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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.

 

Polity
Netherlands (also called Holland)
Amsterdam
The Hague (Den Haag)
12
431
 
Queen Beatrix
Mark Rutte
Parliamentary democracy & constitutional monarchy
 
Dutch
Euro
CET (UTC +1)
 
European Union, NATO, OECD, WTO, UN
 
Population
399,5
16,589,400
0.5 %
2.46 %
0.98 male/female
1.6 %
 
Age structure
17.6 %
67.8 %
14.6 %
40.4 years
78.0 years
82.3 years
 
10.4 p/1000 population
8.6 p/1000 population
4.2 p/1000 live births
1.8 children born per woman
 
Religions
27.0 %
16.6 %
0.0 %
5.7 %
1.3 %
0.0 %
1.0 %
48.4 %
 
hiv/aids
0.2 %
18,500
66
 
Internet
87 %
 
Geography
Northwestern Europe
523 km
Belgium to the south and Germany to the East
41,526 sq km
34,051 sq km
7,475 sq km
3 % of total area
Rhine (Rijn), Meuse (Maas), Waal
IJsselmeer
8 (including Bonaire, Saba, St. Eustatius)
Texel
Mount Scenery (Saba island) +877 me
Zuidplaspolder 6.7 m below sealevel
Very flat
1953 Flood
 
Climate (average)
Moderate maritime seaclimate
2,8 Celsius | 67 mm rain | 52 hours sunshine
3,0 Celsius | 48 mm rain | 79 hours sunshine
5,8 Celsius | 65 mm rain | 114 hours sunshine
8,3 Celsius | 45 mm rain| 158 hours sunshine
12,7 Celsius | 62 mm rain | 204 hours sunshine
15,2 Celsius | 72 mm rain | 187 hours sunshine
17,4 Celsius | 70 mm rain | 196 hours sunshine
17,2 Celsius | 58 mm rain | 192 hours sunshine
14,2 Celsius | 72 mm rain | 133 hours sunshine
10,3 Celsius | 77 mm rain | 106 hours sunshine
6,2 Celsius | 81 mm rain | 60 hours sunshine
4,0 Celsius | 77 mm rain | 44 hours sunshine
 
Economics
$ 677.49 billions
$ 40,558
0.3 %
0.4 %
4.0 %
Food-processing, financial services, chemicals, transport
Unilever, Heineken, ING, AKZO, DSM, Shell, Philips
International trade, banking, transport
excellent access to the hinterland, natural gas fields
$ 537 billions
$ 485 billions
Machinery, chemicals, fuel, foodproducts
Machinery, transport equipment, chemicals, fuel, cloths
Direct investments (in foreign companies)
 
Schiphol
Rotterdam
 
59.5 %
40.5 %
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