basic facts
The Netherlands, often called Holland, is situated in the Northwest of Europe and one of the first parliamentary democracies of the world. The country is wellknown for its liberal policies toward softdrugs, prostitution, immigration, homosexuality, euthanasia and abortion.
With 399,5 inhabitants per square kilometre, The Netherlands is the most densely populated country in Europe. Most people live in the Randstad, a conurbation located in the west of the country and containing the four largest cities: Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht.
Holland has a capitalist market-based open economy and is the 16th largest economy in the world. Main activities are transport (Rotterdam port), food-processing, financial services, chemicals and electrical machinery.
The Netherlands is one of the most secular countries in the world, more than 48% of the inhabitants have no religion. Less than 20% of the believers visit a church regulary.
Well-known Dutch painters are Rembrandt van Rijn, Johannes Vermeer, Vincent van Gogh and Piet Mondriaan. Famous writers are Joost van den Vondel, P.C. Hooft, Gerard Reve and Jan Wolkers.
Holland is a very flat country with a moderate sea climate. 20% of its area (and 21% of its population) are located below sealevel. Dikes, dunes, the Closure Dike and the Delta Works protect them.
|
Country |
Netherlands (also called Holland) |
Capital city |
Amsterdam |
Seat of government |
The Hague (Den Haag) |
Number of provinces |
12 |
Number of municipals |
431 |
|
Head of State |
Queen Beatrix |
Prime minister |
Mark Rutte |
Form of government |
Parliamentary democracy & constitutional monarchy |
|
Language |
Dutch |
Currency |
Euro |
Time Zone |
CET (UTC +1) |
|
Membership of |
European Union, NATO, OECD, WTO, UN |
|
People p/km2 |
399,5 |
Population |
16,589,400 |
Population growth rate |
0.5 % |
Net migration rate |
2.46 % |
Sex ratio |
0.98 male/female |
Literacy |
1.6 % |
|
0-14 years |
17.6 % |
15-64 years |
67.8 % |
65+ years |
14.6 % |
Median age |
40.4 years |
Life expectancy male |
78.0 years |
Life expectancy female |
82.3 years |
|
Birth rate |
10.4 p/1000 population |
Death rate |
8.6 p/1000 population |
Infant mortality rate |
4.2 p/1000 live births |
Total fertility rate |
1.8 children born per woman |
|
Roman Catholic |
27.0 % |
Protestant |
16.6 % |
Orthodox |
0.0 % |
Muslim |
5.7 % |
Hindu |
1.3 % |
Jewish |
0.0 % |
Other |
1.0 % |
Unaffiliated |
48.4 % |
|
Adult prevalence rate |
0.2 % |
People infected |
18,500 |
Yearly aids deaths |
66 |
|
Internetaccess at home |
87 % |
|
Location |
Northwestern Europe |
Seacoast |
523 km |
Land borders |
Belgium to the south and Germany to the East |
Total area |
41,526 sq km |
Land area |
34,051 sq km |
Water area |
7,475 sq km |
National Parks |
3 % of total area |
Main rivers |
Rhine (Rijn), Meuse (Maas), Waal |
Biggest lake |
IJsselmeer |
Number of Islands |
8 (including Bonaire, Saba, St. Eustatius) |
Biggest island |
Texel |
Highest point |
Mount Scenery (Saba island) +877 me |
Lowest point |
Zuidplaspolder 6.7 m below sealevel |
Landscape |
Very flat |
Natural disasters |
1953 Flood |
|
Climate |
Moderate maritime seaclimate |
January |
2,8 Celsius | 67 mm rain | 52 hours sunshine |
February |
3,0 Celsius | 48 mm rain | 79 hours sunshine |
March |
5,8 Celsius | 65 mm rain | 114 hours sunshine |
April |
8,3 Celsius | 45 mm rain| 158 hours sunshine |
May |
12,7 Celsius | 62 mm rain | 204 hours sunshine |
June |
15,2 Celsius | 72 mm rain | 187 hours sunshine |
July |
17,4 Celsius | 70 mm rain | 196 hours sunshine |
August |
17,2 Celsius | 58 mm rain | 192 hours sunshine |
September |
14,2 Celsius | 72 mm rain | 133 hours sunshine |
October |
10,3 Celsius | 77 mm rain | 106 hours sunshine |
November |
6,2 Celsius | 81 mm rain | 60 hours sunshine |
December |
4,0 Celsius | 77 mm rain | 44 hours sunshine |
|
GDP |
$ 677.49 billions |
GDP per head |
$ 40,558 |
Annual growth |
0.3 % |
Inflation |
0.4 % |
Unemploymentrate |
4.0 % |
Major industries |
Food-processing, financial services, chemicals, transport |
Global companies |
Unilever, Heineken, ING, AKZO, DSM, Shell, Philips |
Economic activities |
International trade, banking, transport |
Natural resources |
excellent access to the hinterland, natural gas fields |
Export |
$ 537 billions |
Import |
$ 485 billions |
Principal Export |
Machinery, chemicals, fuel, foodproducts |
Principal Import |
Machinery, transport equipment, chemicals, fuel, cloths |
Investments |
Direct investments (in foreign companies) |
|
Main airport |
Schiphol |
Main seaport |
Rotterdam |
|
Labor force part. men |
59.5 % |
Labor force part. women |
40.5 % |
|