 The Netherlands is located on the North Sea at
52o21' north latitude and 4o54' east.
It is often called Holland after the old traders region. Germany lies to the east and Belgium to the south. The West Frisian
Islands lie offshore in the north. The Netherlands is Europe's
most densely populated country. Mainly trade and distribution,
but also industry and agriculture provide for a high standard
of living. The country's name is derived from the Dutch word
'neder' meaning 'low'. The term Low Countries is used collectively
for Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, a reference to
their low-lying lands. Amsterdam is the nation's capital, but
the seat of government is Den Haag, officially 's-Gravenhage
or The Hague in English. The Netherlands
Antilles in the Caribbean is an integral part of the Kingdom.
|
| Full country name: Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands consists of the Netherlands,
Netherlands
Antilles and Aruba.
Area of the Netherlands: 41,526 sq km
Population: 16,105,000
Capital city: Amsterdam (population 735,500)
Amsterdam is the nation's capital, but the seat of government
is Den Haag, officially 's-Gravenhage or The Hague in English.
People: Over 95% of the population are Dutch
(Germanic and Gallo-Celtic stock), most of the rest are Indonesian,
Surinamese or Moroccan
Languages: Netherlandic (Dutch & Flemish),
Friesian
Religion: 60% Christian (Roman Catholic and
Protestant), 3% Muslim
Government: Constitutional monarchy
Head of state: Queen Beatrix van Oranje Nassau
Prime Minister: Jan Peter Balkenende
GDP: US$350 billion
GDP per head: US$22,000
Annual growth: 3.7%
Inflation: 2%
Industries: service industries, banking, electronics,
digital media, horticulture, agriculture, shipping
Major trading partners: EU (Germany, Belgium,
Luxembourg, France, UK), USA
Member of EU: yes
Euro zone participant: yes
 The
flag of the Netherlands was adopted by Order in Council 19
February 1937, no. 93, but there is no official law.
|
|
The Netherlands Antilles and Aruba in the Caribbean
are the integral parts of the Kingdom. The Netherlands
Antilles are formed by islands of Bonaire,
Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius (Statia) and Sint Maarten.
Aruba obtained a separate status from the remainder of the
Caribbean islands.
|
