The kingdom of the Netherlands (Nederland, often: Holland, though this is actually just a part of the country)

Geography, history

The Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy, administratively divided into 12 provinces.
Though parts of a small country, the provinces are quite diverse and have their share of cultural differences.

The country is densely populated, although the cities are small by international standards. Not the size of the biggest cities, but the high number of middle sized ones accounts for the degree of urbanisation. The capital and largest city is Amsterdam. Although the government is located in The Hague, no Dutchman would ever call The Hague the capital.
As of 2007, population was estimated at some 16.5 million people.

The western part is the most urban and industrialized. About half of the population lives in and around this area. The four largest and most dominant cities (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht) are located in this region, with Amsterdam Airport (Schiphol) and the Port of Rotterdam. The Randstad (Edge, or Rim City) is a collective name for these and surrounding urban areas. In the western Netherlands, the rail network is like a large urban network, with up to 12 trains per hour on main routes.



Much of countryside is dominated by highly industrialised farming - despite its population density, the Netherlands are one of the largest food exporters in the world. Though there are some beautiful spots scattered across the country. The tourist expecting a countryside full of picturesque villages, tulips and windmills may be in for a bit of a shock.

Climate

Compared with tropical regions, the Netherlands is a cold place. Seasons have greater differences in temperature than you would be used to, and, coming from the tropics, you would always need good, warm clothing.
Note that the following section uses European standards- and read "cold" for "cool", "cool" for "warm", etc. "Mild" usually just means it is not actually freezing- but it can be very chilly indeed.

The predominant wind direction in the Netherlands is south-west. Wind is a fairly permanent feature of the weather.
On the coast, avarage summer temperature is about 16 C, in winter about 3 C.
Inland these figures are 17 C, respectively 2 C.
Lowest recorded temperature: –27,8 C; highest: +38,6 C.
Sunniest months are May through August, warmest months June through September. October and November are the most stormy months.
Avarage precipitation is 780 mm per annum.

Economy

The Netherlands has the 16th largest economy in the world, and ranks 10th in GDP (nominal) per capita.
UNICEF ranked the Netherlands 1st in child well-being.
Industrial activity is predominantly in food-processing, chemicals, petroleum refining, and electrical machinery.
In the north of the Netherlands, near Slochteren, one of the largest natural gas fields in the world is situated.

A highly mechanised agricultural sector employs no more than 4% of the labour 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. A significant portion of Dutch agricultural exports are derived from fresh-cut plants, flowers, and bulbs, with the Netherlands exporting two-thirds of the world's total. The Netherlands also exports a quarter of all world tomatoes, and one-third of the world's exports of peppers and cucumbers.
Horticulture traditionally uses many temporary workers, who nowadays are mostly recruited from new EU countries like Poland.

Water management

People of the Low Lands have been fighting the North Sea and the Rhine and Meuse Rivers for centuries, ever since Roman-era farmers began draining marshland to plant crops.
With about half of its territory at or below sea level (and slowly sinking), and much of the rest threatened by coastal or river flooding, the Netherlands is taking climate change very seriously. Global warming is expected to cause the seas to rise, while increased rainfall may enhance the flood risk for low-lying towns and cities behind the Dutch sea defenses.



During the last century, the Dutch sealed off the Zuider Sea (inland arm of the North Sea) with a dam, turning it into the freshwater lake IJsselmeer. A new province was created by reclaiming parts of the sea floor.
Levees were maintained and expanded to tame the rivers Rhine and Meuse, and large storm surge gates have been built at their mouths.
A decade ago, Dutch authorities started studying their options for dealing with sinking land, rising seas, more powerful storms, and ever larger floods. Government engineers considered several strategies, including a plan to simply surrender large parts of the country to the sea. The most cost-effective plan was selected: strengthen the existing defenses and pumping stations.
The importance of water management is reflected in the existence of a Ministery of Transport and Water Management.

Migration

Since the end of WWII, migration, partly resulting from a colonialist past, has made for ethnic diversity. (Foreign-born as part of the population (2004): 10.6%). Ethnic groups: Dutch 83%, other 17% (of which 9% are of non-Western origin, mainly Turks, Moroccans, Antilleans, Surinamese, and Indonesians) (1999 est.)
Cities with largest foreign populations (2001): Amsterdam (9%), Rotterdam (8%), The Hague (8%)
Largest countries of origin (2005): Turkey, Morocco, USA.
Population below poverty line: 10.5% (2005).(link naar uitleg, zie Fr)

36% of the Dutch believe that unemployed legally-established immigrants from outside the EU should be deported.
However, they strongly support equal social rights for immigrants.