|
Netherlands
| Introduction
::Netherlands |
Background:
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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.
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Location:
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Western Europe, bordering the North
Sea, between Belgium and Germany
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Geographic coordinates:
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52 30 N, 5 45 E
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Map references:
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Europe
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Area:
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total: 41,543
sq km
34
land:
33,893 sq km
water:
7,650 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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territorial sea: 12
nm
contiguous zone:
24 nm
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
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Climate:
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Current Weather
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,
peat, limestone, salt, sand and gravel, arable land
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Land use:
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arable land: 21.96%
permanent crops:
0.77%
other:
77.27% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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5,650 sq km (2003)
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Total
renewable water resources:
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89.7 cu km (2005)
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Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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total: 8.86
cu km/yr (6%/60%/34%)
per capita:
544 cu m/yr (2001)
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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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Environment - international agreements:
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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
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
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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:
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16,783,092 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 17.2%
(male 1,475,483/female 1,406,973)
15-64 years:
67.7% (male 5,734,427/female 5,622,520)
65 years and over:
15.2% (male 1,099,269/female 1,444,420) (2010
est.)
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Median age:
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total: 40.8
years
male:
40 years
female:
41.6 years (2010 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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0.39% (2010 est.)
62
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Birth rate:
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10.3 births/1,000
population (2010 est.)
88
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Death rate:
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8.78 deaths/1,000
population (July 2010 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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2.38 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2010 est.)
9
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Urbanization:
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urban population: 82%
of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
0.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.052
male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.76 male(s)/female
total population:
0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 4.66
deaths/1,000 live births
97
male:
5.16 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
4.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 79.55
years
country comparison to the world: 31
male:
76.94 years
female:
82.3 years (2010 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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1.66 children born/woman
(2010 est.)
2
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.2% (2007 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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18,000 (2007 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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fewer than 200 (2007
est.)
06
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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 80.7%, EU 5%,
Indonesian 2.4%, Turkish 2.2%, Surinamese 2%, Moroccan 2%, Netherlands
Antilles & Aruba 0.8%, other 4.8% (2008 est.)
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 30%, Dutch
Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%, other Protestant 3%, Muslim 5.8%, other
2.2%, none 42% (2006)
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Languages:
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Dutch (official), Frisian
(official)
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Literacy:
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definition: age
15 and over can read and write
total population:
99%
male:
99%
female:
99% (2003 est.)
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School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
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total: 16
years
male:
17 years
female:
16 years (2006)
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Education expenditures:
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5.3% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 55
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Country name:
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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:
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constitutional monarchy
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Capital:
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name: Amsterdam
geographic coordinates:
52 23 N, 4 54 E
time difference:
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time:
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
note:
The Hague is the seat of government; time
descriptions apply to the continental Netherlands only, not to the
Caribbean components
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Administrative divisions:
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12 provinces (provincies,
singular - provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Fryslan (Friesland),
Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant (North Brabant),
Noord-Holland (North Holland), Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland (Zealand),
Zuid-Holland (South Holland)
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Dependent areas:
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Aruba, Netherlands
Antilles
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Independence:
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23 January 1579 (the
northern provinces of the Low Countries conclude the Union of Utrecht
breaking with Spain; on 26 July 1581 they formally declared their
independence with an Act of Abjuration; however, it was not until 30
January 1648 and the Peace of Westphalia that Spain recognized this
independence)
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National holiday:
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Queen's Day (Birthday of
deceased Queen-Mother JULIANA and accession to the throne of her oldest
daughter BEATRIX), 30 April (1909 and 1980)
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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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based on 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 Minister 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 usually appointed prime minister by the monarch;
deputy 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:
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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 to serve four-year terms) and the Second Chamber or Tweede
Kamer (150 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year
terms)
elections:
First Chamber - last held 29 May 2007 (next to be
held in May 2011); Second Chamber - last held 22 November 2006 (next to
be held by May 2011)
election results:
First Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - CDA 21, PvdA 14, VVD 14, Socialist Party 11, Christian
Union 4, Green Left Party 4, D66 2, other 5; Second Chamber - percent of
vote by party - CDA 26.5%, PvdA 21.2%, Socialist Party 16.6%, VVD
14.6%, Party for Freedom 5.9%, Green Party 4.6%, Christian Union 4.0%,
other 6.6%; seats by party - CDA 41, PvdA 33, Socialist Party 25, VVD
22, Party for Freedom 9, Green Party 7, Christian Union 6, other 7
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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 [Jan Peter BALKENENDE]; Christian Union [Andre ROUVOET];
Democrats 66 or D66 [Alexander PECHTOLD]; Green Left [Femke HALSEMA];
Labor Party or PvdA [Wouter BOS]; Party for Freedom or PVV [Geert
WILDERS]; Party for the Animals or PvdD [Marianne THIEME]; People's
Party for Freedom and Democracy or VVD [Mark RUTTE] (Liberal); Reformed
Political Party of SGP [Bas VAN DER VLIES]; Socialist Party [Agnes
KANT]; plus a few minor parties
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Christian Trade Union
Federation or CNV [Bert VAN BOGGELEN]; Confederation of Netherlands
Industry and Employers or VNO-NCW [Bernard WIENTJES]; Federation for
Small and Medium-sized businesses or MKB [Loek HERMANS]; Netherlands
Trade Union Federation or FNV [Agnes JONGERIUS]; Social Economic Council
or SER [Alexander RINNOOY KAN]; Trade Union Federation of Middle and
High Personnel or MHP [Richard STEENBORG]
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International organization participation:
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ADB (nonregional member),
AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group,
Benelux, BIS, CBSS (observer), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU,
FAO, FATF, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW,
OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UNAMID,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador
Regina "Renee" JONES-BOS
chancery:
4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 244-5300, [1] 877-388-2443
FAX:
[1] (202) 362-3430
consulate(s) general:
Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York
consulate(s):
Boston
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador
Fay Hartog LEVIN
embassy:
Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague
mailing address:
PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715
telephone:
[31] (70) 310-2209
FAX:
[31] (70) 361-4688
consulate(s) general:
Amsterdam
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Flag description:
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three equal horizontal
bands of red (top), white, and blue; similar to the flag of Luxembourg,
which uses a lighter blue and is longer; the colors were those of
WILLIAM I, Prince of Orange, who led the Dutch Revolt against Spanish
sovereignty in the latter half of the 16th century; originally the upper
band was orange, but because it tended to fade to red over time, the
red shade was eventually made the permanent color; the banner is perhaps
the oldest tricolor in continuous use
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Economy - overview:
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The Netherlands 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 only 2% 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 has been
one of the leading European nations for attracting foreign direct
investment and is one of the four largest investors in the US. After 26
years of uninterrupted economic growth, the Netherlands' economy - which
is highly open and dependent on foreign trade and financial services -
was hard-hit by global economic crisis. Dutch GDP contracted 3.9% in
2009, while exports declined nearly 25% due to a sharp contraction in
world demand. The Dutch financial sector has also suffered, due in part
to the high exposure of some Dutch banks to U.S. mortgage-backed
securities. In response to turmoil in financial markets, the government
nationalized two banks and injected billions of dollars into a third, to
prevent further systemic risk. The government also sought to boost the
domestic economy by accelerating infrastructure programs, offering
corporate tax breaks for employers to retain workers, and expanding
export credit facilities. The stimulus programs and bank bailouts,
however, have resulted in a government budget deficit of nearly 4.6% of
GDP in 2009 that contrasts sharply with a surplus of 0.7% of GDP in
2008. With unemployment rising, the government of Prime Minister Jan
Peter BALKENENDE is likely to come under increased pressure to keep the
budget deficit in check while promoting economic recovery.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$654.9 billion (2009
est.)
2
$681.5
billion (2008 est.)
$668.1
billion (2007 est.)
note:
data are in 2009 US dollars
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$799 billion (2009 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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-3.9% (2009 est.)
6
2%
(2008 est.)
3.6%
(2007 est.)
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$39,200 (2009 est.)
2
$40,900
(2008 est.)
$40,300
(2007 est.)
note:
data are in 2009 US dollars
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 1.6%
industry:
23.6%
services:
74.9% (2009 est.)
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Labor force:
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7.754 million (2009 est.)
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Labor force -
by occupation:
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agriculture: 2%
industry:
18%
services:
80% (2005 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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4.9% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
3.9%
(2008 est.)
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Population
below poverty line:
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10.5% (2005)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%:
22.9% (1999)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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30.9 (2007)
07
32.6
(1994)
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Investment (gross fixed):
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18.9% of GDP (2009 est.)
06
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Budget:
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revenues: $368
billion
expenditures:
$409.9 billion (2009 est.)
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Public debt:
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62.2% of GDP (2009 est.)
7
58.2%
of GDP (2008 est.)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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1.2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
2.5%
(2008 est.)
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Central bank
discount rate:
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3% (3 May 2009)
5%
(31 December 2007)
note:
this is the European Central Bank's rate on the
marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the
euro area
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Commercial bank prime lending rate:
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10.01% (31 December 2009)
10.37%
(31 December 2008)
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Stock of money:
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$NA
note:
see entry for the European Union for money supply
in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary
policy for the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU);
individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and
quasi money circulating within their own borders
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Stock of quasi money:
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$NA
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Stock of
domestic credit:
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$1.234 trillion (31
December 2009)
1
$1.824
trillion (31 December 2008)
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Market value of publicly traded shares:
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$931 billion (31 December
2009)
0
$387.9
billion (31 December 2008)
$956.5
billion (31 December 2007)
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Agriculture - products:
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grains, potatoes, sugar
beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock
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Industries:
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agroindustries, metal and
engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals,
petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing
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Industrial production growth rate:
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-8% (2009 est.)
33
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Electricity -
production:
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108.2 billion kWh (2008
est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
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Electricity -
consumption:
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124.1 billion kWh (2008
est.)
7
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Electricity - exports:
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10.56 billion kWh (2009
est.)
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Electricity - imports:
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15.45 billion kWh (2009
est.)
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Oil - production:
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72,090 bbl/day (2008
est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
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Oil - consumption:
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962,900 bbl/day (2008
est.)
9
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Oil - exports:
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1.647 million bbl/day
(2008 est.)
3
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Oil - imports:
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2.678 million bbl/day
(2008 est.)
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Oil - proved reserves:
|
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100 million bbl (1
January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
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Natural gas -
production:
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84.69 billion cu m (2008
est.)
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Natural gas -
consumption:
|
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48.34 billion cu m (2008
est.)
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Natural gas - exports:
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61.72 billion cu m (2008
est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
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Natural gas - imports:
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25.34 billion cu m (2008
est.)
2
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Natural
gas - proved reserves:
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1.346 trillion cu m (1
January 2009 est.)
4
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Current account balance:
|
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$42.72 billion (2009
est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
$41.93
billion (2008 est.)
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Exports:
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$417.6 billion (2009
est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
$531.7
billion (2008 est.)
|
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Exports - commodities:
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machinery and equipment,
chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
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Exports - partners:
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Germany 25.4%, Belgium
13.7%, France 8.9%, UK 8.8%, Italy 5.2% (2008)
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Imports:
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$369.9 billion (2009
est.)
$474.8
billion (2008 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and transport
equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs, clothing
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Imports - partners:
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Germany 16.6%, China
10.1%, Belgium 8.7%, US 7.5%, UK 5.8%, Russia 5.4%, France 4.4% (2008)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$39.84 billion (31
January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
$28.51
billion (31 December 2008)
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Debt - external:
|
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$3.733 trillion (31
December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 5
$2.461
trillion (31 December 2008)
|
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Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
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$671.6 billion (31
December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
$638.8
billion (31 December 2008 est.)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
|
|
$843.7 billion (31
December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
$821.2
billion (31 December 2008 est.)
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Exchange rates:
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euros (EUR) per US dollar
- 0.7338 (2009), 0.6827 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041
(2005)
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| Communications
::Netherlands |
Telephones - main lines in use:
|
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7.324 million (2008)
5
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Telephones -
mobile cellular:
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19.927 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 40
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Telephone system:
|
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general assessment: highly
developed and well maintained
domestic:
extensive fixed-line fiber-optic network; large
cellular telephone system with 5 major operators utilizing the third
generation of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)
technology; one in five households now use Voice over the Internet
Protocol (VoIP) services
international:
country code - 31; submarine cables provide links
to the US and Europe; satellite earth stations - 5 (3 Intelsat - 1
Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean, 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (2007)
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 4, FM 567, shortwave 1
(2009)
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Television
broadcast stations:
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342 (2009)
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Internet country code:
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.nl
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Internet hosts:
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12.388 million (2009)
|
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Internet users:
|
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14.273 million (2008)
6
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| Transportation
::Netherlands |
Airports:
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27 (2009)
25
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 20
over 3,047 m:
2
2,438 to 3,047 m:
9
1,524 to 2,437 m:
3
914 to 1,523 m:
5
under 914 m:
1 (2009)
|
|
|
Airports - with unpaved runways:
|
|
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m:
3
under 914 m:
4 (2009)
|
|
|
Heliports:
|
|
1 (2009)
|
|
|
Pipelines:
|
|
gas 3,816 km; oil 365 km;
refined products 716 km (2009)
|
|
|
Railways:
|
|
total: 2,896
km
country comparison to the world: 58
standard gauge:
2,896 km 1.435-m gauge (2,064 km electrified)
(2009)
|
|
|
Roadways:
|
|
total: 136,827
km (includes 2,582 km of expressways) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 36
|
|
|
Waterways:
|
|
6,215 km (navigable for
ships of 50 tons) (2007)
2
|
|
|
Merchant marine:
|
|
total: 622
8
by type:
bulk carrier 9, cargo 381, carrier 19, chemical
tanker 44, container 76, liquefied gas 15, passenger 16, passenger/cargo
15, petroleum tanker 11, refrigerated cargo 10, roll on/roll off 23,
specialized tanker 3
foreign-owned:
203 (Belgium 2, Cyprus 8, Denmark 29, Finland 14,
France 1, Germany 75, Ireland 10, Italy 1, South Korea 1, Norway 12,
Sweden 28, Turkey 1, UAE 5, UK 2, US 14)
registered in other countries:
178 (Antigua and Barbuda 20, Australia 2, Austria
2, Bahamas 9, Cambodia 1, Canada 1, Cyprus 22, Germany 1, Gibraltar 21,
Isle of Man 1, Liberia 6, Luxembourg 2, Marshall Islands 8, Netherlands
Antilles 38, Panama 14, Paraguay 1, Philippines 23, Portugal 1, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines 3, US 1, unknown 1) (2008)
|
|
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Ports and terminals:
|
|
Amsterdam, IJmuiden,
Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Vlissingen
|
|
|
|
Military branches:
|
|
Royal Netherlands Army, Royal
Netherlands Navy (includes Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal
Netherlands Air Force (Koninklijke Luchtmacht, KLu), Royal Military
Police (2010)
|
|
|
Military service age and obligation:
|
|
20 years of age for an
all-volunteer force (2004)
|
|
|
Manpower available for military service:
|
|
males age 16-49: 3,927,311
females age 16-49:
3,831,110 (2010 est.)
|
|
|
Manpower fit for military service:
|
|
males age 16-49: 3,213,954
females age 16-49:
3,133,972 (2010 est.)
|
|
|
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
|
|
male: 104,694
female:
99,874 (2010 est.)
|
|
|
Military expenditures:
|
|
1.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
|
|
|
|
| Transnational Issues
::Netherlands |
Disputes - international:
|
|
none
|
|
|
Illicit drugs:
|
|
major European producer
of synthetic drugs, including ecstasy, and cannabis cultivator;
important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish entering Europe;
major source of US-bound ecstasy; large financial sector vulnerable to
money laundering; significant consumer of ecstasy
|
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