and brochures. It also allots school materials for primary school students. The latest addition in UNICEF the Netherlands is ‘Kids United Club’. The organization continuously works for advocacy of children with government organizations.

 

TRANSPORTATION:-

Railways: total: 2,811 km (2006).

Highways: total: 34,000 km (2004).

Waterways: 6,183 km

Ports and harbors: Amsterdam, Delfzijl, Dordrecht, Eemshaven, Groningen, Haarlem, Ijmuiden, Maastricht, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Utrecht, Vlissingen.

Airports: 27 (2007)

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