 .NL - The Netherlands
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Background: |
The 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. |
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Location: |
Western Europe, bordering the
North Sea, between Belgium and Germany |
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Geographic coordinates: |
52 30 N, 5 45 E |
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Map references: |
Europe |
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Area: |
total: 41,526 sq km
land: 33,883 sq km
water: 7,643 sq km |
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Area - comparative: |
slightly less than twice the
size of New Jersey |
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Land boundaries: |
total: 1,027 km
border countries: Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km |
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Coastline: |
451 km |
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Maritime claims: |
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm |
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Climate: |
temperate; marine; cool summers
and mild winters |
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Terrain: |
mostly coastal lowland and
reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast |
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Elevation extremes: |
lowest point:
Zuidplaspolder -7 m
highest point: Vaalserberg 322 m |
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Natural resources: |
natural gas, petroleum, peat,
limestone, salt, sand and gravel, arable land |
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Land use: |
arable land: 26.71%
permanent crops: 0.97%
other: 72.32% (2001) |
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Irrigated land: |
5,650 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards: |
flooding |
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Environment - current issues: |
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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Environment - international agreements: |
party to: Air Pollution,
Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands, Whaling |
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Geography - note: |
located at mouths of three
major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde) |
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Population: |
16,407,491 (July 2005 est.)
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Age structure: |
0-14 years: 18.1% (male
1,523,316/female 1,453,232)
15-64 years: 67.8% (male
5,627,007/female 5,491,802)
65 years and over: 14.1% (male
974,037/female 1,338,097) (2005 est.) |
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Median age: |
total: 39.04 years
male: 38.22 years
female: 39.9 years (2005 est.)
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Population growth rate: |
0.53% (2005 est.) |
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Birth rate: |
11.14 births/1,000 population
(2005 est.) |
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Death rate: |
8.68 deaths/1,000 population
(2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate: |
2.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio: |
at birth: 1.05
male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64
years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73
male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005
est.) |
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Infant mortality rate: |
total: 5.04 deaths/1,000
live births
male: 5.62 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth: |
total population: 78.81
years
male: 76.25 years
female: 81.51 years (2005
est.) |
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Total fertility rate: |
1.66 children born/woman (2005
est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |
0.2% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: |
19,000 (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths: |
less than 100 (2003 est.)
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Nationality: |
noun: Dutchman(men),
Dutchwoman(women)
adjective: Dutch |
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Ethnic groups: |
Dutch 83%, other 17% (of which
9% are non-Western origin mainly Turks, Moroccans, Antilleans, Surinamese,
and Indonesians) (1999 est.) |
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Religions: |
Roman Catholic 31%, Dutch
Reformed 13%, Calvinist 7%, Muslim 5.5%, other 2.5%, none 41% (2002)
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Languages: |
Dutch (official), Frisian
(official) |
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Literacy: |
definition: age 15 and
over can read and write
total population: 99% (2000 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA% |
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Country name: |
conventional long form:
Kingdom of the Netherlands
conventional short form: Netherlands
local long form: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden
local short
form: Nederland |
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Government type: |
constitutional monarchy |
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Capital: |
Amsterdam; The Hague is the
seat of government |
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Administrative divisions: |
12 provinces (provincies,
singular - provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland (Fryslan),
Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel,
Utrecht, Zeeland, Zuid-Holland |
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Dependent areas: |
Aruba, Netherlands Antilles
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Independence: |
23 January 1579 (the northern
provinces of the Low Countries conclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with
Spain; it was not until 1648 that Spain recognized their independence)
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National holiday: |
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: |
adopted 1815; amended many
times, last time 2002 |
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Legal system: |
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: |
18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch: |
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) and Deputy Prime
Ministers Gerrit ZALM (since 27 May 2003) and Laurens Jan BRINKHORST
(since 31 March 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed
by the monarch
elections: none; 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; vice prime ministers appointed by the monarch
note:
there is also a Council of State composed of the monarch, heir apparent,
and councilors that provides consultations to the cabinet on legislative
and administrative policy |
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Legislative branch: |
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)
elections: First Chamber - last held 25 May 2003 (next to be
held May 2007); Second Chamber - last held 22 January 2003 (next to be
held May 2007)
election results: First Chamber - percent of
vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CDA 23, PvdA 19, VVD 15, Green Party
5, Socialist Party 4, D66 3, other 6; Second Chamber - percent of vote by
party - CDA 28.6%, PvdA 27.3%, VVD 12.9%, Socialist Party 6.3%, List Pim
Fortuyn 5.7%, Green Party 5.1%, D66 4.1%; seats by party - CDA 44, PvdA
42, VVD 28, Socialist Party 9, List Pim Fortuyn 8, Green Party 8, D66 6,
other 5 |
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Judicial branch: |
Supreme Court or Hoge Raad
(justices are nominated for life by the monarch) |
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Political parties and leaders: |
Christian Democratic Appeal or
CDA [Maxime Jacques Marcel VERHAGEN]; Christian Union Party [Andre
ROUVOET]; Democrats 66 or D66 [Boris DITTRICH]; 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 [Jozias VAN
AARTSEN]; Socialist Party [Jan MARIJNISSEN]; plus a few minor parties
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Political pressure groups and leaders: |
Netherlands Trade Union
Federation (FNV) (consisting of a merger of Socialist and Catholic trade
unions); Christian Trade Union Federation (CNV); Trade Union Federation of
Middle and High Personnel (MHP); Federation of Catholic and Protestant
Employers Associations; Interchurch Peace Council or IKV; large
multinational firms; the nondenominational Federation of Netherlands
Enterprises |
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International organization participation: |
AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group,
Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G-10, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA,
NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTO, ZC |
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Diplomatic representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Boudewijn J. VAN EENENNAAM
chancery: 4200 Linnean
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 244-5300
FAX: [1] (202) 362-3430
consulate(s) general:
Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York
consulate(s):
Boston |
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Diplomatic representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Clifford M. SOBEL
embassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514
EJ, The Hague
mailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715
telephone: [31] (70) 310-9209
FAX: [31] (70)
361-4688
consulate(s) general: Amsterdam |
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Flag description: |
three equal horizontal bands of
red (top), white, and blue; similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses
a lighter blue and is longer; one of the oldest flags in constant use,
originating with WILLIAM I, Prince of Orange, in the latter half of the
16th century |
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Economy - overview: |
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 4% 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. Economic growth slowed considerably in 2001-04, as part of the
global economic slowdown, but for the four years before that, annual
growth averaged nearly 4%, well above the EU average. |
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GDP: |
purchasing power parity -
$481.1 billion (2004 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate: |
1.2% (2004 est.) |
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GDP - per capita: |
purchasing power parity -
$29,500 (2004 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture: 2.4%
industry: 24.5%
services: 73.1% (2004 est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed): |
19.9% of GDP (2004 est.) |
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Population below poverty line: |
NA |
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Household income or consumption by percentage
share: |
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 25.1% (1994) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index: |
32.6 (1994) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
1.4% (2004 est.) |
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Labor force: |
7.53 million (2004 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation: |
agriculture 4%, industry 23%,
services 73% (1998 est.) |
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Unemployment rate: |
6% (2004 est.) |
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Budget: |
revenues: $256.9 billion
expenditures: $274.4 billion, including capital expenditures of
NA (2004 est.) |
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Public debt: |
55.8% of GDP (2004 est.) |
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Agriculture - products: |
grains, potatoes, sugar beets,
fruits, vegetables; livestock |
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Industries: |
agroindustries, metal and
engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals,
petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing |
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Industrial production growth rate: |
0.8% (2004 est.) |
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Electricity - production: |
90.61 billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - production by source: |
fossil fuel: 89.9%
hydro: 0.1%
nuclear: 4.3%
other: 5.7%
(2001) |
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Electricity - consumption: |
100.7 billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - exports: |
4.5 billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - imports: |
20.9 billion kWh (2002) |
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Oil - production: |
46,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
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Oil - consumption: |
895,300 bbl/day (2001 est.)
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Oil - exports: |
1.418 million bbl/day (2001)
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Oil - imports: |
2.284 million bbl/day (2001)
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Oil - proved reserves: |
88.06 million bbl (1 January
2002) |
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Natural gas - production: |
77.75 billion cu m (2001 est.)
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Natural gas - consumption: |
49.72 billion cu m (2001 est.)
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Natural gas - exports: |
49.28 billion cu m (2001 est.)
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Natural gas - imports: |
20.78 billion cu m (2001 est.)
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Natural gas - proved reserves: |
1.693 trillion cu m (1 January
2002) |
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Current account balance: |
$19.9 billion (2004 est.)
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Exports: |
$293.1 billion f.o.b. (2004
est.) |
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Exports - commodities: |
machinery and equipment,
chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs |
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Exports - partners: |
Germany 25%, Belgium 12.6%, UK
10.1%, France 9.8%, Italy 6%, US 4.2% (2004) |
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Imports: |
$252.7 billion f.o.b. (2004
est.) |
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Imports - commodities: |
machinery and transport
equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs, clothing |
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Imports - partners: |
Germany 17.7%, Belgium 10.2%,
US 7.8%, China 7.1%, UK 6.6%, France 4.9% (2004) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |
$21.44 billion (2003) |
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Economic aid - donor: |
ODA, $4 billion (2003 est.)
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Currency: |
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 |
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Currency code: |
EUR |
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Exchange rates: |
euros per US dollar - 0.8054
(2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000) |
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Fiscal year: |
calendar year |
| Communications |
Netherlands |
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Telephones - main lines in use: |
10.004 million (2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular: |
12.5 million (2003) |
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Telephone system: |
general assessment:
highly developed and well maintained
domestic: extensive
fixed-line fiber-optic network; cellular telephone system is one of the
largest in Europe with five major network operators utilizing the third
generation of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)
international: country code - 31; 9 submarine cables; satellite
earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean), 1
Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions) (2004) |
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Radio broadcast stations: |
AM 4, FM 246, shortwave 3
(2004) |
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Radios: |
15.3 million (1996) |
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Television broadcast stations: |
21 (plus 26 repeaters) (1995)
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Televisions: |
8.1 million (1997) |
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Internet country code: |
.nl |
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Internet hosts: |
4,518,226 (2004) |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs): |
52 (2000) |
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Internet users: |
8.5 million (2003)
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| Transportation |
Netherlands |
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Railways: |
total: 2,808 km
standard gauge: 2,808 km 1.435-m gauge (2,061 km electrified)
(2003) |
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Highways: |
total: 116,500 km
paved: 104,850 km (including 2,235 km of expressways)
unpaved: 11,650 km (1999) |
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Waterways: |
5,046 km (navigable for ships
of 50 tons) (2004) |
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Pipelines: |
condensate 325 km; gas 6,998
km; oil 590 km; refined products 716 km (2004) |
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Ports and harbors: |
Amsterdam, Delfzijl, Dordrecht,
Eemshaven, Groningen, Haarlem, IJmuiden, Maastricht, Rotterdam, Terneuzen,
Utrecht, Vlissingen |
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Merchant marine: |
total: 558 ships (1,000
GRT or over) 4,796,460 GRT/5,212,557 DWT
by type: bulk carrier
14, cargo 361, chemical tanker 32, container 48, liquefied gas 13,
passenger 11, passenger/cargo 14, petroleum tanker 14, refrigerated cargo
32, roll on/roll off 15, specialized tanker 4
foreign-owned:
139 (Bahamas 5, Belgium 2, Canada 1, Denmark 4, Finland 7, Germany 62,
Ireland 13, Norway 9, Sweden 19, United Kingdom 6, United States 11)
registered in other countries: 223 (2005) |
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Airports: |
27 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways: |
total: 20
over
3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m:
4
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
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Airports - with unpaved runways: |
total: 7
914 to
1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.) |
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Heliports: |
1 (2004 est.) |
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Military branches: |
Royal Netherlands Army, Royal
Netherlands Navy (includes Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal
Netherlands Air Force (Koninklijke Luchtmacht, KLu), Royal Constabulary,
Defense Interservice Command (DICO) (2004) |
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Military manpower - military age and obligation: |
20 years of age for an
all-volunteer force (2004) |
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Military manpower - availability: |
males age 20-49:
3,557,918 (2005 est.) |
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Military manpower - fit for military service: |
males age 20-49:
2,856,691 (2005 est.) |
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Military manpower - reaching military age
annually: |
males: 99,934 (2005
est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure: |
$9.408 billion (2004) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP: |
1.6% (2004) |
| Transnational Issues |
Netherlands |
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Disputes - international: |
none |
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Illicit drugs: |
major European producer of
ecstasy, illicit amphetamines, and other synthetic drugs; important
gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish entering Europe; major source of
US-bound ecstasy; large financial sector vulnerable to money laundering
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