World Facts Index > Netherlands > Amsterdam
 The
Dutch United Provinces declared their independence from Spain in 1579; during
the 17th century, they became a leading seafaring and commercial power, with
settlements and colonies around the world. After a 20-year French occupation, a
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 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 EEC (now the EU),
and participated in the introduction of the euro in 1999.
Geography of the Netherlands
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Location:
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Western Europe, bordering
the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany |
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Coordinates:
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52 30 N, 5 45 E |
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Area:
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total: 41,526 sq km
water: 7,643 sq km
land: 33,883 sq km |
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Area comparative:
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slightly less than twice
the size of New Jersey |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 1,027 km
border countries: Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km |
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Coastline:
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451 km |
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive fishing zone:
200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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temperate; marine; cool
summers and mild winters |
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Terrain:
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mostly coastal lowland and
reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Zuidplaspolder -7 m
highest point: Vaalserberg 322 m |
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Natural resources:
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natural gas, petroleum,
arable land |
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Natural hazards:
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flooding |
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Environment current issues:
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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 |
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Geography - note:
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located at mouths of three
major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)
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Population of the Netherlands
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Population:
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16,645,313 (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 18% (male 1,515,123/female 1,445,390)
15-64 years: 67.8% (male 5,656,448/female 5,525,481)
65 years and over: 14.2% (male 994,723/female 1,354,296) |
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Median age:
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39.4 years |
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Growth rate:
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0.49% |
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Infant mortality:
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4.96 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 78.96 years
male: 76.39 years
female: 81.67 years |
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Fertility rate:
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1.66 children born/woman |
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Nationality:
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noun: Dutchman(men),
Dutchwoman(women)
adjective: Dutch |
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Ethnic groups:
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Dutch 83%, other 17% (of which 9% are
non-Western origin mainly Turks, Moroccans, Antilleans, Surinamese and Indonesians) |
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 31%, Dutch Reformed 13%, Calvinist 7%,
Muslim 5.5%, other 2.5%, none 41% |
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Languages:
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Dutch (official language), Frisian
(official language) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 99%
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Government
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Kingdom of
the Netherlands
local long form: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden
local short form: Nederland |
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Government type:
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constitutional monarchy |
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Capital:
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Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of
government |
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Administrative divisions:
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12 provinces (provincies, singular -
provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant,
Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland, Zuid-Holland |
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Dependent areas:
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Aruba, Netherlands Antilles |
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Independence:
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1579 (from Spain); note - the northern
provinces of the Low Country concluded the Union of Utrecht, but it was not until 1648
that Spain recognized their independence |
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National holiday:
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Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother
JULIANA in 1909 and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX in 1980), 30
April |
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Constitution:
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adopted 1815; amended many times, most recently in 2002 |
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Legal system:
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civil law system incorporating French penal
theory; constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the States General;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Queen BEATRIX (since 30 April
1980); Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER (born 27 April 1967), son of the monarch
head of government: Prime Minister Jan Peter BALKENENDE (since 22 July 2002);
Deputy Prime Ministers Wouter BOS (since 22 February 2007) and Andre ROUVOET
(since 22 February 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following Second Chamber elections, the
leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually
appointed prime minister by the monarch; deputy prime ministers appointed by the
monarch. |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral States General or Staten Generaal consists of
the First Chamber or Eerste Kamer (75 seats; members indirectly elected by the country's
12 provincial councils for four-year terms) and the Second Chamber or Tweede Kamer (150
seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (justices are
nominated for life by the monarch) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA [Maxime Jacques Marcel
VERHAGEN]; Christian Union Party [Andre ROUVOET]; Democrats 66 or D66 [Lousewies VAN DER
LAAN]; Green Party [Femke HALSEMA]; Labor Party or PvdA [Wouter BOS]; List Pim Fortuyn
[Gerard van AS]; People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (Liberal) or VVD [Mark RUTTE];
Socialist Party [Jan MARIJNISSEN]; plus a few minor parties |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Netherlands Trade Union Federation or FNV (consisting of a
merger of Socialist and Catholic trade unions); Christian Trade Union Federation or CNV;
Trade Union Federation of Middle and High Personnel or MHP; Federation of Catholic and
Protestant Employers Associations; Interchurch Peace Council or IKV; large multinational
firms; the nondenominational Federation of Netherlands Enterprises |
Economy
The Netherlands has a prosperous and open economy, which depends heavily on
foreign trade. The economy is noted for stable industrial relations, moderate
unemployment and 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 3% of the labor force but provides large surpluses for the
food-processing industry and for exports. The Netherlands, along with 11 of
its EU partners, began circulating the euro currency on 1 January 2002. The
country continues to be one of the leading European nations for attracting
foreign direct investment and is one of the five largest investors in the US.
The economy experienced a slowdown in 2005 but in 2006 recovered to the
fastest pace in six years on the back of increased exports and strong
investment. The pace of job growth reached 10-year highs in 2007.
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GDP:
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$645.5 billion (2007 est.) |
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GDP growth rate:
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1.1% |
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GDP per capita:
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$39,000 |
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GDP composition by sector:
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agriculture: 2.1%
industry: 24.4%
services: 73.6% |
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Inflation rate:
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1.7% |
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Labor force:
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7.53 million |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture: 2%
industry: 19%
services: 79% |
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Unemployment:
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6.6% |
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Budget:
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revenues: $291.8 billion
expenditures: $303.7 billion |
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Electricity production by source:
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fossil fuel: 89.9%
hydro: 0.1%
other: 5.7%
nuclear: 4.3% |
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Industries:
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agroindustries, metal and engineering
products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction,
microelectronics, fishing, tourism |
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Agriculture:
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grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits,
vegetables; livestock |
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Exports:
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machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels;
foodstuffs |
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Export partners:
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Germany 25.1%, Belgium 12.2%, France 9.4%, UK 9.4%, Italy
5.8%, US 4.3%, Spain 4% |
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Imports:
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machinery and transport equipment,
chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs, clothing |
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Import partners:
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Germany 17%, Belgium 9.4%, China 8.8%, US 7.8%, UK 5.9%,
France 4.6% |
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Currency:
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euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a
common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January
2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member
countries |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |