Changes: Netherlands

Netherlands
Netherlands Nederland
	Motto: "Je maintiendrai"(French); "Ik zal handhaven"(Dutch); "I will uphold"
	Anthem: "Wilhelmus"(Dutch); "'William";
	Location of the European Netherlands (dark green) – on the European continent (green & dark grey); – in the European Union (green)
	Location of the Dutch special municipalities (green)
Capital; and largest city	Amsterdam; 52°22′N 4°53′E / 52.367, 4.883
Official languages	Dutch
Recognised regional languages	West Frisian (Friesland) ; Limburgish (Limburg) ; Dutch Low Saxon (North-east) ; English (Sint Eustatius/Saba) ; Papiamento (Bonaire) ;
Ethnic groups (2008)	80.7% Dutch ; 5% other EU ; 2.4% Indonesians ; 2.2% Turks ; 2% Moroccans ; 2% Surinamese ; 0.8% Caribbean ; 4.8% others ;
Demonym	Dutch
Sovereign state	Kingdom of the Netherlands
Government	Unitary parliamentary democracy under constitutional monarchy
Legislature	States General
Independence from the Spanish Empire
Area
Population
GDP (PPP)	2014 estimate
GDP (nominal)	2014 estimate
Gini (2011)	25.8; low · 111th
HDI (2012)	0.921; very high · 4th
Currency	Euro (EUR) ; US dollar (USD);
Time zone	CET (UTC+1); AST (UTC-4)
Date format	dd-mm-yyyy
Drives on the	right
Calling code	+31 ; +599;
ISO 3166 code	NL
Internet TLD	.nl

Latest revision as of 15:44, 25 September 2017

Main	Births etc

The Netherlands ( /ˈnɛðərləndz/; Dutch: Nederland [ˈneːdərˌlɑnt] ( listen)) is the main constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, consisting of twelve provinces in western Europe and three islands in the Caribbean. The European part of the Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east; and shares maritime borders with Belgium, the United Kingdom and Germany.^[9] The Netherlands was one of the first countries in the world to have an elected parliament, and is governed as a parliamentary democracy organised as a unitary state. The capital city of the Netherlands, mandated by the constitution, is Amsterdam; however, the seat of government is located in The Hague.^[10]

The Netherlands is a geographically low-lying country, with about 26% of its area^[11] and 21% of its population located below sea level, and 50% of its land lying less than one metre above sea level.^[12]^[13] This distinct feature contributes to the country's name: in Dutch (Nederland), English, and many other European languages, its name literally means "Low Land" or "Low Country."

Most of the areas below sea level are man-made, caused by centuries of extensive and poorly controlled peat extraction that lowered the surface by several metres. Even in flooded areas, peat extraction continued through turf dredging. Beginning in the late 16th century, land reclamation started and large polder areas are now preserved through elaborate drainage systems that include dikes, canals and pumping stations. Nearly 17% of the country's land area is reclaimed from the sea. Much of the Netherlands is formed by the estuary of three important European rivers, which together with their distributaries form the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta. Most of the country is very flat, with the exception of foothills in the far southeast and several low hill ranges in the central parts.

The Netherlands is a founding member of the EU, G-10, NATO, OECD, WTO and a part of the trilateral Benelux economic union. The country is host to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and five international courts: the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, the International Criminal Court and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. The first four are situated in The Hague, as is the EU's criminal intelligence agency Europol and judicial co-operation agency Eurojust. This has led to the city being dubbed "the world's legal capital".^[14] The Netherlands has a market-based mixed economy, ranking 17th of 177 countries according to the Index of Economic Freedom.^[15] It had the tenth-highest per capita income in the world in 2011. In May 2011, the Netherlands was ranked as the "happiest" country in the world according to the OECD, reflecting its high standard of living.^[16]

Names[]

The Netherlands in its entirety is often referred to as "Holland", which in strict usage, refers only to North and South Holland, two of its provinces. Since these two provinces are the most populous and famous of the Netherlands, they often serve as a metonym for the entire country. Referring to the Netherlands as Holland is technically incorrect^[17]^[18] or informal,^[19] depending on the context, but is more acceptable when referring to the national football team.^[20]

While De Lage landen (The Low Countries) is a geographical designation of the general area of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, Benelux, and depending on the context, sometimes extended with parts of northern France (French Flanders, French Hainaut, Artois, Picardy to the Somme) and the former Luxembourg region around Diedenhoven and West Germany (east Frisia, Julich, Cleves, Bentheim, Lingen, the region around Geldern, around Bitburg, some municipalities east of the eastern provinces which were annexed by Prussia in 1815, etc.). Netherlands has about the same meaning as the Low Countries, but of a more historiographical and political nature.

In the fifteenth century the name Netherlands (Nederlanden) came into use. Unlike France and England it had no ethnic origin, but it was originally a geographical term which denoted only the difference with a higher ground. Place names with Nieder are used in various places in the German language area. Also terms like lower Rhine and lower Meuse were commonly used (vs. middle Rhine or upper Rhine). Niderlant was in the late Middle Ages the region between the Meuse and the Rhine, the Lower Rhine Area now be included. The area known as Oberland (High country) was considered to begin approximately at the nearby higher located Cologne. By extension, the term could also be applied to the delta of the Schelde, Meuse and Rhine, and then would occur in the plural form. Due to the great importance of the Low Countries, the name was increasingly used specifically for this area. From about 1490 the Burgundian-Habsburg provinces thus also were indicated. Besides Flanders, "the Netherlands " was, from the mid- sixteenth century on, probably the most common used name.

History[]

Main article: History of the Netherlands

Habsburg Netherlands (1519–1581)[]

WilliamOfOrange1580 — William I, Prince of Orange, also called Willem de Zwijger (*William the Silent*), leader of the Netherlands during the Dutch Revolt.

Under Charles V, ruler of the Holy Roman Empire and King of Spain, the current Netherlands region was part of the Seventeen Provinces of the Low Countries, which also included most of present-day Belgium, Luxembourg, and some land in France and Germany.

In 1568, the Eighty Years' War between the Provinces and Spain began. In 1579, the northern half of the Seventeen Provinces forged the Union of Utrecht, a treaty in which they committed to support each other in their defence against the Spanish army.^[21] The Union of Utrecht is seen as the foundation of the modern Netherlands. In 1581, the northern provinces adopted the Act of Abjuration, the declaration of independence in which the provinces officially deposed Philip II of Spain as reigning monarch in the northern provinces.^[22]

Queen Elizabeth I of England sympathised with the Dutch struggle against the Spanish, and in 1585 she concluded a treaty with the Dutch whereby she promised to send an English army to the Netherlands to aid the Dutch in their war with the Spanish.^[23] In December 1585, 7,600 soldiers were sent to the Netherlands from England under the command of Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester. In spite of the significant size for that time, the English army was of no real benefit to the Dutch rebellion.^[24]

Although Robert Dudley returned to the Netherlands in November 1586 with another army, the army still had little effect in the rebellion.^[25] Philip II, the son of Charles V, was not prepared to let them go easily, and war continued until 1648, when Spain under King Philip IV finally recognised the independence of the seven north-western provinces in the Peace of Münster. Parts of the southern provinces became de facto colonies of the new republican-mercantile empire.

Dutch Republic (1581–1795)[]

Main article: Dutch Republic

After declaring their independence, the provinces of Holland, Zeeland, Groningen, Friesland, Utrecht, Overijssel, and Gelderland formed a confederation. All these provinces were autonomous and had their own government, the "States of the Province". The States General, the confederal government, were seated in The Hague and consisted of representatives from each of the seven provinces. The sparsely populated region of Drenthe, mainly consisting of poor peatland, was part of the republic too, although Drenthe was not considered one of the provinces; it had its own States, but the landdrost of Drenthe was appointed by the States General.

Moreover, the Republic had come to occupy during the Eighty Years' War a number of so-called Generality Lands (Generaliteitslanden in Dutch). These territories were governed directly by the States General. They did not have a governmental structure of their own and did not have representatives in the States General. Their population was mainly Roman Catholic, and these areas were used as a buffer zone between the Republic and the Southern Netherlands.

The Dutch Empire grew to become one of the major seafaring and economic powers of the 17th century. In the Dutch Golden Age ("Gouden Eeuw"), colonies and trading posts were established all over the world. Dutch settlement in North America began with the founding of New Amsterdam, on the southern part of Manhattan in 1614. In South Africa, the Dutch settled the Cape Colony in 1652. By 1650, the Dutch owned 16,000 merchant ships.^[26] During the 17th century, the Dutch population increased from an estimated 1.5 million to almost 2 million.^[27]

For a comprehensive list of the territories that formed the Dutch Empire, see Evolution of the Dutch Empire.

Many economic historians regard the Netherlands as the first thoroughly capitalist country in the world. In early modern Europe it had the wealthiest trading city (Amsterdam) and the first full-time stock exchange. The inventiveness of the traders led to insurance and retirement funds as well as phenomena such as the boom-bust cycle, the world's first asset-inflation bubble, the tulip mania of 1636–1637, and the world's first bear raider, Isaac le Maire, who forced prices down by dumping stock and then buying it back at a discount.^[28] The republic went into a state of general decline in the later 18th century, with economic competition from England and long standing rivalries between the two main factions in Dutch society, the Staatsgezinden (Republicans) and the Prinsgezinden (Royalists or Orangists), as main factors.

In the 17th century, plantation colonies were established by the Dutch and English along the many rivers in the fertile Guyana plains. The earliest documented colony in Guiana was along the Suriname River and called Marshall's Creek. The area was named after an Englishman.^[29] Disputes arose between the Dutch and the English. In 1667, the Dutch decided to keep the nascent plantation colony of Suriname conquered from the English, resulting from the Treaty of Breda. The English were left with New Amsterdam, a small trading post in North America, which is now known as New York City.

French influence (1795–1814)[]

Further information: Batavian Republic and Kingdom of Holland

On 19 January 1795, one day after the stadtholder, William V of Orange, fled to England, the Bataafse Republiek (Batavian Republic) was proclaimed, rendering the Netherlands a unitary state. From 1795 to 1806, the Batavian Republic designated the Netherlands as a republic modelled after the French Republic.

From 1806 to 1810, the Koninkrijk Holland (Kingdom of Holland) was set up by Napoleon Bonaparte as a puppet kingdom governed by his brother Louis Bonaparte in order to control the Netherlands more effectively. The name of the leading province, Holland, was used for the whole country. The Kingdom of Holland covered the area of the present day Netherlands, with the exception of Limburg and parts of Zeeland, which were French territory. In 1807, Prussian East Frisia and Jever were added to the kingdom. In 1809, however, after a failed British invasion, Holland had to surrender all territories south of the Rhine to France.

King Louis Bonaparte did not meet Napoleon's expectations – he tried to serve Dutch interests instead of his brother's, allowed trade with the British in spite of the Continental System and even tried to learn Dutch – and he was forced to abdicate on 1 July 1810. He was succeeded by his five-year-old son Napoleon Louis Bonaparte. Napoleon Louis reigned as Louis II for just ten days as Napoleon ignored his young nephew's accession to the throne. The Emperor sent in an army to invade the country and dissolved the Kingdom of Holland. The Netherlands then became part of the French Empire.

The Netherlands remained part of the French Empire until the autumn of 1813, when Napoleon was defeated in the Battle of Leipzig and forced to withdraw his troops from the country.

Kingdom of the Netherlands (1815–1940)[]

Main articles: United Kingdom of the Netherlands and Kingdom of the Netherlands

William Frederick, son of the last stadtholder, returned to the Netherlands in 1813 at the invitation of the provisional government formed after the withdrawal of the French. Although it comprised mostly the same men who had driven out his father 18 years earlier, all parties agreed that William was the only choice to head any new government. On 6 December, he proclaimed himself Sovereign Prince of the Netherlands. On 16 March 1815, the Sovereign Prince raised the Netherlands to the status of a kingdom and proclaimed himself William I (Willem I in Dutch).

In 1815, the Congress of Vienna formed the United Kingdom of the Netherlands by adding the southern Netherlands to the north in order to create a strong country on the northern border of France. In addition, William became hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg. The Congress of Vienna gave Luxembourg to William as personal property in exchange for his German possessions, Nassau-Dillenburg, Siegen, Hadamar, and Diez.

The Southern Netherlands had been culturally separate from the north since 1581, and rebelled against William's attempt to create a single culture. The south rebelled and gained independence in 1830 as Belgium, while the personal union between Luxembourg and the Netherlands was severed in 1890, when William III died with no surviving male heirs. Ascendancy laws prevented his daughter Queen Wilhelmina from becoming the next Grand Duchess. Therefore the throne of Luxembourg passed over from the House of Orange-Nassau to the House of Nassau-Weilburg, a junior branch of the House of Nassau.

The largest Dutch settlement abroad was the Cape Colony. It was established by Jan van Riebeeck on behalf of the Dutch East India Company at Cape Town (Dutch: Kaapstad) in 1652. The Prince of Orange acquiesced to British occupation and control of the Cape Colony in 1788. The Netherlands also possessed several other colonies, but Dutch settlement in these lands was limited. Most notable were the vast Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) and the Colony of Surinam (now Suriname). These 'colonies' were first administered by the Dutch East India Company and the Dutch West India Company, both collective private enterprises. Three centuries later these companies got into financial trouble, and the territories in which they operated were taken over by the Dutch government (in 1815 and 1791 respectively). Only then did they become official colonies.

During its colonial period, the Netherlands was heavily involved in the slave trade. The Dutch planters relied heavily on African slaves to cultivate the coffee, cocoa, sugarcane and cotton plantations along the rivers. Treatment of the slaves by their owners was notoriously bad, and many slaves escaped the plantations. Slavery was abolished by the Netherlands in Dutch Guiana and Curaçao and Dependencies in 1863, but the slaves were not fully released until 1873, after a mandatory 10-year transition period during which time they were required to work on the plantations for minimal pay and without state sanctioned torture. As soon as they became truly free, the slaves largely abandoned the plantations where they had suffered for several generations in favour of the city Paramaribo. Every year this is remembered during Keti Koti, 1 July, Emancipation Day (end of slavery).

During the 19th century, the Netherlands was slow to industrialise compared to neighbouring countries, mainly because of the great complexity involved in modernising the infrastructure, consisting largely of waterways, and the great reliance its industry had on windpower.

Although the Netherlands remained neutral during the First World War, it was heavily involved in the war.^[30] The German general Count Schlieffen, who was Chief of the Imperial German General Staff, had originally planned to invade the Netherlands while advancing into France in the original Schlieffen Plan. This was changed by Schlieffen's successor, Helmuth von Moltke the Younger, in order to maintain Dutch neutrality. Later during the war Dutch neutrality proved essential to German survival until the blockade by the British Royal Navy in 1916, when the import of goods through the Netherlands was no longer possible. The Dutch were nevertheless able to continue to remain neutral during the war using their diplomacy and their ability to trade.^[30]

World War II (1940–1945)[]

Main article: Netherlands in World War II

The Netherlands intended to remain neutral during World War II, although contingency plans involving the armies of Belgium, France and the United Kingdom were drawn up in case of German aggression. Despite this neutrality, Nazi Germany invaded the Netherlands on 10 May 1940 as part of their campaign against the Allied forces. French forces in the south and British ships in the west came to help but turned around quickly, evacuating many civilians and several thousand German prisoners of war from the German elite airborne divisions.

The country was overrun in five days. Only after (but not because of) the Rotterdam Blitz did the main element of the Dutch army surrender on 14 May 1940; although a Dutch and French force held the western part of Zeeland for some time after the surrender. The Kingdom as such, continued the war from the colonial empire; the government in exile resided in London.

During the occupation, over 100,000 Dutch Jews^[31] were rounded up to be transported to Nazi German extermination camps in Germany, German-occupied Poland and German-occupied Czechoslovakia. By the time these camps were liberated, few Dutch Jews survived. Dutch workers were conscripted for forced labour in German factories, civilians were killed in reprisal for attacks on German soldiers, and the countryside was plundered for food for German soldiers in the Netherlands and for shipment to Germany. Although there were thousands of Dutch who risked their lives by hiding Jews from the Germans, as recounted in The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom and The Heart Has Reasons by Mark Klempner,^[32] there were also Dutch who collaborated with the occupying force in hunting down hiding Jews.^[33]

Local fascists and anti-Bolsheviks joined the Waffen-SS in the 4th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Brigade Netherlands, fighting on the Eastern Front as well as other units. Racial restrictions were relaxed to the extent that even Asians from Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) units were recruited.^[34] Political collaborators were members of the fascist NSB, the only legal political party in the occupied Netherlands.

On 8 December 1941, the Netherlands declared war on Japan.^[35] The government-in-exile then lost control of its major colonial stronghold, the Netherlands East Indies (Indonesia), to Japanese forces in March 1942. "American-British-Dutch-Australian" (ABDA) forces fought hard in some instances but were overwhelmed. During the Japanese occupation of Indonesia, the Japanese interned Dutch civilians and used Dutch and Indos (Eurasians of Dutch and Indonesian descent) alike as forced labour, both in the Netherlands East Indies and in neighbouring countries.^[36]

The Dutch Red Cross reported the deaths in Japanese custody of 14,800 European civilians out of 80,000 interned and 12,500 of the 34,000 POW captured.^[37] A later UN report stated that 4 million people died in Indonesia as a result of famine and forced labour (known as romusha) during the Japanese occupation.^[38] Some military personnel escaped to Australia and other Allied countries from where they carried on the fight against Japan. Soon after VE day, the Dutch fought a colonial war against the new republic of Indonesia.

Princess Juliana of the Netherlands, the only child of Queen Wilhelmina and heir to the throne, sought refuge in Ottawa, Canada, with her two daughters, Beatrix and Irene, during the war. During Princess Juliana's stay in Canada, preparations were made for the birth of her third child. To ensure the Dutch citizenship of this royal baby, the Canadian Parliament passed a special law declaring Princess Juliana's suite at the Ottawa Civic Hospital "extraterritorial".

On 19 January 1943, Princess Margriet was born. The day after Princess Margriet's birth, the Dutch flag was flown on the Peace Tower. This was the only time in history a foreign flag has waved above Canada's parliament buildings. In 1944–45, the First Canadian Army, which included Canadian, British and Polish troops, was responsible for liberating much of the Netherlands^[39] from German occupation. The joyous "Canadian summer" that ensued after the liberation, forged deep and long-lasting bonds of friendship between the Netherlands and Canada^[40] (See Canada–Netherlands relations). In 1949, Dutch troops occupied an area of 69 square kilometres (27 sq mi) of the British zone of occupied Germany, including Elten and Selfkant, and annexed it. At that time, these areas were inhabited by almost 10,000 people. As the result of a Dutch-German agreement, signed on 8 April 1960 in The Hague, the territory was returned to Germany on 1 August 1963, except one small hill (about 3 km²) called Duivelsberg which was annexed by the Netherlands.

Post-war history (1945–present)[]

After the war, the Dutch economy prospered by leaving behind an era of neutrality and gaining closer ties with neighbouring states. Government-encouraged emigration efforts to reduce population density prompted some 500,000 Dutch people to leave the country after the war.^[41] The Netherlands was one of the founding members of the Benelux (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg) grouping, was among the twelve founding members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), and was among the six founding members of the European Coal and Steel Community, which would evolve into the EEC (Common Market) and later the European Union.

In 1954, the political structure of the Kingdom of the Netherlands was reformed when Queen Juliana signed the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Dutch colonies of Suriname and Curaçao and Dependencies became integral parts of the Kingdom as the constituent countries of Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles. At the same time, the European country known until then as the Kingdom of the Netherlands became the constituent country of the Netherlands within the now expanded Kingdom, on a basis of equality with the other constituent countries. The reformed Kingdom of the Netherlands was a result of the desire to review the relations between the Netherlands and its colonies (especially the Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia). International pressure to carry out decolonisation was an important motivator for the reforms. Before the reform was completed, Indonesia declared its independence in August 1945, which was recognised in 1949, and thus has never been part of the Kingdom.

The 1960s and 1970s were a time of great social and cultural change, such as rapid ontzuiling (literally: depillarisation), a term that describes the decay of the old divisions along political and religious lines. Youths, and students in particular, rejected traditional mores and pushed for change in matters such as women's rights, sexuality, disarmament and environmental issues.

On 10 October 2010, the Netherlands Antilles was dissolved. Referendums were held on each island of the Netherlands Antilles between June 2000 and April 2005 to determine their future status. As a result the islands of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (the BES islands) were to obtain closer ties with the Netherlands. This led to the incorporation of these three islands into the country of the Netherlands as special municipalities upon the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles. The special municipalities are collectively known as the Caribbean Netherlands.

Geography of the Netherlands[]

Main article: Geography of the Netherlands

European Netherlands[]

Further information: European Netherlands

The European area of the Netherlands lies between latitudes 50° and 54° N, and longitudes 3° and 8° E.

The country is divided into two main parts by three large rivers, the Rhine (Rijn), the Waal, its main distributary branch, and the Meuse (Maas), which originates in France. These rivers functioned as a natural barrier between earlier fiefdoms and hence created traditionally a cultural divide, as is evident in some phonetic traits that are recognisable north and south of these "Great Rivers" (de Grote Rivieren).

The south-western part of the Netherlands is a river delta of the Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt rivers. Another significant branch of the Rhine, the IJssel river, discharges into the IJsselmeer, the former Zuiderzee ('southern sea'). This river also forms a linguistic divide: people to the east of this river speak Dutch Low Saxon dialects (except for the province of Friesland, which has its own language).^[42]

Floods[]

Main articles: Flood control in the Netherlands, Floods in the Netherlands, North Sea flood of 1953, and Storm tides of the North Sea

Over the centuries, the Dutch coastline has changed considerably as a result of human intervention and natural disasters. Most notable in terms of land loss was the storm of 1134, which created the archipelago of Zeeland in the south-west.

On 14 December 1287, St. Lucia's flood affected the Netherlands and Germany killing more than 50,000 people in one of the most destructive floods in recorded history.^[43] The St. Elizabeth flood of 1421 and the mismanagement in its aftermath destroyed a newly reclaimed polder, replacing it with the 72-square-kilometre (28 sq mi) Biesbosch tidal floodplains in the south-centre. The huge North Sea flood of early February 1953 caused the collapse of several dikes in the south-west of the Netherlands; more than 1,800 people drowned in the flood. The Dutch government subsequently instituted a large-scale programme, the "Delta Works", to protect the country against future flooding, which was completed over a period of more than thirty years.

The disasters were somewhat increased in severity through human influence. People had drained relatively high-lying swampland to use it as farmland. This drainage caused the fertile peat to compress and the ground level to drop, whereby they would lower the water level to compensate for the drop in ground level, causing the underlying peat to compress even more. Because of the flooding, farming was difficult, which encouraged foreign trade, the result of which was that the Dutch were involved in world affairs since the early 14th/15th century.^[44] The flooding problem remains unsolvable. Also, until the 19th century peat was mined, dried, and used for fuel, further exacerbating the problem.

To guard against floods, a series of defences against the water were contrived. In the first millennium AD, villages and farmhouses were built on man-made hills called terps. Later, these terps were connected by dikes. In the 12th century, local government agencies called "waterschappen" ("water boards") or "hoogheemraadschappen" ("high home councils") started to appear, whose job it was to maintain the water level and to protect a region from floods; these agencies continue to exist. As the ground level dropped, the dikes by necessity grew and merged into an integrated system. By the 13th century windmills had come into use to pump water out of areas below sea level. The windmills were later used to drain lakes, creating the famous polders.

In 1932 the Afsluitdijk ("Closure Dike") was completed, blocking the former Zuiderzee (Southern Sea) from the North Sea and thus creating the IJsselmeer (IJssel Lake). It became part of the larger Zuiderzee Works in which four polders totalling 2,500 square kilometres (965 sq mi) were reclaimed from the sea.^[45]^[46]

The Netherlands is one of the countries that may suffer most from climate change. Not only is the rising sea a problem, but erratic weather patterns may cause the rivers to overflow.^[47]^[48]^[49]

Delta works[]

Main article: Delta Works

After the 1953 disaster, the Delta Works were constructed, a comprehensive set of civil works throughout the Dutch coast. The project started in 1958 and was largely completed in 1997 with the completion of the Maeslantkering. New projects have been periodically started since to renovate and renew the Delta Works. A main goal of the Delta project was to reduce the risk of flooding in South Holland and Zeeland to once per 10,000 years (compared to 1 per 4000 years for the rest of the country). This was achieved by raising 3,000 kilometres (1,864 mi) of outer sea-dykes and 10,000 kilometres (6,214 mi) of inner, canal, and river dikes, and by closing off the sea estuaries of the Zeeland province. New risk assessments occasionally show problems requiring additional Delta project dyke reinforcements. The Delta project is considered by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of the seven wonders of the modern world.^[50]

It is anticipated that global warming in the 21st century will result in a rise in sea level which, despite popular belief, will possibly not overwhelm the measures the Netherlands has taken to control floods. Even more specifically, the Netherlands is the only country in the world actively preparing for a sea level rise. A politically neutral Delta Commission has formulated an action plan to cope with a sea level rise of 1.10 metres (3.6 ft) and a simultaneous land height decline of 10 centimetres (3.9 in). The plan foresees in the reinforcement of the existing coastal defenses like dikes and dunes with 1.30 metres (4.3 ft) of additional flood protection. Climate change will not only threaten the Netherlands from the sea side, but could also alter rain fall patterns and river run-off. To protect the country from river flooding, another program is already being executed. The Room for the River plan grants more flow space to rivers, protects the major populated areas and allows for periodic flooding of indefensible lands. The few residents that lived in these so-called "overflow areas" have been moved to higher ground, with some of that ground having been raised above anticipated flood levels.^[51]

Protecting the country against floods is one element of climate change. The other is that the pressure of the sea water on ground water will increase. As a result, the fresh water table will be pushed more inland, resulting in more brackish or saline groundwater in the coastal provinces. Due to this change, some drinking water areas will be forced to apply desalination despite the apparent abundance of water. It will also affect agriculture. The greenhouses can continue their production by becoming more water efficient (they are already disconnected from the groundwater, thereby not becoming more saline), though they will need to become more energy and water efficient. The push of more brackish water into the mainland will also cause changes in flora and fauna.

Climate[]

The predominant wind direction in the Netherlands is south-west, which causes a moderate maritime climate, with cool summers and mild winters. This is especially the case in places within direct proximity of the Dutch coastline, which sometimes are over 10 °C (18 °F) warmer (in winter) or cooler (in summer) than places in the (south) east of the country.

The following tables are based on mean measurements by the KNMI weather station in De Bilt between 1981 and 2010:

Climate data for De Bilt (1981–2010 averages), all KNMI locations (1901–2011 extremes), snowy days: (1971–2000 averages).
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	17.2 (63.0)	20.4 (68.7)	25.6 (78.1)	32.2 (90.0)	35.6 (96.1)	38.4 (101.1)	37.1 (98.8)	38.6 (101.5)	35.2 (95.4)	30.1 (86.2)	21.1 (70.0)	17.8 (64.0)	38.6 (101.5)
Average high °C (°F)	5.6 (42.1)	6.4 (43.5)	10.0 (50.0)	14.0 (57.2)	18.0 (64.4)	20.4 (68.7)	22.8 (73.0)	22.6 (72.7)	19.1 (66.4)	14.6 (58.3)	9.6 (49.3)	6.1 (43.0)	14.1 (57.4)
Daily mean °C (°F)	3.1 (37.6)	3.3 (37.9)	6.2 (43.2)	9.2 (48.6)	13.1 (55.6)	15.6 (60.1)	17.9 (64.2)	17.5 (63.5)	14.5 (58.1)	10.7 (51.3)	6.7 (44.1)	3.7 (38.7)	10.1 (50.2)
Average low °C (°F)	0.3 (32.5)	0.2 (32.4)	2.3 (36.1)	4.1 (39.4)	7.8 (46.0)	10.5 (50.9)	12.8 (55.0)	12.3 (54.1)	9.9 (49.8)	6.9 (44.4)	3.6 (38.5)	1.0 (33.8)	6.0 (42.8)
Record low °C (°F)	−27.4 (−17.3)	−26.8 (−16.2)	−20.7 (−5.3)	−9.4 (15.1)	−5.4 (22.3)	−1.2 (29.8)	0.7 (33.3)	1.3 (34.3)	−3.7 (25.3)	−8.5 (16.7)	−14.4 (6.1)	−22.3 (−8.1)	−27.4 (−17.3)
Precipitation mm (inches)	69.6 (2.74)	55.8 (2.197)	66.8 (2.63)	42.3 (1.665)	61.9 (2.437)	65.6 (2.583)	81.1 (3.193)	72.9 (2.87)	78.1 (3.075)	82.8 (3.26)	79.8 (3.142)	75.8 (2.984)	832.5 (32.776)
Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm)	17	14	17	13	14	14	14	14	15	16	18	17	184
Avg. snowy days (≥ 0 cm)	6	6	4	2	0	–	–	–	–	0	2	5	25
% humidity	87	84	81	75	75	76	77	79	84	86	89	89	82
Mean monthly sunshine hours	62.3	85.7	121.6	173.6	207.2	193.9	206.0	187.7	138.3	112.9	63.0	49.3	1,601.5
Source: Knmi.nl^[52]

Ice days (maximum temperature below 0 °C (32 °F)) usually occur from December until February, with the occasional rare ice day prior to or after that period. Freezing days (minimum temperature below 0 °C (32 °F)) occur much more often, usually ranging from mid-November to late March, but not rarely measured as early as mid October and as late as mid May. If one chooses the height of measurement to be 10 cm (4 in) above ground instead of 150 cm (59 in), one may even find such temperatures in the middle of the summer. On average, snow can occur from November to April, but sometimes occurs in May or October too.

Warm days (maximum temperature above 20 °C (68 °F)) in De Bilt are usually found in April to October, but in some parts of the country these warm days can also occur in March, or even sometimes in November or February (usually not in De Bilt, however). Summer days (maximum temperature above 25 °C (77 °F)) are usually measured in De Bilt from May until September, tropical days (maximum temperature above 30 °C (86 °F)) are rare and usually occur only in June to August.

Precipitation throughout the year is distributed relatively equally each month. Summer and autumn months tend to gather a little more precipitation than the other months, mainly because of the intensity of the rainfall rather than the frequency of rain days (this is especially the case in summer, when lightning is also much more frequent).

The number of sunshine hours is affected by the fact that because of the geographical latitude, the length of the days varies between barely eight hours in December and nearly 17 hours in June.

Environment[]

Further information: List of national parks of the Netherlands and List of extinct animals of the Netherlands

The Netherlands has 20 national parks and hundreds of other nature reserves, most of which are owned by Staatsbosbeheer and Natuurmonumenten and include lakes, heathland, woods, dunes and other habitats. Phytogeographically, the Netherlands is shared between the Atlantic European and Central European provinces of the Circumboreal Region within the Boreal Kingdom. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature, the territory of the Netherlands belongs to the ecoregion of Atlantic mixed forests. In 1871, the last old original natural woods were cut down, and most woods today are planted monocultures of trees like Scots Pine and trees that are not native to the Netherlands. These woods were planted on anthropogenic heaths and sand-drifts (overgrazed heaths) (Veluwe).

Caribbean islands[]

Main articles: Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius

The Caribbean Netherlands form a part of the Lesser Antilles. Within this island group,

Bonaire is part of the ABC islands within the Leeward Antilles island chain off the Venezuelan coast. The Leeward Antilles have a mixed volcanic and coral origin.
Saba and Sint Eustatius are part of the SSS islands. They are located east of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Although in the English language they are considered part of the Leeward Islands, French, Spanish, Dutch and the English spoken locally consider them part of the Windward Islands. The Windward Islands are all of volcanic origin and hilly, leaving little ground suitable for agriculture. The highest point is Mount Scenery, 887 metres (2,910 ft), on Saba (also the highest point in all the Kingdom of the Netherlands).

The islands of the Caribbean Netherlands enjoy a tropical climate with warm weather all year round. The Leeward Islands are warmer and drier than the Windward islands. In summer, the Windward Islands can be subject to hurricanes.

Government[]

Main article: Government of the Netherlands

The Netherlands has been a constitutional monarchy since 1815 and a parliamentary democracy since 1848. The Netherlands is described as a consociational state. Dutch politics and governance are characterised by an effort to achieve broad consensus on important issues, within both the political community and society as a whole. In 2010, The Economist ranked the Netherlands as the 10th most democratic country in the world.

The monarch is the head of state, at present King Willem-Alexander. Constitutionally, the position is equipped with limited powers. The monarch can exert some influence during the formation of a new cabinet, where they serve as neutral arbiter between the political parties. Additionally, the king (the title queen has no constitutional significance) has the right to be briefed and consulted. Depending on the personalities and relationships of the king and the ministers, the king might have influence beyond the power granted by the constitution.

The executive power is formed by the council of Ministers, the deliberative council of the Dutch cabinet. The cabinet consists usually of 13 to 16 ministers and a varying number of state secretaries. One to three ministers are ministers without portfolio. The head of government is the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, who often is the leader of the largest party of the coalition. The Prime Minister is a primus inter pares, with no explicit powers beyond those of the other ministers. Mark Rutte has been Prime Minister since October 2010; the Prime Minister had been the leader of the largest party continuously since 1973.

The cabinet is responsible to the bicameral parliament, the States General, which also has legislative powers. The 150 members of the House of Representatives, the Lower House, are elected in direct elections, which are held every four years or after the fall of the cabinet (by example: when one of the chambers carries a motion of no confidence, the cabinet offers its resignation to the monarch). The States-Provincial are directly elected every four years as well. The members of the provincial assemblies elect the 75 members of the Senate, the upper house, which has the power to reject laws, but not propose or amend them.

Both trade unions and employers organisations are consulted beforehand in policymaking in the financial, economic and social areas. They meet regularly with government in the Social-Economic Council. This body advises government and its advice cannot be put aside easily.

The Netherlands has a long tradition of social tolerance. In the 18th century, while the Dutch Reformed Church was the state religion, Catholicism, other forms of Protestantism, such as Baptists and Lutherans, and Judaism were tolerated. In the late 19th century this Dutch tradition of religious tolerance transformed into a system of pillarisation, in which religious groups coexisted separately and only interacted at the level of government. This tradition of tolerance influences Dutch criminal justice policies on recreational drugs, prostitution, LGBT rights, euthanasia, and abortion, which are among the most liberal in the world.

Political parties[]

Main articles: Political parties of the Netherlands and Politics of the Netherlands

Because of the multi-party system, no single party has held a majority in parliament since the 19th century, and coalition cabinets had to be formed. Since suffrage became universal in 1919, the Dutch political system has been dominated by three families of political parties: the strongest of which were the Christian democrats, currently represented by the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA); second were the social democrats, represented by the Labour Party (PvdA); and third were the liberals, of which the right wing People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) is the main representative.

These parties co-operated in coalition cabinets in which the Christian democrats had always been a partner: so either a centre-left coalition of the Christian democrats and social democrats was ruling or a centre-right coalition of Christian democrats and liberals. In the 1970s, the party system became more volatile: the Christian democratic parties lost seats, while new parties became successful, such as the radical democrat and progressive liberal D66.

In the 1994 election, the CDA lost its dominant position. A "purple" cabinet was formed by VVD, D66, and PvdA. In the 2002 elections, this cabinet lost its majority, because of an increased support for the CDA and the rise of the right LPF, a new political party, around Pim Fortuyn, who was assassinated a week before the elections. A short-lived cabinet was formed by CDA, VVD, and LPF, which was led by the CDA leader Jan Peter Balkenende. After the 2003 elections, in which the LPF lost most of its seats, a cabinet was formed by CDA, VVD, and D66. The cabinet initiated an ambitious programme of reforming the welfare state, the healthcare system, and immigration policy.

In June 2006, the cabinet fell after D66 voted in favour of a motion of no confidence against the Minister of Immigration and Integration, Rita Verdonk, who had instigated an investigation of the asylum procedure of Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a VVD MP. A caretaker cabinet was formed by CDA and VVD, and general elections were held on 22 November 2006. In these elections, the CDA remained the largest party and the Socialist Party made the largest gains. The formation of a new cabinet took three months, resulting in a coalition of CDA, PvdA, and ChristianUnion.

On 20 February 2010, the cabinet fell when the PvdA refused to prolong the involvement of the Dutch Army in Uruzgan, Afghanistan.^[53] Snap elections were held on 9 June 2010, with devastating results for the previously largest party, the CDA, which lost about half of its seats, resulting in 21 seats. The VVD became the largest party with 31 seats, closely followed by the PvdA with 30 seats. The big winner of the 2010 elections was Geert Wilders, whose extreme-right wing PVV,^[54]^[55] the ideological successor to the LPF, more than doubled its number of seats.^[56] Negotiation talks for a new government resulted in a minority government, led by VVD (a first) in coalition with CDA, which was sworn in on 14 October 2010. This unprecedented minority government was supported by PVV, but proved ultimately to be unstable,^[57] when on 21 April 2012, Wilders, leader of PVV, unexpectedly 'torpedoed seven weeks of austerity talks' on new austerity measures, paving the way for early elections.^[58] ^[59] ^[60]

VVD and PvdA were the big winners of the elections. Since 5 November 2012 they have formed the second Rutte cabinet.

Administrative divisions[]

Main articles: Provinces of the Netherlands, Municipalities of the Netherlands, Water board (Netherlands), Public body (Netherlands), and Caribbean Netherlands

The Netherlands is divided into twelve provinces, each under a Commissioner of the King (Commissaris van de Koning), except for Limburg province where the position is named Governor (Gouverneur). All provinces are divided into municipalities (gemeenten), of which there are 403.^[61]

The country is also subdivided into 24 water districts, governed by a water board (waterschap or hoogheemraadschap), each having authority in matters concerning water management.^[62] The creation of water boards actually pre-dates that of the nation itself, the first appearing in 1196. The Dutch water boards are among the oldest democratic entities in the world still in existence.

The administrative structure on the 3 BES islands, also known as the Caribbean Netherlands, is different. These islands have the status of openbare lichamen (public bodies) and are generally referred to as special municipalities. They are not part of a province.^[63]

Provinces[]

Flag	Province	Capital	Largest city	Area^[64] (km²)	Population^[65] 31-09-2013	Density (per km²)
	Drenthe	Assen	Assen	2,639	489,155	185
	Flevoland	Lelystad	Almere	1,415	399,825	282
	Friesland	Leeuwarden	Leeuwarden	3,340	646,401	194
	Gelderland	Arnhem	Nijmegen	4,970	2,019,196	406
	Groningen	Groningen	Groningen	2,325	582,908	251
	Limburg	Maastricht	Maastricht	2,150	1,120,332	521
	North Brabant	's-Hertogenbosch	Eindhoven	4,914	2,478,687	504
	North Holland	Haarlem	Amsterdam	2,665	2,737,540	1,027
	Overijssel	Zwolle	Enschede	3,324	1,139,462	343
	Utrecht	Utrecht	Utrecht	1,383	1,251,266	905
	Zeeland	Middelburg	Middelburg	1,784	380,864	213
	South Holland	The Hague	Rotterdam	2,808	3,572,409	1,272
Total				33,718	16,818,045	499

Special municipalities[]

Flag	Name	Capital	Largest city	Area^[66] (km²)	Population^[67] 31-12-2012	Density (per km²)
	Bonaire	Kralendijk	Kralendijk	288	17,408	60
	Sint Eustatius	Oranjestad	Oranjestad	21	3,897	186
	Saba	The Bottom	The Bottom	13	1,991	153
Total				322	23,296	72

Foreign relations[]

International Court of Justice — The Peace Palace (*Vredespaleis*), The Hague

Main article: Foreign relations of the Netherlands

The history of Dutch foreign policy has been characterised by its neutrality. Since the Second World War the Netherlands has become a member of a large number of international organisations, most prominently the UN, NATO and the EU. The Dutch economy is very open and relies on international trade.

The foreign policy of the Netherlands is based on four basic commitments: to atlantic co-operation, to European integration, to international development and to international law. One of the more controversial international issues surrounding the Netherlands is its liberal policy towards soft drugs.

During and after the Dutch Golden Age, the Dutch people built up a commercial and colonial empire, which fell apart quickly after the Second World War. The historical ties inherited from its colonial past still influence the foreign relations of the Netherlands.

Military[]

Main article: Military of the Netherlands

The Netherlands has one of the oldest standing armies in Europe; it was first established as such by Maurice of Nassau. The Dutch army was used throughout the Dutch Empire. After the defeat of Napoleon, the Dutch army was transformed into a conscription army. The army was unsuccessfully deployed during the Belgian revolution in 1830. After 1830, it was deployed mainly in the Dutch colonies, as the Netherlands remained neutral in European wars (including the First World War), until the Netherlands was invaded in the Second World War and quickly defeated by the Wehrmacht in May 1940.

The Netherlands abandoned its neutrality in 1948 when it signed the Treaty of Brussels, and later became a founding member of NATO in 1949. The Dutch military was therefore part of the NATO strength in Cold War Europe, deploying its army to several bases in Germany. More than 3.000 Dutch soldiers were assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division of the United States Army during the Korean War. In 1996 conscription was suspended, and the Dutch army was once again transformed into a professional army. Since the 1990s the Dutch army has been involved in the Bosnian War and the Kosovo War, it held a province in Iraq after the defeat of Saddam Hussein, and it was engaged in Afghanistan.

The military is composed of four branches, all of which carry the prefix Koninklijke (Royal):

Koninklijke Landmacht (KL), the Royal Netherlands Army
Koninklijke Marine (KM), the Royal Netherlands Navy, including the Naval Air Service and Marine Corps
Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu), the Royal Netherlands Air Force
Koninklijke Marechaussee (KMar), the Royal Marechaussee (Military Police), tasks include military police and border control

General Tom Middendorp is the current Commander of the Netherlands armed forces. All military specialities except the submarine service and the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps (Korps Mariniers) are open to women. The Korps Commandotroepen, the Special Operations Force of the Netherlands Army, is open to women, but because of the extremely high physical demands for initial training, it is almost impossible for women to become a commando.^[68] The Dutch Ministry of Defence employs more than 70,000 personnel, including over 20,000 civilians and over 50,000 military personnel.^[69] In April 2011 the government announced a major reduction in its military because of a cut in government expenditure, including a decrease in the number of tanks, fighter aircraft, naval ships and senior officials.^[70]

Economy[]

Main article: Economy of the Netherlands

The Netherlands has a developed economy and has been playing a special role in the European economy for many centuries. Since the 16th century, shipping, fishing, trade, and banking have been leading sectors of the Dutch economy. The Netherlands is one of the world's 10 leading exporting countries. Foodstuffs form the largest industrial sector. Other major industries include chemicals, metallurgy, machinery, electrical goods, and tourism (in 2012 the Netherlands welcomed 11.7 million international tourists). Examples include Unilever, Heineken, financial services (ING), chemicals (DSM, AKZO), petroleum refining (Shell), electronical machinery (Philips, ASML), and car navigation (TomTom).

The Netherlands has the 18th-largest economy in the world, and ranks 10th in GDP (nominal) per capita. Between 1997 and 2000 annual economic growth (GDP) averaged nearly 4%, well above the European average. Growth slowed considerably from 2001 to 2005 with the global economic slowdown, but accelerated to 4.1% in the third quarter of 2007. In May 2013, inflation was at 2.8% per year.^[72] In April 2013, unemployment was at 8.2% (or 6.7% following the ILO definition) of the labour force.^[73]

In Q3 and Q4 2011, the Dutch economy contracted by 0.4% and 0.7%, respectively, because of European Debt Crisis, while in Q4 the Eurozone economy shrunk by 0.3%.^[74] The Netherlands also has a relatively low GINI coefficient of 0.326. Despite ranking 7th in GDP per capita, UNICEF ranked the Netherlands 1st in child well-being.^[75] On the Index of Economic Freedom Netherlands is the 13th most free market capitalist economy out of 157 surveyed countries.

Amsterdam is the financial and business capital of the Netherlands.^[76] The Amsterdam Stock Exchange (AEX), part of Euronext, is the world's oldest stock exchange and is one of Europe's largest bourses. It is situated near Dam Square in the city's centre. As a founding member of the euro, the Netherlands replaced (for accounting purposes) its former currency, the "gulden" (guilder), on 1 January 1999, along with 15 other adopters of the euro. Actual euro coins and banknotes followed on 1 January 2002. One euro was equivalent to 2.20371 Dutch guilders. In the Caribbean Netherlands, the US dollar is used instead of the euro.

Amazonehaven — The Port of Rotterdam is Europe's largest port.

The Dutch location gives it prime access to markets in the UK and Germany, with the port of Rotterdam being the largest port in Europe. Other important parts of the economy are international trade (Dutch colonialism started with co-operative private enterprises such as the VOC), banking and transport. The Netherlands successfully addressed the issue of public finances and stagnating job growth long before its European partners. Amsterdam is the 5th-busiest tourist destination in Europe with more than 4.2 million international visitors.^[77] Since the enlargement of the EU large numbers of migrant workers have arrived in the Netherlands from central and eastern Europe.^[78] Of economic importance is BrabantStad, a partnership between the municipalities of Breda, Eindhoven, Helmond, 's-Hertogenbosch and Tilburg and the province of North Brabant. BrabantStad is the fastest growing economic region in the Netherlands, with Brainport as one of the three national top regions and as a top region in the world. The region lies within the Eindhoven-Leuven-Aachen Triangle (ELAT).^[79] The partnership aims to form an urban network and to make North Brabant explicitly known as a leading knowledge region within Europe. With a total of 1.5 million people and 20% of the industrial production in the Netherlands is BrabantStad one of the major economical important, metropolitan regions of the Netherlands. Of all the money that goes to research and development in the Netherlands, one third is spent in Eindhoven. A quarter of the jobs in the region are in technology and ICT.^[80] Of all European patent applications in the field of physics and electronics about eight per cent is from North Brabant.^[81] In the extended region, BrabantStad is part of the Eindhoven-Leuven-Aachen Triangle (ELAT). This economic cooperation agreement between three cities in three countries has created one of the most innovative regions in the European Union (measured in terms of money invested in technology and knowledge economy).^[82] The economic success of this region is important for the international competitiveness of the Netherlands; Together Amsterdam (airport), Rotterdam (seaport), and Eindhoven (Brainport) form the foundation of the Dutch economy.^[83]

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 United States. 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. The Netherlands is the fifth-most competitive economy in the world, according to the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report.^[84]

The Groningen gas field, one of the largest natural gas fields in the world, is situated near Slochteren. Exploitation of this field has resulted in €159 billion in revenue since the mid-1970s.^[85]

Agriculture[]

A highly mechanised agricultural sector employs 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, with exports earning $55 billion annually. 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.^[86]

The Netherlands also exports a quarter of all the world's tomatoes, and trade of one-third of the world's exports of chilis, tomatoes and cucumbers goes through the country. The Netherlands also exports one-fifteenth of the world's apples.^[86]

Transport[]

See also: Transport in the Netherlands and Rail transport in the Netherlands

Rotterdam has the largest port in Europe, with the rivers Meuse and Rhine providing excellent access to the hinterland upstream reaching to Basel, Switzerland, and into France. As of 2013, Rotterdam was the world's eighth largest container port handling 440.5 million metric tonnes of cargo annually.^[87] The port's main activities are petrochemical industries and general cargo handling and transshipment. The harbour functions as an important transit point for bulk materials and between the European continent and overseas. From Rotterdam goods are transported by ship, river barge, train or road. In 2007, the Betuweroute, a new fast freight railway from Rotterdam to Germany, was completed.

As part of its commitment to environmental sustainability, the Dutch government initiated a plan to establish over 200 recharging stations for electric vehicles across the country by 2015. The rollout will be undertaken by Switzerland-based power and automation company ABB and Dutch startup Fastned, and will aim to provide at least one station within a 50-kilometre radius (30 miles) from every home in the Netherlands.^[88]

Demographics[]

Main article: Demographics of the Netherlands

The Netherlands had an estimated population of 16,785,403 on 30 April 2013.^[89] It is the 10th most populous country in Europe and the 63rd most populous country in the world. Between 1900 and 1950, the country's population almost doubled from 5.1 to 10.0 million people. From 1950 to 2000, the population further increased from 10.0 to 15.9 million people, but the rate of population growth was less than that of the previous fifty years.^[90] The estimated growth rate in 2013 is 0.44%.^[3]

The fertility rate in the Netherlands is 1.78 children per woman (2013 est^[3]), which is high compared with many other European countries, but below the rate of 2.1 children per woman required for natural population replacement. Life expectancy is high in the Netherlands: 83.21 years for newborn girls and 78.93 for boys (2013 est^[3]). The country has a migration rate of 1.99 migrants per 1,000 inhabitants per year.^[3]

The majority of the population of the Netherlands is ethnically Dutch. A 2005 estimate counted: 80.9% Dutch, 2.4% Indonesian, 2.4% German, 2.2% Turkish, 2.0% Surinamese, 1.9% Moroccan, 0.8% Antillean and Aruban, and 7.4% others.^[91] The Dutch are the tallest people in the world, with an average height of 1.81 metres (5 ft 11.3 in) for adult males and 1.67 metres (5 ft 5.7 in) for adult females in 2009.^[92] People in the south are on average about 2 cm (0.8 inches) shorter than those in the north.

Dutch people, or descendants of Dutch people, are also found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Canada, Australia, Brazil, South Africa and the United States. According to the 2006 US Census, more than 5 million Americans claim total or partial Dutch ancestry.^[93] There are close to 3 million Dutch-descended Afrikaners living in South Africa.^[94] In 1940, there were 290,000 Europeans and Eurasians in Indonesia,^[95] but most have since left the country.^[96] According to Eurostat, in 2010 there were 1.8 million foreign-born residents in the Netherlands, corresponding to 11.1% of the total population. Of these, 1.4 million (8.5%) were born outside the EU and 0.428 million (2.6%) were born in another EU Member State.^[97]

The Netherlands is the 24th most densely populated country in the world, with 404.6 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,048 /sq mi)—or 497 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,287 /sq mi) if only the land area is counted. The Randstad is the country's largest conurbation located in the west of the country and contains the four largest cities: Amsterdam in the province North Holland, Rotterdam and The Hague in the province South Holland, and Utrecht in the province Utrecht. The Randstad has a population of 7 million inhabitants and is the 6th largest metropolitan area in Europe.

Template:Largest cities of the Netherlands

Language[]

Main article: Languages of the Netherlands

The official language is Dutch, which is spoken by the vast majority of the inhabitants. Besides Dutch, the European part of the Netherlands recognises three regional languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. One of those is Frisian, which is spoken in the northern province of Friesland, called Fryslân in that language.^[98] Frisian is the only of the three which is standardised and has a formal status for government correspondence, albeit only in the province of Friesland. In addition Low Saxon (Nedersaksisch in Dutch) is recognised. Low Saxon consists of several dialects spoken in the north and east, like Twents in the region of Twente, and Drents in the province of Drenthe. Limburgish is the third recognised regional language. It consists of Dutch varieties of Meuse-Rhenish Franconian languages and is spoken in the south-eastern province of Limburg.^[42] The dialects most spoken in the Netherlands are the Brabantian-Hollandic dialects.^[99]

English has a formal status in the special municipalities of Saba and Sint Eustatius. It is widely spoken on these islands. Papiamento has a formal status in the special municipality of Bonaire. Yiddish and the Romani language were recognised in 1996 as non-territorial languages.^[100]

There is a tradition of learning foreign languages in the Netherlands: about 70% of the total population have good knowledge of conversational English, 55– 59% of German, and 19% of French. Children start with English courses at primary schools when they are about four or five years old.^[101] English is a mandatory course in all secondary schools.^[102] In most lower level secondary school educations (vmbo), one additional modern foreign language is mandatory during the first two years.^[103]

In higher level secondary schools (havo and vwo), two additional modern foreign languages are mandatory during the first three years. Only during the last three years in vwo one foreign language is mandatory. The standard modern languages are French and German, although schools can change one of these modern languages with Spanish, Turkish, Arabic, or Russian.^[103] Additionally, schools in the Frisia region teach and have exams in Frisian, and schools across the country teach and have exams in classical Greek and Latin for secondary school (called gymnasium or vwo+).

Religion[]

Main article: Religion in the Netherlands

DomTorenUtrechtNederland — Dom Tower of Utrecht

The Netherlands was a predominantly Christian society until late into the 20th century, with a strong demarcation (pillarisation) between roughly the Catholic south on one side and the Calvinist north on the other side. In the 1960s, this started to diminish. Although religious diversity remains, there has been a decline of religious adherence. The Netherlands is one of the most secular countries in Western Europe, with only 39% being religiously affiliated (31% for those aged under 35), and fewer than 5.6% attending church regularly (meaning once or more per month) in 2010. Religion is in the Netherlands generally considered a personal matter which is not supposed to be propagated in public.^[104]^[105]^[106] According to the most recent Eurobarometer poll 2010,^[107] 28% of the Dutch citizens responded that "they believe there is a God", whereas 39% answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force", and 30% that "they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, god, or life force". Since 1989, the unaffiliated have become mainstream, the number of adults without a religion in 2005 being at 51.3% and steadily growing. Almost all Christian groups show a decrease in the number of members or less stable membership. However, in particular the loss of members of the two major churches, which are the Roman Catholic Church in the Netherlands, with a membership loss of more than 300,000 members between late 2005 and late 2010, and the Protestant Church in the Netherlands, with a membership loss of more than 150,000 members, cause the number of Christians in the Netherlands to have decreased from approximately 7.132 million (44%) by the end of 2005 to 6.861 million (39%) ^[108] by the end of 2010. Also Ietsism, Agnosticism and Christian atheism are on the rise; the first two being general accepted and the last being more or less considered to be non-controversial.^[109] A countervailing trend is produced by a religious revival in the Protestant Bible Belt, and the growth of Muslim and Hindu communities resulting from immigration and high birth rates.^[110]^[111] The SCP (Sociaal Cultureel Planbureau) expects the number of non-affiliated Dutch to be at 72% in 2020.^[112]

It should be noted that different sources give very different percentages.^[113] A 2007 research God in Nederland, based on in-depth interviews of 1132 people concluded that 61% of the Dutch are non-affiliated. Fewer than 7% attend church regularly (at least once a month). Similar studies were done in 1966, 1979 and 1996, showing a steady decline of religious affiliation. That this trend is likely to continue is illustrated by the fact that in the age group under 35, 69% are non-affiliated. However, those who do identify with a religious denomination tend to be more profoundly religious than in the past. Religious belief is also regarded as a very personal affair, as is illustrated by the fact that 60% of self-described believers are not affiliated with any organised religion. There is a stronger stress on positive sides of belief, with Hell and the concept of damnation being pushed into the background. One quarter of non-believers sometimes pray, but more in a sense of meditative self-reflection.^[113]

Freedom of education has been guaranteed by the Dutch constitution since 1917, and schools run by religious groups (especially Catholic and Protestant) are funded by the government. All schools must meet strict quality criteria.

Three political parties in the Dutch parliament (CDA, ChristianUnion, and SGP) base their policy on Christian belief in varying degrees. Although the Netherlands is a secular state, in some municipalities where the Christian parties have the majority, the council meetings are opened by prayer.

Municipalities in general also give civil servants a day off on Christian religious holidays, such as Easter and the Ascension of Jesus.^[114]

Religion in the Netherlands (2005)^[115]

Irreligious (51.3%)

Roman Catholicism (24.6%)

Protestantism (14.8%)

Islam (5.8%)

Hinduism (1.4%)

Buddhism (1.2%)

Other Unspecified (0.9%)

Roman Catholicism[]

Currently, Roman Catholicism is the single largest religion of the Netherlands with around four million registered adherents which is 24% of the Dutch population in 2011.^[116] In the second half of the twentieth century a rapid secularization took place in the Catholic parts of the Netherlands. A planned visit of Pope Francis to the Netherlands was blocked by Cardinal Wim Eijk in 2014, allegedly because of the feared lack of interest for the Pope among the Dutch public.^[117] In 2006 slightly more than half of the Brabantian people identified with Catholism, but only 1-2% of the total population of that area attend the mass, and these churchgoers consist mostly of people over 65 years old.^[118] Since the provinces of North Brabant and Limburg are in the Netherlands historically most Roman Catholic, their people still use the term and some traditions as a base for their cultural identity rather than as a religious identity. The vast majority of the Catholic population in the Netherlands is now largely irreligious in practice. Research among Catholics in the Netherlands in 2007 shows that only 27% of the Dutch Catholics can be regarded as a theist, 55% as an ietsist / agnostic theist and 17% as agnostic.^[119]

Protestantism[]

The Protestant Church in the Netherlands (PKN) follows with 10.8% of the population.^[120] It was formed in 2004 as a merger of the two major strands of Calvinism: the Dutch Reformed Church, the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands and a smaller Lutheran Church. Other Protestant churches, both orthodox Calvinist and liberal churches did not merge into the PKN. The number of members falls on average by about 2.5% per year. This is caused primarily by the death of older members and little growth among the younger population.^[121] Research in 2007 concludes that 42% of the members of the PKN is a non-theist.^[119] Furthermore, in the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (PKN) and several other smaller denominations of the Netherlands, 1 in 6 clergy are either agnostic or atheist.^[122]

Humanism[]

A research in 2003 shows that about 1.27 million people in the Netherlands express explicitly an affinity with secular humanism, which is about 9.4% of the total population.^[123] Erasmus and Dirck Coornhert are important early representatives of humanism in the Netherlands in the 16th century. In the 17th century, especially Spinoza and Hugo Grotius were important. During the Age of Enlightenment (18th century), the importance of science and research increased sharply. Confidence in human understanding and logical reasoning was given shape in liberalism. The German philosophers Ludwig Feuerbach and Kant and the evolution theory of Darwin, among other scientific theories in the 19th century, had an exceptionally strong influence and were a major step in the development of humanism in the Netherlands. The modern organized humanist movement began in the Netherlands in the mid-nineteenth century with the establishment of freethinkers association De Dageraad (Dawn). The members, including writer Multatuli and later Anton Constandse. Marx' socialism had a significant influence on the Dutch humanism of the 20th century. With the establishment of the humanistic associations Humanitas in 1945 and the Humanistisch Verbond in 1946, Dutch humanists organized themselves after the Second World War. When the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations in 1948, the Dutch Humanist movements became involved with the establishment of the International Humanist and Ethical Union in 1952 (and since 1990 also the European Humanist Federation).^[124]

Pluralism[]

Slightly more than half (52.8%) of the respondents to a research about humanism in 2003 affiliated with no religious or philosophical movement at all. In contrast 8% said to follow more than 1 movement. This form of pluralism occurs in all religious and philosophical Dutch movements, but is strongest among supporters of non-Western religions. 75% of Dutch Buddhists also affiliate with other religious or philosophical movements. Among followers of Hinduism in the Netherlands, this ratio is even higher, at 91%. On the other hand, followers of Western religions and humanism, as well as movements in the 'other' category were least likely to affiliate with more than one religious or philosophical movement. Within Western movements the people affiliating with humanism were most likely to also adhere to one or more other movements (47%). Most of these humanists adhere to Catholicism (27%), Protestantism (14%) or Buddhism (12%). Also 9% of Catholics, 6% of Protestants and 50% of the Buddhists counting themselves as humanists, as well as 25% of the Muslims, 55% of the Hindu, 19% of the Jews and 15% of the supporters of a movement other than these listed.^[123]

Minority Religions[]

In 2006, there were 850,000 Muslims.^[125] As a result of different determination methods in 2012 this number had dropped to 825.000 (4% of the total Dutch population).^[126] Muslim numbers began to rise after the 1970s as the result of immigration. Some migrants from former Dutch colonies, such as Surinam and Indonesia, were sometimes Muslim, but migrant workers from Turkey and Morocco are the biggest part, as well as their children. During the 1990s, the Netherlands opened its borders for Muslim refugees from countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, and Afghanistan.^[127] Muslims form a diverse group. Social tensions between native Dutch and migrant Muslims began to rise in the early 21st century, with the rise and murder of populist politician Pim Fortuyn by militant animal rights activist Volkert van der Graaf and the murder of Theo van Gogh by an extremist Muslim, Mohammed Bouyeri. There are about 1,500 Ahmadi Muslims in Netherlands.^[128]

The Netherlands has an estimated 250,000 Buddhists or people who feel strongly attracted by this religion, mainly ethnic Dutch people. There are approximately 200,000 Hindus, most of them of Surinamese origin. Sikhs are another religious minority in the Netherlands, numbering around 12,000, mainly located in or around Amsterdam. There are five gurudwaras in the Netherlands. The Association of Religion Data Archives (relying on World Christian Encyclopedia) estimated some 6,400 Bahá'ís in 2005.^[129]

Although the Holocaust deeply affected the Jewish community (killing about 75% of its 140,000 members at the time^[130]), it has managed to rebuild a vibrant and lively Jewish life for its approximately 45,000 current members. Before the Second World War, 10% of the Amsterdam population was Jewish.^[131]

Education[]

Main article: Education in the Netherlands

Education in the Netherlands is compulsory between the ages of 4 and 16, and partially compulsory between the ages of 16 and 18.

All children in the Netherlands usually attend elementary school from (on average) ages 4 to 12. It comprises eight grades, the first of which is facultative. Based on an aptitude test, the 8th grade teacher's recommendation and the opinion of the pupil's parents or caretakers, a choice is made for one of the three main streams of secondary education (after completing a particular stream, a pupil may still continue in the penultimate year of the next stream):

The vmbo has 4 grades and is subdivided over several levels. Successfully completing the vmbo results in a low-level vocational degree that grants access to the mbo ("middle-level applied education"). This form of education primarily focuses on teaching a practical trade. With the mbo certification, a student can apply for the hbo.
The havo has 5 grades and allows for admission to the hbo ("higher professional education"), which are universities of professional education (or applied sciences) that award professional bachelor degrees that gives access to the university system.
The vwo (including atheneum and gymnasium) has 6 grades and prepares for studying at a research university. The university consists of a three-year bachelor's degree, followed by a one-, two- or three-year master's degree, and finally a four-year doctoral degree. Doctoral candidates in the Netherlands are temporary employees of a university.

Culture[]

Main article: Culture of the Netherlands

Hollande04 — Symbols and icons of Dutch culture

The Netherlands has had many well-known painters. The 17th century, in which the Dutch Republic was prosperous, was the age of the "Dutch Masters", such as Rembrandt van Rijn, Johannes Vermeer, Jan Steen, Jacob van Ruysdael and many others. Famous Dutch painters of the 19th and 20th century were Vincent van Gogh and Piet Mondriaan. M. C. Escher is a well-known graphics artist. Willem de Kooning was born and trained in Rotterdam, although he is considered to have reached acclaim as an American artist.

The Netherlands is the country of philosophers Erasmus of Rotterdam and Spinoza. All of Descartes' major work was done in the Netherlands. The Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens (1629–1695) discovered Saturn's moon Titan, argued that light travelled as waves, invented the pendulum clock and was the first physicist to use mathematical formulae. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek was the first to observe and describe single-celled organisms with a microscope.

In the Dutch Golden Age, literature flourished as well, with Joost van den Vondel and P. C. Hooft as the two most famous writers. In the 19th century, Multatuli wrote about the poor treatment of the natives in Dutch colonies. Important 20th century authors include Harry Mulisch, Jan Wolkers, Simon Vestdijk, Hella S. Haasse, Cees Nooteboom, Gerard (van het) Reve and Willem Frederik Hermans. Anne Frank's Diary of a Young Girl was published after she died in the Holocaust and translated from Dutch to all major languages.

Replicas of Dutch buildings can be found in Huis Ten Bosch, Nagasaki, Japan. A similar Holland Village is being built in Shenyang, China. Windmills, tulips, wooden shoes, cheese, Delftware pottery, and cannabis are among the items associated with the Netherlands by tourists.

The Netherlands has a long history of social tolerance and today is regarded as a liberal country, considering its drug policy and its legalisation of euthanasia. On 1 April 2001, the Netherlands became the first nation to legalize same-sex marriage.

Customs and etiquette[]

The Dutch have a code of etiquette which governs social behaviour and is considered important. Because of the international position of the Netherlands, many books have been written on the subject. Some customs may not be true in all regions and they are never absolute. In addition to those specific to the Dutch, many general points of European etiquette apply to the Dutch as well. Dutch society is egalitarian, individualistic and modern. The people tend to view themselves as modest, independent and self-reliant. They value ability over dependency. The Dutch have an aversion to the non-essential. Ostentatious behaviour is to be avoided. Accumulating money is fine, but public spending of large amounts of money is considered something of a vice and associated with being a show-off. A high lifestyle is considered wasteful and suspect with most people. The Dutch are proud of their cultural heritage, rich history in art and involvement in international affairs. Dutch manners are blunt with a no-nonsense attitude; informality combined with adherence to basic behaviour. This might be perceived as impersonal and patronising by other cultures, but is the norm in Dutch culture. According to a humorous source on Dutch culture, The Undutchables: Their directness gives many the impression that they are rude and crude—attributes they prefer to call ‘openness’.^[132] A well known more serious source on Dutch etiquette is "Dealing with the Dutch" from Jacob Vossestein: Dutch egalitarianism is the idea that people are equal, especially from a moral point of view, and accordingly, causes the somewhat ambiguous stance the Dutch have towards hierarchy and status.^[133] As always, manners differ between groups. Asking about basic rules will not be considered impolite. What may strike you as being blatantly blunt topics and comments are no more embarrassing or unusual to the Dutch than discussing the weather.^[132]

Sport[]

Main article: Sport in the Netherlands

Approximately 4.5 million of the 16.8 million people in the Netherlands are registered to one of the 35,000 sports clubs in the country. About two-thirds of the population older than 15 years participates in sports weekly.^[134] Football is the most popular participant sport in the Netherlands, before field hockey and volleyball as the second and third most popular team sports. Tennis, gymnastics and golf are the three most widely engaged individual sports.^[135]

Organisation of sports began at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Federations for sports were established (such as the speed skating federation in 1882), rules were unified and sports clubs came into existence. A Dutch National Olympic Committee was established in 1912. Thus far, the nation has won 230 medals at the Summer Olympic Games and another 78 medals at the Winter Olympic Games.

Cuisine[]

Main article: Dutch Cuisine

The country's cuisine is shaped by the practice of fishing and farming, including the cultivation of the soil for raising crops and the raising of domesticated animals, and the history of the Netherlands. Traditionally, Dutch cuisine is simple and straightforward, with many vegetables and little meat; breakfast and lunch are typically bread with toppings while dinner is meat and potatoes, supplemented with seasonal vegetables. The Dutch diet was relatively high in carbohydrates and fat, reflecting the dietary need of the labourers whose culture moulded the country, and contains many dairy products. Without many refinements, it is best described as rustic, though many holidays are still celebrated with special foods. In the course of the twentieth century this diet changed and became much more cosmopolitan, with most international cuisines being represented in the major cities. The Southern Dutch cuisine constitutes the cuisine of the Dutch provinces of North-Brabant and Limburg and the Flemish Region in Belgium. It is renowned for its many rich pastries, soups, stews and vegetable dishes and is often called Burgundian which is a Dutch idiom invoking the rich Burgundian court which ruled the Low Countries in the Middle Ages renowned for its splendor and great feasts. It is the only Dutch culinary region which developed an haute cuisine.

Colonial heritage[]

Main article: Dutch Empire

Further information: Dutch East Indies and Indos in the Dutch East Indies

GezichtOpNieuwAmsterdam — New Amsterdam as it appeared in 1664. Under British rule it became known as New York.

From the exploitations of the Dutch East India Company in the 17th century, to the colonisations in the 19th century, Dutch imperial possessions continued to expand, reaching their greatest extent by establishing a hegemony of the Dutch East Indies in the early 20th century. The Dutch East Indies, which later formed modern-day Indonesia, was one of the most valuable European colonies in the world and the most important one for the Netherlands.^[136] Over 350 years of mutual heritage has left a significant cultural mark on the Netherlands.

In the Dutch Golden Age of the 17th century, the Netherlands urbanised considerably, mostly financed by corporate revenue from the Asian trade monopolies. Social status was based on merchants' income, which reduced feudalism and considerably changed the dynamics of Dutch society. When the Dutch Royal Family was established in 1815, much of its wealth came from Colonial trade.^[137]

Universities such as the Royal Leiden University, founded in the 16th century, have developed into leading knowledge centres for South-east Asian and Indonesian studies.^[138] Leiden University has produced leading academics such as Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje, and still has academics who specialise in Indonesian languages and cultures. Leiden University and in particular KITLV are educational and scientific institutions that to this day share both an intellectual and historical interest in Indonesian studies. Other scientific institutions in the Netherlands include the Amsterdam Tropenmuseum, an anthropological museum with massive collections of Indonesian art, culture, ethnography and anthropology.

The traditions of the Royal Dutch East Indies Army (KNIL) are maintained by the Regiment Van Heutsz of the modern Royal Netherlands Army. A dedicated Bronbeek Museum, a former home for retired KNIL soldiers, exists in Arnhem to this day.

A specific segment of Dutch literature called Dutch Indies literature still exists and includes established authors, such as Louis Couperus, the writer of "The Hidden Force", taking the colonial era as an important source of inspiration.^[139] One of the great masterpieces of Dutch literature is the book "Max Havelaar", written by Multatuli in 1860.^[140]

The majority of Dutchmen that repatriated to the Netherlands after and during the Indonesian revolution are Indo (Eurasian), native to the islands of the Dutch East Indies. This relatively large Eurasian population had developed over a period of 400 years and were classified by colonial law as belonging to the European legal community.^[141] In Dutch they are referred to as Indische Nederlanders or as Indo (short for Indo-European).^[142]

Including their second generation descendants, Indos are currently the largest foreign-born group in the Netherlands. In 2008, the Dutch Census Bureau for Statistics (CBS)^[143] registered 387,000 first- and second-generation Indos living in the Netherlands.^[144] Although considered fully assimilated into Dutch society, as the main ethnic minority in the Netherlands, these 'repatriants' have played a pivotal role in introducing elements of Indonesian culture into Dutch mainstream culture.

Practically every town in the Netherlands has a 'Toko' (Dutch Indonesian Shop) or an Indonesian restaurant^[145] and many 'Pasar Malam' (Night market in Malay/Indonesian) fairs are organised throughout the year. Many Indonesian dishes and foodstuffs have become commonplace in the Netherlands. Rijsttafel, a colonial culinary concept, and dishes such as Nasi goreng and sateh are very popular in the Netherlands.^[146]

Notes[]

^ The official motto is in French. The literal translation into English is "I will maintain"; a better translation, however, is "I will hold firm" or "I will uphold" (namely, the integrity and independence of the territory).
^ While Amsterdam is the constitutional capital, The Hague is the seat of the government.
^ Frisian (Friesland),^[1] Papiamento (Bonaire)^[2] and English (Sint Eustatius and Saba)^[2] have a formal status in certain parts of the country. Dutch Low Saxon and Limburgish are recognised as regional languages by the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.
^ The euro is used in the European Netherlands and replaced the Dutch guilder in 2002. The US dollar is used in the Caribbean Netherlands and replaced the Netherlands Antillean guilder in 2011.^[8]
^ CET and CEST are used in the European Netherlands, and AST is used in the Caribbean Netherlands.
^ 599 was the country code designated for the now dissolved Netherlands Antilles. The Caribbean Netherlands still use 599-7 (Bonaire), 599-3 (Sint Eustatius) and 599-4 (Saba).
^ The .eu domain is also used, as it is shared with other European Union member states. .bq is designated, but not in use, for the Caribbean Netherlands.

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"Through the establishment of the BES islands as public bodies, rather than communities, the BES islands' rules may deviate from the rules in the European part of the Netherlands. The Dutch legislation will be introduced gradually. The public bodies fall directly under the central government because they are not part of a province.""
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^ "Bevolking; geslacht, leeftijd, burgerlijke staat en regio, 1 januari" (in Dutch). Statistics Netherlands. 2013. http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?DM=SLNL&PA=03759NED&D1=0&D2=129-132&D3=0,5-16,101-902&D4=21-22&HDR=T,G2&STB=G1,G3&VW=T. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
^ "Statistical Info: Area and Climate". Central Bureau of Statistics (Netherlands Antilles). 2010. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. //web.archive.org/web/20110706074026/http://www.cbs.an/area_climate/area_a1.asp. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
^ "Bevolkingsontwikkeling Caribisch Nederland; geboorte, sterfte, migratie" (in Dutch). Central Bureau of Statistics. 2012. http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?DM=SLNL&PA=80539ned&D1=0-1,9-10&D2=a&D3=a&HDR=T&STB=G1,G2&CHARTTYPE=1&VW=T. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
^ KCT. Official website of the Dutch Commando Foundation. Korpscommandotroepen.nl (14 April 2010). Retrieved on 21 August 2012.
^ "Ministerie van defensie – Werken bij Defensie". Mindef.nl. http://www.defensie.nl/onderwerpen/werken_bij_defensie. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
^ "Defensie hard getroffen door bezuinigingen". Ministry of Defence. http://www.defensie.nl/actueel/nieuws/2011/04/08/46180709/Defensie_hard_getroffen_door_bezuinigingen_video. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
^ "Economic Complexity Observatory". MIT Media Lab and the Center for International Development at Harvard University. http://atlas.media.mit.edu/. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
^ "Inflation up to 2.8 percent". Statistics Netherlands. 6 June 2013. http://www.cbs.nl/en-GB/menu/themas/dossiers/conjunctuur/publicaties/artikelen/archief/2013/2013-042-pb.htm. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
^ "Unemployment further up". Statistics Netherlands. 15 May 2013. http://www.cbs.nl/en-GB/menu/themas/dossiers/conjunctuur/publicaties/artikelen/archief/2013/2013-035-pb.htm. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
^ "Eurozone economy shrinks 0.3% in Q4". channelnewsasia.com. 15 February 2012. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world_business/view/1183178/1/.html.
^ "Child Poverty Report Study by UNICEF 2007" (PDF). unicef.org. http://www.unicef.org/media/files/ChildPovertyReport.pdf.
^ "Amsterdam – Economische Zaken" (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 5 December 2008. //web.archive.org/web/20081205161807/http://www.ez.amsterdam.nl/page.php?menu=24&page=6. Retrieved 22 May 2008.
^ Amsterdam en de wereld: Toerisme en congreswezen at the Wayback Machine (archived February 15, 2009).. ez.amsterdam.nl
^ Kreijger, Gilbert (10 February 2012). "Dutch allow Wilders' anti-Pole website, EU critical". Reuters. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/02/10/uk-dutch-immigrants-idUKTRE8191ML20120210.
^ "- De factor SRE". sre.nl. http://www.sre.nl/. Retrieved 2014-02-19.
^ "Eindhoven - Eindhoven". eindhoven.nl. http://www.eindhoven.nl/web/show. Retrieved 2014-02-19.
^ "Welkom | BrabantStad, een sterk internationaal concurrerend en duurzaam groeiend stedelijk netwerk.". brabantstad.nl. http://www.brabantstad.nl/index.php. Retrieved 2014-02-19.
^ "http://www.elat.org/". elat.org. http://www.elat.org/. Retrieved 2014-02-19.
^ "Over Brainport". brainport.nl. http://www.brainport.nl/over-brainport. Retrieved 2014-02-19.
^ "Global Competitiveness Report 2012–2013". World Economic Forum. 5 September 2012. http://www.weforum.org/issues/global-competitiveness. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
^ "The Groningen Gas Field". GEO ExPro Magazine. 2009. http://www.geoexpro.com/article/The_Groningen_Gas_Field/bf349ab1.aspx. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
^ ^a ^b "Netherlands: Agricultural situation". USDA Foreign Agriculture Service. http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200501/146118432.pdf#search=%22netherlands%20main%20agriculture%20export%20flowers%22. Retrieved 20 June 2007.
^ "Port of Rotterdam Statistics 2011-2013". Port of Rotterdam. http://www.portofrotterdam.com/en/Port/port-statistics/Pages/default.aspx. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
^ Toor, Amar (10 July 2013). "Every Dutch citizen will live within 31 miles of an electric vehicle charging station by 2015". The Verge. Vox Media, Inc. http://www.theverge.com/2013/7/10/4509962/netherlands-nationwide-electric-vehicle-charging-network-abb-fastned. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
^ "Population and population dynamics; month, quarter and year". Statistics Netherlands. http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?VW=T&DM=SLEN&PA=37943eng&LA=EN. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
^ CBS Statline – Population; history. Statistics Netherlands. Retrieved on 8 March 2009.
^ Garssen, Joop, Han Nicolaas and Arno Sprangers (2005). "Demografie van de allochtonen in Nederland" (in Dutch) (PDF). Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek. http://www.cbs.nl/NR/rdonlyres/CCD504EA-9D41-40C2-AE28-BFB0A51C2045/0/2005k3b15p096art.pdf. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
^ "Reported health and lifestyle". Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek. http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?VW=T&DM=SLNL&PA=03799&D1=242,254,267-270&D2=0-17&HD=081103-1603&HDR=T.&STB=G1. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
^ American FactFinder, United States Census Bureau. "Census 2006 ACS Ancestry estimates". Factfinder.census.gov. http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ADPTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=01000US&-ds_name=ACS_2006_EST_G00_%2526amp%253B-_lang%253Den%2526amp%253B-_caller%253Dgeoselect%2526amp%253B-format%253D. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
^ South Africa – Afrikaans Speakers. Library of Congress.
^ A Hidden Language – Dutch in Indonesia (PDF). Institute of European Studies (University of California, Berkeley).
^ Dutch colonialism, migration and cultural heritage (PDF). Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asia and Caribbean Studies.
^ Vasileva, Katya (2011) 6.5% of the EU population are foreigners and 9.4% are born abroad, Eurostat, Statistics in focus vol. 34.
^ "CIA World Factbook: Official languages per country". Cia.gov. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2098.html. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
^ "Hoeveel dialecten heeft het Nederlands? | Taalcanon". Taalcanon.nl. http://www.taalcanon.nl/vragen/hoeveel-dialecten-heeft-het-nederlands/. Retrieved 2014-04-23.
^ "The Kingdom of the Netherlands further declares that the principles enumerated in Part II of the Charter will be applied to the Lower-Saxon languages used in the Netherlands, and, in accordance with Article 7, paragraph 5, to Yiddish and the Romanes languages." Netherlands: Declaration contained in the instrument of acceptance, deposited on 2 May 1996 – Or. Engl., List of declarations made with respect to treaty No. 148 – European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
^ "The Hague - Primary education in the Netherlands". Denhaag.nl. http://www.denhaag.nl/en/residents/to/Primary-education-in-the-Netherlands.htm. Retrieved 2014-04-23.
^ "Foreign languages in secondary education". Wat is het aanbod aan vreemde talen in de onderbouw van het voortgezet onderwijs (vo)?. Rijksoverheid. Archived from the original on 29 April 2011. //web.archive.org/web/20110429185145/http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten-en-publicaties/vragen-en-antwoorden/wat-is-het-aanbod-aan-vreemde-talen-in-de-onderbouw-van-het-voortgezet-onderwijs-vo.html. Retrieved 3 May 2010. (Dutch)
^ ^a ^b Roster of the Central Exams of 2009, Examenblad
^ Becker, Jos and Joep de Hart (2006) (in Dutch). Godsdienstige veranderingen in Nederland. Sociaal en Cultureel Planbureau. ISBN 90-377-0259-7. OCLC 84601762.
^ Becker, Jos and Joep de Hart (2006) (in Dutch). Godsdienstige veranderingen in Nederland. Sociaal en Cultureel Planbureau. ISBN 90-377-0259-7. OCLC 84601762.
^ Bleak picture of church in decline 4.12.3013 GMA news
^ "Special Eurobarometer, biotechnology, page 204" (PDF). Fieldwork: Jan–Feb 2010. http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_341_en.pdf.
^ http://www.gh.nl/onderzoek/Lectoraat%20Zorg%20en%20Spiritualiteit/~/media/Files/Onderzoek/ZS/Diversen/20111103%20GrevelS-handout.ashx
^ H. Knippenberg, "The Changing Religious Landscape of Europe", Het Spinhuis, Amsterdam 2005 ISBN 90-5589-248-3
^ Hans Knippenberg, "Secularization in the Netherlands in its historical and geographical dimensions," GeoJournal (1998) 45#3 pp 209-220. online
^ Tomáš Sobotka and Feray Adigüzel, "Religiosity and spatial demographic differences in the Netherlands" (2002) online
^ Sociaal en Cultureel Planbureau, God in Nederland (2006/2007)
^ ^a ^b Knippenberg, Hans "The Changing Religious Landscape of Europe" edited by Knippenberg published by Het Spinhuis, Amsterdam 2005 ISBN 90-5589-248-3, page 92
^ "Feestdagen Nederland". Beleven.org. http://www.beleven.org/feesten/lijsten/landen.php?land=Nederland. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
^ Donk, W.B.H.J. van de; Jonkers, A.P.; Kronjee, G.J.; Plum, R.J.J.M.: Geloven in het publieke domein, verkenningen van een dubbele transformatie, WRR, Amsterdam University Press, Amsterdam
^ "Kerkelijke gezindte en kerkbezoek; vanaf 1849; 18 jaar of ouder". 15 October 2010. http://www.sila.nl/5-Pages/01-Aantallen2011.html.
^ Emiel Hakkenes. "Kardinaal Eijk blokkeert bezoek paus Franciscus - Nederland - TROUW". Trouw.nl. http://www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/4492/Nederland/article/detail/3587802/2014/02/01/Kardinaal-Eijk-blokkeert-bezoek-paus-Franciscus.dhtml. Retrieved 2014-04-23.
^ Kerncijfers 2006 uit de kerkelijke statistiek van het Rooms-Katholiek Kerkgenootschap in Nederland, Rapport nr. 561 oktober 2007, Jolanda Massaar- Remmerswaal dr. Ton Bernts, KASKI, onderzoek en advies over religie en samenleving
^ ^a ^b God in Nederland' (1996-2006), by Ronald Meester, G. Dekker, ISBN 9789025957407
^ "Kerkelijke gezindte en kerkbezoek; vanaf 1849; 18 jaar of ouder". 15 October 2010. http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?DM=SLNL&PA=37944&D1=0-5,10&D2=29-40&VW=T.
^ Bron: Statistische Jaarbrief 2011
^ Pigott, Robert (5 August 2011). "Dutch rethink Christianity for a doubtful world". BBC News. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14417362. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
^ ^a ^b http://www.verwey-jonker.nl/doc/participatie/D0693416.pdf
^ "Geschiedenis humanisme". Humanistischverbond.nl. http://www.humanistischverbond.nl/geschiedenis-humanisme. Retrieved 2014-04-23.
^ "Towards a new estimation on the number of Muslims in the Netherlands" (PDF). Central Bureau of Statistics, Netherlands. 2006. http://www.cbs.nl/NR/rdonlyres/ACE89EBE-0785-4664-9973-A6A00A457A55/0/2007k3b15p48art.pdf. Retrieved 5 July 2009.
^ "Een op de zes bezoekt regelmatig kerk of moskee". Central Bureau of Statistics, Netherlands. 2012. http://www.cbs.nl/nl-NL/menu/themas/vrije-tijd-cultuur/publicaties/artikelen/archief/2012/2012-3759-wm.htm. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
^ "Godsdienstige veranderingen in Nederland" (PDF). Archived from the original on 2007-01-25. http://web.archive.org/web/20070125142251/http://www.scp.nl/publicaties/boeken/9037702597/Godsdienstige_veranderingen.pdf. Retrieved 2010-05-17.
^ "Poort krijgt nieuwe moskee". December 13, 2013. http://www.dichtbij.nl/almere/regionaal-nieuws/artikel/2567273/poort-krijgt-nieuwe-moskee.aspx. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
^ "Most Baha'i Nations (2005)". The Association of Religion Data Archives. 2005. http://www.thearda.com/QuickLists/QuickList_40c.asp. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
^ Blom, JCH (July 1989). "The Persecution of the Jews in the Netherlands: A Comparative Western European Perspective". European History Quarterly 19 (3): 333–351. DOI:10.1177/026569148901900302.
^ The Jewish history of Amsterdam. jewishhistoryamsterdam.com.
^ ^a ^b Colin White & Laurie Boucke (1995). The UnDutchables: An observation of the Netherlands, its culture and its inhabitants (3rd Ed.). White-Boucke Publishing.
^ J. Vossenstein, Dealing with the Dutch, 9789460220791
^ (Dutch) Sport in Nederland at the Wayback Machine (archived September 25, 2008).. ned.univie.ac.at
^ (Dutch) Ledental sportbonden opnieuw gestegen at the Wayback Machine (archived August 12, 2007).. sport.nl. 24 July 2006
^ Hart, Jonathan (2008). Empires and Colonies. Polity. pp. 201–. ISBN 978-0-7456-2614-7. http://books.google.com/books?id=LnevC1FYdnEC&pg=PA201. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
^ To this day the Dutch Royal family is in fact the wealthiest family of the Netherlands. One of the foundations of its wealth was the colonial trade.Pendleton, Devon; Serafin, Tatiana (30 August 2007). "In Pictures: The World's Richest Royals". Forbes. http://www.forbes.com/2007/08/30/worlds-richest-royals-biz-royals07-cx_lk_0830royalintro_slide_15.html?thisSpeed=30000. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
^ Some of the university faculties still include: Indonesian Languages and Cultures; South-east Asia and Oceania Languages and Cultures; Cultural Anthropology
^ Nieuwenhuys, Rob Mirror of the Indies: A History of Dutch Colonial Literature translated from Dutch by E. M. Beekman (Publisher: Periplus, 1999) Book review.
^ Etty, Elsbeth (July 1998). "Novels: Coming to terms with Calvinism, colonies and the war." NRC Handelsblad
^ Bosma U., Raben R. (2008). Being "Dutch" in the Indies: a history of creolisation and empire, 1500–1920, University of Michigan, NUS Press, ISBN 9971-69-373-9
^ Note: Of the 296,200 so-called Dutch 'repatriants' only 92,200 were expatriate Dutchmen born in the Netherlands. Willems, Wim (2001). De uittocht uit Indie 1945–1995. Bert Bakker, Amsterdam, pp. 12–13. ISBN 90-351-2361-1
^ Official CBS website containing all Dutch demographic statistics. Cbs.nl. Retrieved on 21 August 2012.
^ De Vries, Marlene (2009). Indisch is een gevoel, de tweede en derde generatie Indische Nederlanders. Amsterdam University Press, ISBN 978-90-8964-125-0, p. 369
^ Overview website (incomplete). Indisch-eten.startpagina.nl. Retrieved on 21 August 2012.
^ "Dutch Food – Main Meals". about.com. http://dutchfood.about.com/od/mainmeals/Main_Meals.htm. Retrieved 19 May 2012.

Statistics

Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (2006). Health statistics. Retrieved 17 June 2006.

Articles

"Country profiles: The Netherlands". BBC. 3 March 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/country_profiles/1043423.stm. Retrieved 20 June 2007.
"Background Note: The Netherlands". United States Department of State. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3204.htm. Retrieved 20 June 2007.

External links[]

Find more about Netherlands on Wikipedia's sister projects:

	Definitions from Wiktionary
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	News stories from Wikinews
	Learning resources from Wikiversity

Government

Overheid.nl – official Dutch government portal
Government.nl – official Dutch government web site
CBS – Key figures from the Dutch bureau of statistics
Provinces of Netherlands at Statoids

General information

CBG - the Netherlands Centre for Family History (English-language homepage)
Nationaal Archief - Dutch National Archives (English-language homepage)
CIA World Factbook entry on Netherlands

Netherlands from UCB Libraries GovPubs
Netherlands at the Open Directory Project
Netherlands profile from the BBC News
Wikimedia Atlas of Netherlands
Geographic data related to Netherlands at OpenStreetMap
Key Development Forecasts for the Netherlands from International Futures

Travel

Holland.com – English website of the Netherlands tourist office
netherlands-tourism.com – Tourism guide to the Netherlands
nbtc.nl – Organisation responsible for promoting the Netherlands nationally and internationally

Template:Netherlands topics

Netherlands portal
European Union portal
Europe portal

Coordinates: 52°19′N 5°33′E / 52.317, 5.55

This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Netherlands. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.

[1] The official motto is in French. The literal translation into English is "I will maintain"; a better translation, however, is "I will hold firm" or "I will uphold" (namely, the integrity and independence of the territory).

[2] While Amsterdam is the constitutional capital, The Hague is the seat of the government.

[5] Frisian (Friesland),^[1] Papiamento (Bonaire)^[2] and English (Sint Eustatius and Saba)^[2] have a formal status in certain parts of the country. Dutch Low Saxon and Limburgish are recognised as regional languages by the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

[12] The euro is used in the European Netherlands and replaced the Dutch guilder in 2002. The US dollar is used in the Caribbean Netherlands and replaced the Netherlands Antillean guilder in 2011.^[8]

[13] CET and CEST are used in the European Netherlands, and AST is used in the Caribbean Netherlands.

[14] 599 was the country code designated for the now dissolved Netherlands Antilles. The Caribbean Netherlands still use 599-7 (Bonaire), 599-3 (Sint Eustatius) and 599-4 (Saba).

[15] The .eu domain is also used, as it is shared with other European Union member states. .bq is designated, but not in use, for the Caribbean Netherlands.

[3] "Wet gebruik Friese taal in het rechtsverkeer" (in Dutch). wetten.nl. http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0002219/tekst_bevat_Fries/geldigheidsdatum_25-10-2010. Retrieved 25 October 2010.

[languages-4] "Invoeringswet openbare lichamen Bonaire, Sint Eustatius en Saba" (in Dutch). wetten.nl. http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0028063/tekst_bevat_taal%2Bin%2Bhet%2Bbestuurlijk%2Bverkeer/geldigheidsdatum_01-01-2011. Retrieved 1 January 2011.

[cia-worldfactbook-nl-6] "The World Factbook – Netherlands". Central Intelligence Agency. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/nl.html. Retrieved 11 June 2013.

[pop-cbs-7] "Population and population dynamics; month, quarter and year". Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek. http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?VW=T&DM=SLEN&PA=37943eng&LA=EN. Retrieved 31 October 2013.

[imf2-8] "Netherlands". International Monetary Fund. http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2014/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=22&pr.y=9&sy=2014&ey=2014&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=138&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC&grp=0&a=. Retrieved 26 April 2014.

[eurogini-9] "Gini coefficient of equivalised disposable income (source: SILC)". Eurostat Data Explorer. http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=ilc_di12. Retrieved 13 August 2013.

[HDI-10] "Human Development Report 2013". United Nations. 2013. http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR2013_EN_Statistics.pdf. Retrieved 15 March 2013.

[11] "Wet geldstelsel BES". Dutch government. 30 September 2010. http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0028551. Retrieved 11 January 2014.

[16] "North Sea". Ministry of Defence. http://www.defensie.nl/english/navy/hydrographic_service/geodesy_and_tides/maritime_limits/north_sea. Retrieved 6 March 2012.

[17] Permanent Mission of the Netherlands to the UN. "General Information". http://netherlandsmission.org/article.asp?articleref=AR00000154EN&categoryvalue=netherlands&subcategoryvalue=nlgeneralinfo. Retrieved 26 June 2013.

[18] (5 July 2010) "Few fishy facts found in climate report". Nature 466 (170). DOI:10.1038/466170a.

[milrek-19] "Milieurekeningen 2008". Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek. http://www.cbs.nl/NR/rdonlyres/D2CE63F9-D210-4006-B68B-98BE079EA9B6/0/2008c167pub.pdf. Retrieved 4 February 2010.

[20] "Netherlands Guide – Interesting facts about the Netherlands". Eupedia. 19 April 1994. http://www.eupedia.com/netherlands/trivia.shtml. Retrieved 29 April 2010.

[21] van Krieken, Peter J.; David McKay (2005). The Hague: Legal Capital of the World. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 90-6704-185-8. , specifically, "In the 1990s, during his term as United Nations Secretary-General, Boutros Boutros-Ghali started calling The Hague the world's legal capital."

[22] Netherlands at the Wayback Machine (archived May 10, 2013)., Index of Economic Freedom. heritage.org

[23] "Where is the happiest place on Earth? | The Search Office Space Blog | Searchofficespace". News.searchofficespace.com. 25 May 2011. http://www.searchofficespace.com/blog/blog/where-is-the-happiest-place-on-earth/. Retrieved 28 October 2011.

[24] "The Reuters Style Guide". http://handbook.reuters.com/index.php?title=H#Holland. Retrieved 31 March 2014.

[25] "The BBC News Styleguide". http://www2.media.uoa.gr/lectures/linguistic_archives/academic_papers0506/notes/stylesheets_3.pdf. Retrieved 31 March 2014.

[26] "Telegraph style book: places and peoples". The Daily Telegraph (London). 12 April 2008. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/about-us/style-book/1435302/Telegraph-style-book-places-and-peoples.html. Retrieved 31 March 2014.

[27] "The Guardian style guide". London. http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Guardian/documents/2004/07/15/styleguidepdfjuly2004.pdf. Retrieved 31 March 2014.

[28] Motley, John Lothrop (1855). The Rise of the Dutch Republic Vol. III, Harper Bros.: New York, p. 411.

[29] Motley, John Lothrop (1855). The Rise of the Dutch Republic Vol. III, Harper Bros.: New York, p. 508.

[30] Willson, David Harris (1972). History of England, Holt, Rinehart & Winston: New York, p. 294.

[31] Motley, John Lothrop (1855). The Rise of the Dutch Republic Vol. III, Harper Bros.: New York

[32] Mattingly, Garrett (1959) The Armada, Houghton Mifflin: Boston, p. 48.

[33] "The Middle Colonies: New York" at the Wayback Machine (archived January 14, 2012).. Digital History.

[34] The preponderance of the Dutch population lived in two provinces, Holland and Zeeland. This area experienced a population explosion between 1500 and 1650, with a growth from 350,000 to 1,000,000 inhabitants. Thereafter the growth leveled off, so that the population of the whole country remained at the 2 million level throughout the 18th century; De Vries and Van der Woude, pp. 51–52

[35] Sayle, Murray (5 April 2001). "Japan Goes Dutch". London Review of Books 23 (7): 3–7.

[Marshall-36] Baynes, Thomas Spencer (1888). Encyclopædia Britannica: A Dictionary of ARTS, SCIENCES, and General LITERATURE, Volume XI (Ninth Edition—Popular Reprint ed.). H.G. Allen. http://books.google.com/?id=paQMAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA253. Retrieved 4 May 2008. "In 1614 the states of Holland granted to any Dutch citizen a four years' monopoly of any harbour or place of commerce which he might discover in that region (Guiana). The first settlement, however, in Suriname (in 1630) was made by an Englishman, whose name is still preserved by Marshall's Creek."

[Abbenhuis-37] Abbenhuis, Maartje M. (2006) The Art of Staying Neutral. Amsterdam University Press, ISBN 90-5356-818-2.

[38] 93 trains at the Wayback Machine (archived December 7, 2004).. kampwesterbork.nl

[39] Klempner, Mark (2006) The Heart Has Reasons: Holocaust Rescuers and Their Stories of Courage. Cleveland: The Pilgrim Press, pp. 15–17 ISBN 0-8298-1699-2.

[40] Klempner, Mark (2006) The Heart Has Reasons: Holocaust Rescuers and Their Stories of Courage. Cleveland: The Pilgrim Press, p. 5 ISBN 0-8298-1699-2.

[41] MOOXE from Close Combat Series. "Indonesian SS Volunteers". Closecombatseries.net. http://www.closecombatseries.net/CCS/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=7686&highlight=. Retrieved 28 October 2011.

[42] "The Kingdom of the Netherlands declares war with Japan". ibiblio. http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/policy/1941/411208c.html. Retrieved 2 October 2009.

[43] Library of Congress, 1992, "Indonesia: World War II and the Struggle For Independence, 1942–50; The Japanese Occupation, 1942–45" Access date: 9 February 2007.

[44] Aziz, M. Z. (1955) Japan's Colonialism and Indonesia. The Hague.

[45] Cited in: Dower, John W. War Without Mercy: Race and Power in the Pacific War (1986; Pantheon; ISBN 0-394-75172-8)

[46] (1944). Video: Allies Set For Offensive. Universal Newsreel. Retrieved on 21 February 2012 .

[47] Liberation of Holland from The Canadian Encyclopedia.

[48] "Netherlands". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.. https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/409956/Netherlands. Retrieved 8 September 2012.

[international2000-49] Welschen, Ad: Course Dutch Society and Culture, International School for Humanities and Social Studies ISHSS, Universiteit van Amsterdam, 2000–2005.

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[51] Duplessis, Robert S. (1997) Transitions to Capitalism in Early Modern Europe, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0521397731

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[145] Some of the university faculties still include: Indonesian Languages and Cultures; South-east Asia and Oceania Languages and Cultures; Cultural Anthropology

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{bdm}}
-{{About|the European country}}
-{{FixBunching|beg}}
 {{Infobox country
+|conventional_long_name = Netherlands<!--Do not change from "Netherlands"; the Netherlands is only part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (which has its own article).-->
-|native_name                 = ''Nederland''
+|native_name            = {{native name|nl|Nederland|icon=no}}<!--Do not change from "Nederland"; the Netherlands is only part of the Kingdom of The Netherlands (which has its own article).-->
-|conventional_long_name      = The Netherlands
-|common_name                 = the Netherlands
+|common_name            = the Netherlands
-|image_flag                  = Flag of the Netherlands.svg
+|image_flag             = Flag of the Netherlands.svg
-|image_coat                  = Coat of arms of the Netherlands.svg
+|image_coat             = Royal Coat of Arms of the Netherlands.svg
-|image_map = EU-Netherlands.svg
+|image_map              = EU-Netherlands.svg
+|map_width              = 250px
-|map_caption                 = {{map caption|location_color=dark green|region=[[Europe]]|region_color=dark grey|subregion=the [[European Union]]|subregion_color=light green|legend=EU-Netherlands.svg}}
+|map_caption            = {{map caption |countryprefix=the |country=[[European Netherlands]] |location_color=dark green |region=Europe |region_color=dark grey |subregion=the [[European Union]] |subregion_color=green }}
-|national_motto              = <span style="line-height:133%;">''"Je maintiendrai"''{{spaces|2}}<small>([[French language|French]])</small><br/>''"Ik zal handhaven"''{{spaces|2}}<small>([[Dutch language|Dutch]])</small><br/>''"I shall endure"''{{ref|1}}</span>
-|national_anthem             = "''[[Het Wilhelmus]]''"
+|image_map2             = BES islands location map.svg
+|map2_width             = 250px
-|official_languages          = [[Dutch language|Dutch]]{{ref|3}}, [[English language]], <!-- Do not add Frisian here, see the talk page at Talk:Netherlands/Archive_4#Frisian_is_NOT_an_official_language. -->[[Papiamentu]]
+|map_caption2           = {{map caption |countryprefix=the |country= [[Caribbean Netherlands|Dutch special municipalities]] |location_color=green}}
-|ethnic_groups               = 80.9% [[Dutch (ethnic group)|Ethnic Dutch]]<br />19.1% various others
+|national_motto         = {{native phrase|fr|"Je maintiendrai"|italics=off}}<br/><!--
-|ethnic_groups_year          =
+ -->{{native phrase|nl|"Ik zal handhaven"|italics=off}}<br/><!--
-|demonym                     = Dutch
+ -->{{small|"I will uphold"}}{{#tag:ref|The official motto is in French. The literal translation into English is "I will maintain"; a better translation, however, is "I will hold firm" or "I will uphold" (namely, the integrity and independence of the territory).{{or|date=January 2013}}|group="nb"}}
-|capital                     = [[Amsterdam]]{{ref|2}}
+|national_anthem        = {{native name|nl|"[[Wilhelmus]]"|nolink=yes|italics=off}}<br/>{{small|"'William"}}<br/><center>[[File:Wilhemus koor.ogg|noicon|center]]</center>
-|largest_city                = capital
+|official_languages     = [[Dutch language|Dutch]]
-|latd=52 |latm=19 |latNS=N |longd=05 |longm=33 |longEW=E
+| regional_languages =
-|government_type             = [[Parliamentary system|Parliamentary democracy]] and [[Constitutional monarchy]]
+ {{unbulleted list
-|leader_title1               = [[Monarchy of the Netherlands|Monarch]]
+  | {{nowrap|[[West Frisian language|West Frisian]] {{small|([[Friesland]])}}}}
-|leader_name1                = [[Beatrix of the Netherlands|HM Queen Beatrix]]
+  | {{nowrap|[[Limburgish language|Limburgish]] {{small|([[Limburg (Netherlands)|Limburg]])}}}}
-|leader_title2               = [[Prime Minister of the Netherlands|Prime Minister]]
+  | {{nowrap|[[Dutch Low Saxon]] {{Small|(North-east)}}}}
-|leader_name2                = [[Mark Rutte]] ([[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
+  | {{nowrap|[[English language|English]] {{small|([[Sint Eustatius]]/[[Saba]])}}}}
-|VVD]])
+  | {{nowrap|[[Papiamento]] {{small|([[Bonaire]])}}{{#tag:ref|[[West Frisian language|Frisian]] ([[Friesland]]),<big><ref>{{cite web |url=http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0002219/tekst_bevat_Fries/geldigheidsdatum_25-10-2010 |title=Wet gebruik Friese taal in het rechtsverkeer |publisher=wetten.nl |accessdate=25 October 2010 |language=Dutch}}</ref></big> [[Papiamento]] ([[Bonaire]])<big><ref name=languages>{{cite web|url=http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0028063/tekst_bevat_taal%2Bin%2Bhet%2Bbestuurlijk%2Bverkeer/geldigheidsdatum_01-01-2011 |title=Invoeringswet openbare lichamen Bonaire, Sint Eustatius en Saba |language=Dutch |publisher=wetten.nl |accessdate=1 January 2011}}</ref></big> and English ([[Sint Eustatius]] and [[Saba]])<big><ref name=languages/></big> have a formal status in certain parts of the country. [[Dutch Low Saxon]] and [[Limburgish language|Limburgish]] are recognised as [[European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages|regional languages]] by the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.|group="nb"}}}}
-|area_rank                   = 135th
+ }}
-|area_magnitude              = 1 E10
-|area_km2                    = 41,526
+|ethnic_groups          =
+ {{unbulleted list
-|area_sq_mi                  = 16,033 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
+  |  80.7% [[Dutch people|Dutch]]
-|percent_water               = 18.41
+  |  5% other [[European Union|EU]]
-|population_estimate         = {{NetherlandsPopCommas}}<ref name="cbs">{{Citation | url=http://www.cbs.nl/en-GB/menu/themas/bevolking/cijfers/extra/bevolkingsteller.htm?languageswitch=on | title= Netherlands official population clock | publisher=cbs.nl | accessdate=2009-10-27}}</ref>
+  |  2.4% [[Overseas Indonesian|Indonesians]]
-|population_estimate_year    = {{CURRENTYEAR}}
+  |  2.2% [[Turks in the Netherlands|Turks]]
-|population_estimate_rank    = 61st
+  |  2% [[Dutch-Moroccans|Moroccans]]
-|population_census           =
+  |  2% [[Surinamese people in the Netherlands|Surinamese]]
-|population_census_year      =
+  |  0.8% [[Dutch Caribbean|Caribbean]]
-|population_density_km2      = {{#expr:{{NetherlandsPop}} / 41526 round 1}}
+  |  4.8% others
-|population_density_sq_mi    = {{#expr:{{NetherlandsPop}} / 16033 round 1}} <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
+ }}
-|population_density_rank     = 28th
+|ethnic_groups_year = 2008<ref name="cia-worldfactbook-nl"/>
-|GDP_PPP_year                = 2009
+|demonym = Dutch
-|GDP_PPP                     = $658.228 billion<ref name=imf2>{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2010/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2007&ey=2010&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=138&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=42&pr.y=0 |title=Netherlands|publisher=International Monetary Fund|accessdate=2010-04-21}}</ref>
+|capital = [[Amsterdam]]<!--Do not change this without broad consensus-->{{#tag:ref|While [[Amsterdam]] is the constitutional capital, [[The Hague]] is the seat of the government.|group="nb"}}
-|GDP_PPP_rank                =
+|largest_city = capital
-|GDP_PPP_per_capita          = $39,938<ref name=imf2/>
+|latd=52 |latm=22 |latNS=N |longd=4 |longm=53 |longEW=E
-|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank     =
+|government_type = [[Unitary state|Unitary]] [[Parliamentary system|parliamentary]] [[democracy]] under [[constitutional monarchy]]
-|GDP_nominal                 = $794.777 billion<ref name=imf2/>
+|leader_title1 = [[Monarchy of the Netherlands|Monarch]]
-|GDP_nominal_rank            =
+|leader_name1 = [[Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands|Willem-Alexander]]
-|GDP_nominal_year            = 2009
+|leader_title2 = [[Prime Minister of the Netherlands|Prime Minister]]
-|GDP_nominal_per_capita      = $48,223<ref name=imf2/>
+|leader_name2 = [[Mark Rutte]]
-|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank =
+|membership_type = Sovereign state
-|sovereignty_type            = [[Independence]]
+|membership = {{flag|Kingdom of the Netherlands}}
-|sovereignty_note            = through the [[Eighty Years' War]] from the [[Spanish Empire]]
+|legislature = [[States General of the Netherlands|States General]]
-|established_event1          = Declared
+|upper_house = [[Senate of the Netherlands|Senate]]
-|established_date1           = 26 July 1581 <!--Use Euro style per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
+|lower_house = [[House of Representatives of the Netherlands|House of Representatives]]
-|established_event2          = Recognized
+|area_rank = 134th
-|established_date2           = 30 January 1648{{ref|4}} <!--Use Euro style per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
+|area_magnitude = 1 E10
-|accessionEUdate             = 25 March 1957 <!--Use Euro style per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
+|area_km2 = 41,543
-|HDI_year                    = 2007
+|area_sq_mi = 16,039 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
-|HDI                         = {{increase}} 0.964<ref>[http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2009_EN_Complete.pdf Human Development Report 2009]. The United Nations. Retrieved 5 October 2009.</ref>
+|percent_water = 18.41
-|HDI_rank                    = 6th
+|population_estimate = 16,819,595<ref name="pop-cbs">{{cite web |url=http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?VW=T&DM=SLEN&PA=37943eng&LA=EN |title=Population and population dynamics; month, quarter and year |work=Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek |accessdate=31 October 2013}}</ref>
-|HDI_category                = <span style="color:#090;">very&nbsp;high</span>
+|population_estimate_year = {{CURRENTYEAR}}
-|currency                    = [[Euro]] ([[Euro sign|€]]){{ref|5}}
+|population_estimate_rank = 63rd
-|currency_code               = EUR
+|population_census =
-|country_code                = NLD
+|population_census_year =
-|time_zone                   = [[Central European Time|CET]]
+|population_density_km2 = {{#expr:{{Data Netherlands|poptoday}} / 41526 round 1}}
-|utc_offset                  = +1
+|population_density_sq_mi = {{#expr:{{Data Netherlands|poptoday}} / 16033 round 1}} <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
-|time_zone_DST               = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
+|population_density_rank = 24th
-|utc_offset_DST              = +2
+|GDP_PPP_year = 2014
-|drives on                   = right
+|GDP_PPP = $717.146 billion<ref name=imf2>{{cite web |url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2014/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=22&pr.y=9&sy=2014&ey=2014&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=138&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC&grp=0&a=|title=Netherlands |publisher=International Monetary Fund |accessdate=26 April 2014}}</ref>
-|cctld                       = [[.nl]]{{ref|6}}
+|GDP_PPP_rank = 23rd
-|calling_code                = [[Telephone numbers in the Netherlands|31]]
+|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $42,586
-|footnote1                   = {{note|1}} The literal translation of the motto is "I will maintain," the latter word meaning "to stand firm."
+|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 12th
-|footnote2                   = {{note|2}} While [[Amsterdam]] is the constitutional capital, [[The Hague]] is the seat of the government.
+|GDP_nominal = $838.036 billion<ref name=imf2/>
-|footnote3                   = {{note|3}} [[West Frisian language|West Frisian]] is an official language in [[Friesland|the Province of Friesland]]. [[Dutch Low Saxon]] and [[Limburgish language|Limburgish]] are officially recognised as [[European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages|regional languages]].
+|GDP_nominal_rank = 17th
-|footnote4                   = {{note|4}} [[Peace of Westphalia]]
+|GDP_nominal_year = 2014
-|footnote5                   = {{note|5}} Before 2002: [[Dutch guilder]].
+|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $49,765
-|footnote6                   = {{note|6}} The [[.eu]] domain is also used, as it is shared with other [[European Union]] member states.
+|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 13th
+|sovereignty_type = [[Independence]] {{nobold|from the [[Spanish Empire]]}}
+|established_event1 = [[Act of Abjuration|Declared]]
+|established_date1 = <!--Euro style dates per [[WP:MOSNUM]]:-->26 July 1581
+|established_event2 = [[Peace of Westphalia|Recognised]]
+|established_date2 = 30 January 1648
+|established_event3 = [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]]
+|established_date3 = 16 March 1815
+|established_event4 = [[Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands|Formation of constituent&nbsp;country]]
+|established_date4 = 15 December 1954
+|established_event5 = {{nowrap|[[Enlargement of the European Union#Founding members|Founded]] the [[European Economic Community|EEC]]}} {{nowrap|(now the [[European Union|EU]])}}
+|established_date5 = 1 January 1958
+|Gini_year = 2011
+|Gini_change =  <!--increase/decrease/steady-->
+|Gini = 25.8 <!--number only-->
+|Gini_ref = <ref name=eurogini>{{cite web|title=Gini coefficient of equivalised disposable income (source: SILC)|url=http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=ilc_di12|publisher=Eurostat Data Explorer|accessdate=13 August 2013}}</ref>
+|Gini_rank = 111th
+|HDI_year = 2012
+|HDI_change = steady <!--increase/decrease/steady-->
+|HDI = 0.921 <!--number only-->
+|HDI_ref = <ref name="HDI">{{cite web |url=http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR2013_EN_Statistics.pdf |title=Human Development Report 2013 |year=2013 |publisher=United Nations |accessdate=15 March 2013}}</ref>
+|HDI_rank = 4th
+|currency = {{unbulleted list |[[Euro]] ([[ISO 4217|EUR]]) |{{nowrap|[[US dollar]] (USD){{#tag:ref|The euro is used in the [[European Netherlands]] and replaced the [[Dutch guilder]] in 2002. The US dollar is used in the [[Caribbean Netherlands]] and replaced the [[Netherlands Antillean guilder]] in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0028551 |title=Wet geldstelsel BES |publisher=Dutch government |date=30 September 2010 |accessdate=11 January 2014}}</ref>|group="nb"}}}}}}
+|country_code = [[NLD]]
+|time_zone = [[Central European Time|CET]] ([[UTC]]+1){{#tag:ref|CET and CEST are used in the European Netherlands, and AST is used in the Caribbean Netherlands.|group="nb"}}<br>[[Atlantic Standard Time|AST]]
+|utc_offset =-4
+|time_zone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]] ([[UTC]]+2)<br>[[Atlantic Standard Time|AST]]
+|utc_offset_DST =-4
+|drives_on = right
+|calling_code = {{unbulleted list |[[Telephone numbers in the Netherlands|+31]] |[[Telephone numbers in Curaçao and the Caribbean Netherlands|+599]]{{#tag:ref|599 was the country code designated for the now dissolved [[Netherlands Antilles]]. The Caribbean Netherlands still use 599-7 (Bonaire), 599-3 (Sint Eustatius) and 599-4 (Saba).|group="nb"}}}}
+|iso3166code = NL
+|date_format = dd-mm-yyyy
+|cctld = [[.nl]]{{#tag:ref|The [[.eu]] domain is also used, as it is shared with other [[European Union]] member states. [[.bq]] is designated, but not in use, for the [[Caribbean Netherlands]].|group="nb"}}
 }}
+The '''Netherlands''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=en-us-Netherlands.ogg|ˈ|n|ɛ|ð|ər|l|ə|n|d|z}}; {{lang-nl|Nederland}} {{IPA-nl|ˈneːdərˌlɑnt||Nl-Nederland.ogg}}) is the main [[constituent country]] of the <!--Do NOT make bold:-->[[Kingdom of the Netherlands]], consisting of [[Provinces of the Netherlands|twelve provinces]] in [[western Europe]] and [[Caribbean Netherlands|three islands]] in the [[Caribbean]]. The [[European Netherlands|European part of the Netherlands]] borders the [[North Sea]] to the north and west, [[Belgium]] to the south, and [[Germany]] to the east; and shares [[Maritime boundary|maritime border]]s with Belgium, the United Kingdom and Germany.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defensie.nl/english/navy/hydrographic_service/geodesy_and_tides/maritime_limits/north_sea |title=North Sea |publisher=Ministry of Defence |accessdate=6 March 2012}}{{dead link|date=April 2014}}</ref> The Netherlands was one of the first countries in the world to have an elected [[parliament]], and is governed as a [[parliamentary system|parliamentary]] [[democracy]] organised as a [[unitary state]]. The [[capital of the Netherlands|capital city]] of the Netherlands, mandated by the [[Constitution of the Netherlands|constitution]], is [[Amsterdam]]; however, the seat of government is located in [[The Hague]].<!--Do not change this without broad consensus--><ref>{{cite web |url=http://netherlandsmission.org/article.asp?articleref=AR00000154EN&categoryvalue=netherlands&subcategoryvalue=nlgeneralinfo |author=Permanent Mission of the Netherlands to the UN |title=General Information |accessdate=26 June 2013}}</ref>
-[[File:Jan Steen - Adolf en Catharina Croeser aan de Oude Delft 1655.jpg|thumb|250px|Daily life during the [[Dutch Golden Age]] captured in a painting.]]
-{{FixBunching|end}}
-The '''Netherlands''' ({{pron-en|ˈnɛðərləndz|en-us-Netherlands.ogg}}; {{lang-nl|Nederland}}, {{IPA-nl|ˈneːdərlɑnt|pron|Nl-Nederland.ogg}}) is a [[constituent country]] of the [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]], located in [[North-West Europe]]. It is a [[parliamentary democracy|parliamentary democratic]] [[constitutional monarchy]]. The Netherlands borders the [[North Sea]] to the north and west, [[Belgium]] to the south, and [[Germany]] to the east. The capital is [[Amsterdam]] and the seat of government is [[The Hague]].
+The Netherlands is a geographically low-lying country, with about 26% of its area<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Schiermeier|first1=Quirin|title=Few fishy facts found in climate report|journal=Nature|date=5 July 2010|volume=466|issue=170|doi=10.1038/466170a|url=http://www.nature.com/news/2010/100705/full/466170a.html}}</ref> and 21% of its population located below sea level, and 50% of its land lying less than one metre [[Above mean sea level|above sea level]].<ref name=milrek>{{cite web
-The Netherlands is often called '''[[Holland]]''', a [[pars pro toto]], as [[North Holland|North]] and [[South Holland]] are actually two of its twelve [[province]]s (see [[Netherlands (terminology)|terminology of "the Netherlands"]]). The word ''[[Netherlands (terminology)#Dutch|Dutch]]'' is used to refer to the people, the language, and anything pertaining to the Netherlands. This lexical difference between the noun and the adjective is a peculiarity of the English language and does not exist in the [[Dutch language]]. The adjective 'Dutch' is derived from the language that was spoken in the area, called 'Diets', which equals [[Middle Dutch]].
+ |title = Milieurekeningen 2008
+ |publisher=[[Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek]]
+ |url = http://www.cbs.nl/NR/rdonlyres/D2CE63F9-D210-4006-B68B-98BE079EA9B6/0/2008c167pub.pdf
+ |accessdate =4 February 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eupedia.com/netherlands/trivia.shtml |title=Netherlands Guide – Interesting facts about the Netherlands |publisher=Eupedia |date=19 April 1994 |accessdate=29 April 2010}}</ref> This distinct feature contributes to the country's name: in Dutch (''Nederland''), English, and many other European languages, its name literally means "Low Land" or "[[Low Countries|Low Country]]."
+Most of the areas below sea level are man-made, caused by centuries of extensive and poorly controlled [[peat]] extraction that lowered the surface by several metres.  Even in flooded areas, peat extraction continued through turf dredging. Beginning in the late 16th century, [[land reclamation]] started and large [[polder]] areas are now preserved through elaborate drainage systems that include [[dike (construction)|dikes]], canals and pumping stations. Nearly 17% of the country's land area is reclaimed from the sea. Much of the Netherlands is formed by the [[estuary]] of three important European rivers, which together with their [[distributary|distributaries]] form the [[Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta]]. Most of the country is very flat, with the exception of foothills in the far southeast and several low hill ranges in the central parts.
-The Netherlands was one of the first [[parliamentary democracies]]. Among other affiliations the country is a founding member of the [[European Union]] (EU), [[NATO]], [[OECD]] and [[World Trade Organisation|WTO]]. With [[Belgium]] and [[Luxembourg]] it forms the [[Benelux]] economic union. The country is host to five international courts: the [[Permanent Court of Arbitration]], the [[International Court of Justice]], the [[International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia]], the [[International Criminal Court]] and the [[Special Tribunal for Lebanon]]. The first four are situated in The Hague as is the EU's criminal intelligence agency [[Europol]] and judicial co-operation agency [[Eurojust]]. This has led to the city being dubbed "the world's legal capital".<ref>{{cite book | last = van Krieken | first = Peter J. | coauthors = David McKay | title = The Hague: Legal Capital of the World | publisher = Cambridge University Press | year=  2005 | isbn = 9067041858 }}, specifically, ''"In the 1990s, during his term as United Nations Secretary-General, Boutros Boutros-Ghali started calling The Hague the world's legal capital"''</ref> The Netherlands has a [[capitalism|capitalist]] market-based economy, ranking 15th of 157 countries according to the [[Index of Economic Freedom]].<ref>[http://www.heritage.org/Index/country.cfm?id=Netherlands Netherlands], [[Index of Economic Freedom]]</ref>
+The Netherlands is a founding member of the [[European Union|EU]], [[Group of Ten (economic)|G-10]], [[NATO]], [[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development|OECD]], [[World Trade Organization|WTO]] and a part of the trilateral [[Benelux]] economic union. The country is host to the [[Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons]] and five international courts: the [[Permanent Court of Arbitration]], the [[International Court of Justice]], the [[International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia]], the [[International Criminal Court]] and the [[Special Tribunal for Lebanon]]. The first four are situated in The Hague, as is the EU's criminal intelligence agency [[Europol]] and judicial co-operation agency [[Eurojust]]. This has led to the city being dubbed "the world's legal capital".<ref>{{Cite book|last = van Krieken|first = Peter J.|coauthors = David McKay|title = The Hague: Legal Capital of the World|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year= 2005|isbn = 90-6704-185-8}}, specifically, ''"In the 1990s, during his term as United Nations Secretary-General, Boutros Boutros-Ghali started calling The Hague the world's legal capital."''</ref> The Netherlands has a market-based mixed economy, ranking 17th of 177 countries according to the [[Index of Economic Freedom]].<ref>{{Wayback |date=20130510115657 |url=http://www.heritage.org/index/country/netherlands |title=Netherlands }}, [[Index of Economic Freedom]]. heritage.org</ref> It had the [[list of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita|tenth-highest]] per capita income in the world in 2011. In May 2011, the Netherlands was ranked as the "happiest" country in the world according to the OECD, reflecting its high standard of living.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.searchofficespace.com/blog/blog/where-is-the-happiest-place-on-earth/ |title=Where is the happiest place on Earth? &#124; The Search Office Space Blog &#124; Searchofficespace |publisher=News.searchofficespace.com |date=25 May 2011 |accessdate=28 October 2011}}</ref>
-The Netherlands is a geographically low-lying country, with about 20% of its area and 21% of its population located below sea level,<ref name=milrek>{{cite web
-  | title = Milieurekeningen 2008
+== Names ==
-  | publisher = [[Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek]]
+The Netherlands in its entirety is often referred to as "[[Holland]]", which in strict usage, refers only to [[North Holland|North]] and [[South Holland]], two of its provinces. Since these two provinces are the most populous and famous of the Netherlands, they often serve as a [[metonym]] for the entire country. Referring to the Netherlands as Holland is technically incorrect<ref>{{cite news|url=http://handbook.reuters.com/index.php?title=H#Holland|title=The Reuters Style Guide|accessdate=31 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.media.uoa.gr/lectures/linguistic_archives/academic_papers0506/notes/stylesheets_3.pdf|title=The BBC News Styleguide|accessdate=31 March 2014}}</ref> or informal,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/about-us/style-book/1435302/Telegraph-style-book-places-and-peoples.html|title=Telegraph style book: places and peoples|accessdate=31 March 2014 | location=London|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=12 April 2008}}</ref> depending on the context, but is more acceptable when referring to the [[Netherlands national football team|national football team]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Guardian/documents/2004/07/15/styleguidepdfjuly2004.pdf|title=The Guardian style guide|accessdate=31 March 2014 | location=London}}</ref>
-  | url = http://www.cbs.nl/NR/rdonlyres/D2CE63F9-D210-4006-B68B-98BE079EA9B6/0/2008c167pub.pdf
-  | accessdate = 2010-02-04}}</ref> with 50% of its land lying less than one metre above sea level.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eupedia.com/netherlands/trivia.shtml |title=Netherlands Guide - Interesting facts about the Netherlands |publisher=Eupedia |date=1994-04-19 |accessdate=2010-04-29}}</ref>
+While ''De Lage landen'' (The Low Countries) is a geographical designation of the general area of [[Belgium]], the Netherlands, and [[Luxembourg]], [[Benelux]], and depending on the context, sometimes extended with parts of northern [[France]] ([[French Flanders]], [[French Hainaut]], [[Artois]], [[Picardy]] to the [[Somme]]) and the former [[Luxembourg]] region around [[Thionville|Diedenhoven]] and West [[Germany]] (east [[Frisia]], [[Julich]], [[Cleves]], [[Bentheim]], [[Lingen]], the region around [[Geldern]], around [[Bitburg]], some municipalities east of the eastern provinces which were annexed by [[Prussia]] in 1815, etc.). Netherlands has about the same meaning as the Low Countries, but of a more historiographical and political nature.
-Significant land area has been gained through [[land reclamation]] and preserved through an elaborate system of [[polder]]s and [[dike (construction)|dike]]s. Much of the Netherlands is formed by the [[estuary]] of three important European rivers, which together with their [[distributary|distributaries]] form the [[Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta]]. Most of the country is very flat, with the exception of foothills in the far southeast and several low-hill ranges in the central parts.
+In the fifteenth century the name Netherlands (Nederlanden) came into use. Unlike [[France]] and [[England]] it had no ethnic origin, but it was originally a geographical term which denoted only the difference with a higher ground. Place names with ''Nieder'' are used in various places in the German language area. Also terms like lower [[Rhine]] and lower [[Meuse (river)|Meuse]] were commonly used (vs. middle Rhine or upper Rhine). ''Niderlant'' was in the late Middle Ages the region between the [[Meuse (river)|Meuse]] and the [[Rhine]], the Lower Rhine Area now be included. The area known as ''Oberland'' (High country) was considered to begin approximately at the nearby higher located [[Cologne]]. By extension, the term could also be applied to the delta of the [[Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta|Schelde, Meuse and Rhine]], and then would occur in the plural form. Due to the great importance of the Low Countries, the name was increasingly used specifically for this area. From about 1490 the Burgundian-Habsburg provinces thus also were indicated. Besides [[Flanders]], "the Netherlands " was, from the mid- sixteenth century on, probably the most common used name.
 ==History==
 {{Main|History of the Netherlands}}
-[[File:WilliamOfOrange1580.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[William the Silent]], leader of the Netherlands during the [[Dutch Revolt]].]]
-Under [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]], [[Holy Roman Emperor]], and king of [[Spanish Empire|Spain]], the region was part of the [[Seventeen Provinces]] of the Netherlands, which also included most of present-day [[Belgium]], [[Luxembourg]], and some land of [[France]] and [[Germany]]. The [[Eighty Years' War]] between the provinces and Spain began in 1568. In 1579, the northern half of the Seventeen Provinces formed the [[Union of Utrecht]], a treaty in which they promised to support each other in their defense against the Spanish army.<ref>John Lothrop Motley, ''The Rise of the Dutch Republic'' Vol. III (harper Bros.: New York, 1855) p. 411.</ref>  The Union of Utrecht is seen as the foundation of the modern Netherlands. In 1581 the northern provinces adopted the [[Act of Abjuration]], the declaration of independence in which the provinces officially deposed [[Philip II of Spain]].<ref>Motley, p. 508.</ref>  Queen [[Elizabeth I of England]] sympathized with the Dutch struggle against the Spanish, and in 1585 she concluded a treaty with the Dutch whereby she promised to send an English army to the Netherlands to aid the Dutch in their war with the Spanish.<ref>David Harris Willson, ''History of England'' (Holt,Rinehart & Winston: New York, 1972) p. 294.</ref>  In December 1585, 7,600 soldiers were sent to the Netherlands from England under the command of [[Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester]].<ref name="Motley">Motley</ref>  However, the English army was wasted away in fruitless military campaigns in the Netherlands and had no real effect of helping the Dutch rebellion.<ref name="Motley"/>  Robert Dudley returned to the Netherlands in November 1586 with another army.<ref>Garrett Mattingly, ''The Armada''(Houghton Mifflin: Boston, 1959) p. 48.</ref>  However, the result was no better than it had been in 1585.  Philip II, the son of Charles V, was not prepared to let them go easily, and war continued until 1648, when Spain under King [[Philip IV of Spain|Philip IV]] finally recognised the independence of the seven northwestern provinces in the [[Peace of Münster]]. Parts of the southern provinces became ''de facto'' colonies of the new republican-mercantile empire.
+===Habsburg Netherlands (1519–1581)===
-===Dutch Republic 1581–1795===
+[[File:Jan Steen - Adolf en Catharina Croeser aan de Oude Delft 1655.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Daily life during the [[Dutch Golden Age]] captured in a painting by [[Jan Steen]].]]
+[[File:WilliamOfOrange1580.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[William I, Prince of Orange]], also called [[Willem de Zwijger]] (''William the Silent''), leader of the Netherlands during the [[Dutch Revolt]].]]
+[[File:Van Soest, Four Days Battle.jpg|thumb|left|upright|''The [[Four Days' Battle]], 1–4 June 1666'', during the [[Second Anglo–Dutch War]].]]
+Under [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]], ruler of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] and King of [[Spanish Empire|Spain]], the current Netherlands region was part of the [[Seventeen Provinces]] of the [[Low Countries]], which also included most of present-day [[Belgium]], Luxembourg, and some land in France and Germany.
+In 1568, the [[Eighty Years' War]] between the Provinces and Spain began. In 1579, the northern half of the Seventeen Provinces forged the [[Union of Utrecht]], a treaty in which they committed to support each other in their defence against the Spanish army.<ref>Motley, John Lothrop  (1855). [http://books.google.com/books?id=8isNLCXfNycC&pg=PA411 ''The Rise of the Dutch Republic''] Vol. III, Harper Bros.: New York, p. 411.</ref> The Union of Utrecht is seen as the foundation of the modern Netherlands. In 1581, the northern provinces adopted the [[Act of Abjuration]], the declaration of independence in which the provinces officially deposed [[Philip II of Spain]] as reigning monarch in the northern provinces.<ref>Motley, John Lothrop  (1855). [http://books.google.com/books?id=8isNLCXfNycC&pg=PA508 ''The Rise of the Dutch Republic''] Vol. III, Harper Bros.: New York, p. 508.</ref>
+Queen [[Elizabeth I of England]] sympathised with the Dutch struggle against the Spanish, and in 1585 she concluded a treaty with the Dutch whereby she promised to send an English army to the Netherlands to aid the Dutch in their war with the Spanish.<ref>Willson, David Harris (1972). ''History of England'', Holt, Rinehart & Winston: New York, p. 294.</ref> In December 1585, 7,600 soldiers were sent to the Netherlands from England under the command of [[Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester]]. In spite of the significant size for that time, the English army was of no real benefit to the Dutch rebellion.<ref>Motley, John Lothrop  (1855). [http://books.google.com/books?id=8isNLCXfNycC&pg=PA411 ''The Rise of the Dutch Republic''] Vol. III, Harper Bros.: New York</ref>
+Although Robert Dudley returned to the Netherlands in November 1586 with another army, the army still had little effect in the rebellion.<ref>Mattingly, Garrett (1959) ''The Armada'', Houghton Mifflin: Boston, p. 48.</ref> Philip II, the son of Charles V, was not prepared to let them go easily, and war continued until 1648, when Spain under King [[Philip IV of Spain|Philip IV]] finally recognised the independence of the seven north-western provinces in the [[Peace of Münster]]. Parts of the southern provinces became ''de facto'' colonies of the new republican-mercantile empire.
+===Dutch Republic (1581–1795)===
 {{Main|Dutch Republic}}
+[[File:Hendrick Avercamp - Winterlandschap met schaatsers bij de stad Kampen.jpg|thumb|Winter landscape with skaters c. 1625]]
-After independence, the provinces of [[Holland]], [[Zeeland]], [[Groningen (province)|Groningen]], [[Friesland]], [[Utrecht (province)|Utrecht]], [[Overijssel]], and [[Gelre]] formed a [[confederation]] known as the [[Republic of the Seven United Netherlands]]. All these provinces were autonomous and had their own government, the "States of the Province". The [[States-General of the Netherlands|States-General]], the confederal government, were seated in The Hague and consisted of representatives from each of the seven provinces. The sparsely populated region of [[Drenthe]], mainly consisting of poor [[peat]]land, was part of the republic too, although Drenthe was not considered one of the provinces. Drenthe had its own states, but the [[landdrost]] of Drenthe was appointed by the States-General.
+[[File:Johannes Lingelbach 001.jpg|thumb|[[Amsterdam]]'s [[Dam Square]] in 1656]]
-The Republic occupied a number of so-called [[Generality Lands]] (''Generaliteitslanden'' in Dutch). These territories were governed directly by the States-General, so they did not have a government of their own and they did not have representatives in the States-General. Most of these territories were occupied during the [[Eighty Years' War]]. They were mainly Roman Catholic and were used as a buffer zone between the Republic and the [[Southern Netherlands]].
+After declaring their independence, the provinces of [[Holland]], [[Zeeland]], [[Groningen (province)|Groningen]], [[Friesland]], [[Utrecht (province)|Utrecht]], [[Overijssel]], and [[Gelderland]] formed a [[confederation]].  All these provinces were autonomous and had their own government, the "States of the Province". The [[States General of the Netherlands|States General]], the confederal government, were seated in The Hague and consisted of representatives from each of the seven provinces.  The sparsely populated region of [[Drenthe]], mainly consisting of poor [[peat]]land, was part of the republic too, although Drenthe was not considered one of the provinces; it had its own States, but the [[landdrost]] of Drenthe was appointed by the States General.
-[[File:Andries Beeckman - The Castle of Batavia.jpg|thumb|left|Dutch Batavia built in what is now [[Jakarta]], by [[Andries Beeckman]] c. 1656.]]
-The [[Dutch Empire]] grew to become one of the major seafaring and economic powers of the 17th century. In the [[Dutch Golden Age]] ("Gouden Eeuw"), colonies and [[trading post]]s were established all over the world. Dutch settlement in [[North America]] began with the founding of [[New Amsterdam]], on the southern tip of [[Manhattan]] in 1614. In [[South Africa]], the Dutch settled the [[Cape Colony]] in 1652. By 1650, the Dutch owned 16,000 merchant ships.<ref>"[http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display_printable.cfm?HHID=682 The Middle Colonies: New York ]". Digital History.</ref> During the 17th century, the Dutch population increased from an estimated 1.5 million to almost 2 million.<ref>The preponderance of the Dutch population lived in two provinces, Holland and Zeeland. This area experienced a population explosion between 1500 and 1650, with a growth from 350,000 to 1,000,000 inhabitants. Thereafter the growth leveled off, so that the population of the whole country remained at the 2 million level throughout the 18th century; De Vries and Van der Woude, pp. 51-52</ref>
-[[File:Van Soest, Four Days Battle.jpg|thumb|right|''The [[Four Days' Battle]], 1 –4 June 1666'', during the [[Second Anglo–Dutch War]].]]
-Many economic historians regard the Netherlands as the first thoroughly [[capitalism|capitalist]] country in the world. In early modern Europe it featured the wealthiest trading city ([[Amsterdam]]) and the first full-time [[Amsterdam Stock Exchange|stock exchange]]. The inventiveness of the traders led to [[insurance]] and retirement funds as well as such less benign phenomena as the boom-bust cycle, the world's first asset-inflation bubble, the [[tulip mania]] of 1636–1637, and, according to Murray Sayle, the world's first [[bear raid]]er, [[Isaac le Maire]], who forced prices down by dumping stock and then buying it back at a discount.<ref>"Japan Goes Dutch", ''London Review of Books'' (2001-04-01). 3-7.</ref> The republic went into a state of general decline in the later 18th century, with economic competition from [[England]] and long standing rivalries between the two main factions in Dutch society, the ''Staatsgezinden'' (Republicans) and the ''Prinsgezinden'' (Royalists or Orangists) as main factors.
+Moreover, the Republic had come to occupy during the [[Eighty Years' War]] a number of so-called [[Generality Lands]] (''Generaliteitslanden'' in Dutch).  These territories were governed directly by the States General. They did not have a governmental structure of their own and did not have representatives in the States General.  Their population was mainly Roman Catholic, and these areas were used as a buffer zone between the Republic and the [[Southern Netherlands]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2011}}
-In the 17th century, [[plantation]] colonies were established by the Dutch and English along the many rivers in the fertile [[Guyana]] plains. The earliest documented colony in [[Suriname|Guiana]] was along the [[Suriname River]] and called Marshall's Creek. The area was named after an Englishman.<ref name="Marshall">{{cite book | accessdate=2008-05-04 | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=paQMAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA253&lpg=PA253&dq=marshall's+creek+suriname+river&source=web&ots=0K5mXYlN2U&sig=W4HB3ar7m5DBXsjsHlECqvnXQnE&hl=en|title=Encyclopedia Britannica: A Dictionary of ARTS, SCIENCES, and General LITERATURE, Volume XI|edition=Ninth Edition&mdash;Popular Reprint | quote=In 1614 the states of Holland granted to any Dutch citizen a four years' monopoly of any harbour or place of commerce which he might discover in that region (Guiana). The first settlement, however, in Suriname (in 1630) was made by an Englishman, whose name is still preserved by Marshall's Creek. }}</ref>  Disputes arose between the Dutch and the English. In 1667, the Dutch decided to keep the nascent plantation colony of Suriname conquered from the English, resulting from the [[Treaty of Breda (1667)|Treaty of Breda]]. The English were left with New Amsterdam, a small trading post in North America, which is now known as [[New York City]].
+The [[Dutch Empire]] grew to become one of the major seafaring and economic powers of the 17th century.  In the [[Dutch Golden Age]] ("Gouden Eeuw"), colonies and [[trading post]]s were established all over the world.  Dutch settlement in North America began with the founding of [[New Amsterdam]], on the southern part of [[Manhattan]] in 1614. In South Africa, the Dutch settled the [[Cape Colony]] in 1652. By 1650, the Dutch owned 16,000 merchant ships.<ref>{{Wayback |date=20120114182245 |url=http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display_printable.cfm?HHID=682 |title="The Middle Colonies: New York"}}{{dead link|date=April 2014}}. Digital History.</ref> During the 17th century, the Dutch population increased from an estimated 1.5&nbsp;million to almost 2&nbsp;million.<ref>The preponderance of the Dutch population lived in two provinces, Holland and Zeeland. This area experienced a population explosion between 1500 and 1650, with a growth from 350,000 to 1,000,000 inhabitants. Thereafter the growth leveled off, so that the population of the whole country remained at the 2&nbsp;million level throughout the 18th century; De Vries and Van der Woude, pp. 51–52</ref>
 {{For|a comprehensive list of the territories that formed the Dutch Empire|Evolution of the Dutch Empire}}
 {{pp-move-indef|small=yes}}
-{{Infobox Country
-|image_map                   = Dutch Empire35.PNG
-|map_caption                 = An anachronous map of the Dutch colonial Empire.  Light green: territories administered by or originating from territories administered by the [[Dutch East India Company]]; dark green the [[Dutch West India Company]].
-<!-- Do not add extra information to this infobox - it deliberately only contains the flag and map. -->
-}}
+Many economic historians regard the Netherlands as the first thoroughly capitalist country in the world. In early modern Europe it had the wealthiest trading city ([[Amsterdam]]) and the first full-time [[Amsterdam Stock Exchange|stock exchange]]. The inventiveness of the traders led to insurance and retirement funds as well as phenomena such as the boom-bust cycle, the world's first asset-inflation bubble, the [[tulip mania]] of 1636–1637, and the world's first [[bear raid]]er, [[Isaac le Maire]], who forced prices down by dumping stock and then buying it back at a discount.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.lrb.co.uk/v23/n07/murray-sayle/japan-goes-dutch|title=Japan Goes Dutch|journal=London Review of Books|date=5 April 2001|author=Sayle, Murray |volume=23|issue=7|pages=3–7}}</ref> The republic went into a state of general decline in the later 18th century, with economic competition from England and long standing rivalries between the two main factions in Dutch society, the ''Staatsgezinden'' (Republicans) and the ''Prinsgezinden'' (Royalists or Orangists), as main factors.{{Citation needed|date=April 2011}}
-===French domination (1795–1815)===
+In the 17th century, [[plantation]] colonies were established by the Dutch and English along the many rivers in the fertile [[Guyana]] plains. The earliest documented colony in [[Suriname|Guiana]] was along the [[Suriname River]] and called Marshall's Creek. The area was named after an Englishman.<ref name="Marshall">{{Cite book|accessdate=4 May 2008 |url=http://books.google.com/?id=paQMAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA253|title=Encyclopædia Britannica: A Dictionary of ARTS, SCIENCES, and General LITERATURE, Volume XI |edition=Ninth Edition—Popular Reprint |quote=In 1614 the states of Holland granted to any Dutch citizen a four years' monopoly of any harbour or place of commerce which he might discover in that region (Guiana). The first settlement, however, in Suriname (in 1630) was made by an Englishman, whose name is still preserved by Marshall's Creek. |publisher=H.G. Allen |author1=Baynes, Thomas Spencer |year=1888}}</ref> Disputes arose between the Dutch and the English. In 1667, the Dutch decided to keep the nascent plantation colony of Suriname conquered from the English, resulting from the [[Treaty of Breda (1667)|Treaty of Breda]]. The English were left with New Amsterdam, a small trading post in North America, which is now known as New York City.
-{{further|[[Batavian Republic]]|[[Kingdom of Holland]]}}
+===French influence (1795–1814)===
-On 19 January 1795, one day after [[stadtholder]] [[William V of Orange]] fled to England, the ''Bataafse Republiek'' ([[Batavian Republic]]) was proclaimed, rendering the Netherlands a [[unitary state]]. From 1795 to 1806, the Batavian Republic designated the Netherlands as a [[republic]] modelled after the [[French First Republic|French Republic]].
+{{Further2|[[Batavian Republic]]|[[Kingdom of Holland]]}}
+On 19 January 1795, one day after the [[stadtholder]], [[William V of Orange]], fled to England, the ''Bataafse Republiek'' ([[Batavian Republic]]) was proclaimed, rendering the Netherlands a [[unitary state]]. From 1795 to 1806, the Batavian Republic designated the Netherlands as a republic modelled after the [[French First Republic|French Republic]].
-From 1806 to 1810, the ''Koninkrijk Holland'' ([[Kingdom of Holland]]) was set up by [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] as a puppet kingdom governed by his brother [[Louis Bonaparte]] in order to control the Netherlands more effectively. The name of the leading province, Holland, was used for the whole country. The Kingdom of Holland covered the area of the present day Netherlands, with the exception of Limburg and parts of Zeeland, which were French territory. In 1807, Prussian [[East Frisia]] and [[Jever]] were added to the kingdom. In 1809, however, after a [[Walcheren Campaign|failed British invasion]], Holland had to give over all territories south of the [[Rhine]] to France.
+From 1806 to 1810, the ''Koninkrijk Holland'' ([[Kingdom of Holland]]) was set up by [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] as a puppet kingdom governed by his brother [[Louis Bonaparte]] in order to control the Netherlands more effectively. The name of the leading province, Holland, was used for the whole country. The Kingdom of Holland covered the area of the present day Netherlands, with the exception of Limburg and parts of Zeeland, which were French territory. In 1807, Prussian [[East Frisia]] and [[Jever]] were added to the kingdom. In 1809, however, after a [[Walcheren Campaign|failed British invasion]], Holland had to surrender all territories south of the [[Rhine]] to France.
-King Louis Napoleon did not meet Napoleon's expectations — he tried to serve Dutch interests instead of his brother's — and he was forced to abdicate on 1 July 1810. He was succeeded by his five-year-old son [[Napoleon Louis Bonaparte]]. Napoleon Louis reigned as Louis II for just ten days as Napoleon ignored his young nephew’s accession to the throne. The Emperor sent in an army to invade the country and dissolved the Kingdom of Holland. The Netherlands then became part of the French Empire.
+King Louis Bonaparte did not meet Napoleon's expectations – he tried to serve Dutch interests instead of his brother's, allowed trade with the British in spite of the [[Continental System]] and even tried to learn Dutch – and he was forced to abdicate on 1 July 1810. He was succeeded by his five-year-old son [[Napoleon Louis Bonaparte]]. Napoleon Louis reigned as Louis II for just ten days as Napoleon ignored his young nephew's accession to the throne. The Emperor sent in an army to invade the country and dissolved the Kingdom of Holland. The Netherlands then became part of the [[First French Empire|French Empire]].
-The Netherlands remained part of the French Empire until the autumn of 1813, when Napoleon was defeated in the [[battle of Leipzig]] and forced to withdraw his troops from the country.
+The Netherlands remained part of the French Empire until the autumn of 1813, when Napoleon was defeated in the [[Battle of Leipzig]] and forced to withdraw his troops from the country.
-===Kingdom of the Netherlands===
+===Kingdom of the Netherlands (1815–1940)===
 {{Main|United Kingdom of the Netherlands|Kingdom of the Netherlands}}
+[[File:Dutch Empire35.PNG|thumb|A map of the [[Dutch Empire|Dutch colonial empire]]. Light green: territories administered by or originating from territories administered by the [[Dutch East India Company]]; dark green: the [[Dutch West India Company]]. In yellow the territories occupied later, during the 19th century.]]
-[[William I of the Netherlands]], son of the last stadtholder [[William V, Prince of Orange|William V van Oranje]], returned to the Netherlands in 1813 and became Sovereign Prince of the Netherlands. On 16 March 1815, the Sovereign Prince became King of the Netherlands.
+William Frederick, son of the last stadtholder, returned to the Netherlands in 1813 at the invitation of the provisional government formed after the withdrawal of the French.  Although it comprised mostly the same men who had driven out his father 18 years earlier, all parties agreed that William was the only choice to head any new government.  On 6 December, he proclaimed himself Sovereign Prince of the Netherlands. On 16 March 1815, the Sovereign Prince raised the Netherlands to the status of a kingdom and proclaimed himself [[William I of the Netherlands|William I]] (''Willem I'' in Dutch).
-In 1815, the [[Congress of Vienna]] formed the [[United Kingdom of the Netherlands]] by expanding the Netherlands with Belgium in order to create a strong country on the northern border of France. In addition, William became hereditary [[Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg|Grand Duke of Luxembourg]]. The Congress of Vienna gave Luxembourg to William as personal property in exchange for his German possessions, [[Nassau-Dillenburg]], [[Siegen]], [[Hadamar]], and [[Diez, Germany|Diez]].
+In 1815, the [[Congress of Vienna]] formed the [[United Kingdom of the Netherlands]] by adding the southern Netherlands to the north in order to create a strong country on the northern border of France. In addition, William became hereditary [[Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg|Grand Duke of Luxembourg]]. The Congress of Vienna gave Luxembourg to William as personal property in exchange for his German possessions, [[Nassau-Dillenburg]], [[Siegen]], [[Hadamar]], and [[Diez, Germany|Diez]].
-Belgium rebelled and gained independence in 1830, while the [[personal union]] between Luxembourg and the Netherlands was severed in 1890, when [[King William III of the Netherlands]] died with no surviving male heirs. [[Salic Law|Ascendancy laws]] prevented his daughter [[Wilhelmina of the Netherlands|Queen Wilhelmina]] from becoming the next Grand Duchess. Therefore the throne of Luxembourg passed over from the [[House of Orange-Nassau]] to the [[House of Nassau-Weilburg]], a junior branch of the [[House of Nassau]].
+The Southern Netherlands had been culturally separate from the north since 1581, and rebelled against William's attempt to create a single culture.  The south rebelled and gained independence in 1830 as [[Belgium]], while the [[personal union]] between Luxembourg and the Netherlands was severed in 1890, when [[William III of the Netherlands|William III]] died with no surviving male heirs. [[Salic Law|Ascendancy laws]] prevented his daughter [[Wilhelmina of the Netherlands|Queen Wilhelmina]] from becoming the next Grand Duchess. Therefore the throne of Luxembourg passed over from the [[House of Orange-Nassau]] to the [[House of Nassau-Weilburg]], a junior branch of the [[House of Nassau]].
+The largest Dutch settlement abroad was the [[Cape Colony]]. It was established by [[Jan van Riebeeck]] on behalf of the [[Dutch East India Company]] at [[Cape Town]] ({{lang-nl|Kaapstad}}) in 1652. The Prince of Orange acquiesced to [[Kingdom of Great Britain|British]] occupation and control of the Cape Colony in 1788. The Netherlands also possessed several other colonies, but Dutch settlement in these lands was limited. Most notable were the vast [[Dutch East Indies]] (now [[Indonesia]]) and the [[Surinam (Dutch colony)|Colony of Surinam]] (now [[Suriname]]). These 'colonies' were first administered by the Dutch East India Company and the [[Dutch West India Company]], both collective private enterprises. Three centuries later these companies got into financial trouble, and the territories in which they operated were taken over by the Dutch government (in 1815 and 1791 respectively). Only then did they become official colonies.
-[[File:GezichtOpNieuwAmsterdam.jpg|thumb|[[New Amsterdam]] as it appeared in 1664, before it was traded with the [[British people|British]] for [[Suriname]]. Under British rule it became known as [[New York City]].]]
-The largest Dutch settlement abroad was the Cape Colony. It was established by Jan van Riebeeck on behalf of the [[Dutch East India Company]] at [[Cape Town]] ({{lang-nl|Kaapstad}}) in 1652. The Prince of Orange acquiesced to British occupation and control of the Cape Colony in 1788. The Netherlands also possessed several other colonies, but Dutch settlement in these lands was limited. Most notable were the vast [[Dutch East Indies]] (now [[Indonesia]]) and [[Suriname]]. These 'colonies' were first administered by the Dutch East India Company and the [[Dutch West India Company]], both collective private enterprises. Three centuries later these companies got into financial trouble, and the territories in which they operated were taken over by the Dutch government (in 1815 and 1791 respectively). Only then did they become official colonies.
+During its colonial period, the Netherlands was heavily involved in the [[slave trade]]. The Dutch [[plantation|planters]] relied heavily on [[Atlantic slave trade|African slaves]] to cultivate the coffee, cocoa, [[sugarcane]] and cotton plantations along the rivers. Treatment of the slaves by their owners was notoriously bad, and many slaves escaped the plantations. Slavery was abolished by the Netherlands in [[Surinam (Dutch colony)|Dutch Guiana]] and [[Curaçao and Dependencies]] in 1863, but the slaves were not fully released until 1873, after a mandatory 10-year transition period during which time they were required to work on the plantations for minimal pay and without state sanctioned torture. As soon as they became truly free, the slaves largely abandoned the plantations where they had suffered for several generations in favour of the city [[Paramaribo]]. Every year this is remembered during [[Keti Koti]], 1 July, Emancipation Day (end of slavery).
-During its colonial period the Netherlands was heavily involved in the [[slave trade]].
-The Dutch planters relied heavily on [[African slaves]] to cultivate the coffee, cocoa, sugar cane and cotton plantations along the rivers.  Treatment of the slaves by their owners was notoriously bad, and many slaves escaped the plantations.  Slavery was abolished by the Netherlands in [[Suriname]] in 1863, but the slaves in Suriname were not fully released until 1873, after a mandatory 10 year transition period during which time they were required to work on the plantations for minimal pay and without state sanctioned torture.  As soon as they became truly free, the slaves largely abandoned the plantations where they had suffered for several generations in favor of the city [[Paramaribo]]. Every year this is remembered during [[Keti Koti]], 1 July, Emancipation Day (end of slavery).
-During the 19th century, the Netherlands was slow to industrialize compared to neighbouring countries, mainly because of the great complexity involved in modernizing the infrastructure, consisting largely of waterways, and the great reliance its industry had on windpower.
+During the 19th century, the Netherlands was slow to industrialise compared to neighbouring countries, mainly because of the great complexity involved in modernising the infrastructure, consisting largely of waterways, and the great reliance its industry had on windpower.
-Although the Netherlands remained neutral during [[World War I]], it was heavily involved in the war.<ref name="Abbenhuis, Maartje M 2006">Abbenhuis, Maartje M. The Art of Staying Neutral. Amsterdam: Amsterdam UP, 2006.</ref> [[Alfred von Schlieffen|Count Schlieffen]] had originally planned to invade the Netherlands while advancing into France in the original [[Schlieffen Plan]]. This was changed by Helmuth von Moltke the Younger in order to maintain Dutch neutrality. Later during the war Dutch neutrality proved essential to German survival until the blockade by the United States and Great Britain in 1916, when the import of goods through the Netherlands was no longer possible. However, the Dutch were able to remain neutral during the war using their diplomacy and their ability to trade.<ref name="Abbenhuis, Maartje M 2006"/>
+Although the Netherlands remained [[Neutrality (international relations)|neutral]] during the [[World War I|First World War]], it was heavily involved in the war.<ref name="Abbenhuis">Abbenhuis, Maartje M. (2006) [http://books.google.com/books?id=5gMCfhUR6Y0C&printsec=frontcover The Art of Staying Neutral]. Amsterdam University Press, ISBN 90-5356-818-2.</ref> The German general [[Alfred von Schlieffen|Count Schlieffen]], who was Chief of the Imperial [[German General Staff]], had originally planned to invade the Netherlands while advancing into France in the original [[Schlieffen Plan]]. This was changed by Schlieffen's successor, [[Helmuth von Moltke the Younger]], in order to maintain Dutch neutrality. Later during the war Dutch neutrality proved essential to German survival until the blockade by the British Royal Navy in 1916, when the import of goods through the Netherlands was no longer possible. The Dutch were nevertheless able to continue to remain neutral during the war using their diplomacy and their ability to trade.<ref name="Abbenhuis"/>
-===Second World War===
+===World War II (1940–1945)===
-{{Main|History of the Netherlands (1939–1945)}}
+{{Main|Netherlands in World War II}}
 [[File:Rotterdam.jpg|thumb|[[Rotterdam]] after German air raids in 1940.]]
+The Netherlands intended to remain neutral during [[World War II]], although contingency plans involving the armies of Belgium, France and the United Kingdom were drawn up in case of German aggression. Despite this neutrality, [[Nazi Germany]] [[Battle of the Netherlands|invaded the Netherlands]] on 10 May 1940 as part of their campaign against the Allied forces. French forces in the south and British ships in the west came to help but turned around quickly, evacuating many civilians and several thousand German prisoners of war from the German elite airborne divisions.
-[[File:101st with members of dutch resistance.jpg|thumb|left|[[Dutch resistance]] members with troops of the [[101st Airborne Division (United States)|US 101st Airborne]] in front of Eindhoven cathedral during [[Operation Market Garden]] in September 1944.]]
-The Netherlands intended to remain neutral during the [[Second World War]]. There were, however, contingency plans involving the armies of Belgium, France and the United Kingdom. Regardless, [[Nazi Germany]] [[Battle of the Netherlands|invaded the Netherlands]] on 10 May 1940 as part of their campaign against the Allied forces. French forces in the south and British ships in the west came to help but turned around quickly, evacuating many civilians and several thousand German prisoners of war from the German elite airborne divisions. The country was overrun in five days. Only after, but not because of, the [[bombing of Rotterdam]] the main element of the Dutch army surrendered on 14 May 1940; although a Dutch and French force held the western part of Zeeland for some time after the surrender. The Kingdom as such, continued the war from the colonial empire; the [[government in exile]] resided in [[London]].
+The country was overrun in five days. Only after (but not because of) the [[Rotterdam Blitz]] did the main element of the Dutch army surrender on 14 May 1940; although a Dutch and French force held the western part of Zeeland for some time after the surrender. The Kingdom as such, continued the war from the colonial empire; the [[government in exile]] resided in London.
-During the [[Military occupation|occupation]], over 100,000 Dutch [[Jew]]s<ref>[http://www.westerbork.nl/site1.2/English/KAMP/k08.html 93 trains]{{dead link|date=April 2010}}</ref> were rounded up to be transported to Nazi German [[concentration camp]]s in [[Germany]], [[General Government|German-occupied Poland]] and German-occupied [[Czechoslovakia]]. By the time these camps were liberated, only 876 Dutch Jews survived. Dutch workers were conscripted for forced labour in German factories, civilians were killed in reprisal for attacks on German soldiers, and the countryside was plundered for food for German soldiers in the Netherlands and for shipment to Germany. Although there were thousands<ref>Klempner, Mark. The Heart Has Reasons: Holocaust Rescuers and Their Stories of Courage. Cleveland: The Pilgrim Press, 2006, pg. 15-17.</ref> of Dutch who risked their lives by hiding Jews from the Germans, as recounted in ''The Heart Has Reasons<ref>[The Heart Has Reasons: Holocaust Rescuers and Their Stories of Courage http://www.hearthasreasons.com] by [[Mark Klempner]]. Cleveland: The Pilgrim Press, 2006; ISBN 0829816992</ref>'' by [[Mark Klempner]], there were also thousands<ref>Klempner, Mark. The Heart Has Reasons: Holocaust Rescuers and Their Stories of Courage. Cleveland: The Pilgrim Press, 2006, pg. 5.</ref> of Dutch who collaborated with the occupying force in hunting down hiding Jews. Local fascists and anti-Bolsheviks joined the [[Waffen-SS]] in the [[4th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Brigade Netherlands]], fighting on the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]] as well as other units.
+During the [[military occupation|occupation]], over 100,000 [[History of the Jews in the Netherlands|Dutch Jews]]<ref>{{Wayback |date=20041207064440 |url=http://www.kampwesterbork.nl/site1.2/English/KAMP/k08.html |title=93 trains }}. kampwesterbork.nl</ref> were rounded up to be transported to Nazi German [[extermination camp]]s in Germany, [[General Government|German-occupied Poland]] and German-occupied [[Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia|Czechoslovakia]]. By the time these camps were liberated, few Dutch Jews survived. Dutch workers were conscripted for forced labour in German factories, civilians were killed in reprisal for attacks on German soldiers, and the countryside was plundered for food for German soldiers in the Netherlands and for shipment to Germany. Although there were thousands of Dutch who risked their lives by hiding Jews from the Germans, as recounted in ''[[The Hiding Place (book)|The Hiding Place]]'' by [[Corrie ten Boom]] and ''The Heart Has Reasons'' by [[Mark Klempner]],<ref>Klempner, Mark (2006) ''The Heart Has Reasons: Holocaust Rescuers and Their Stories of Courage''. Cleveland: The Pilgrim Press, pp. 15–17 ISBN 0-8298-1699-2.</ref> there were also Dutch who collaborated with the occupying force in hunting down hiding Jews.<ref>Klempner, Mark (2006) ''The Heart Has Reasons: Holocaust Rescuers and Their Stories of Courage''. Cleveland: The Pilgrim Press, p. 5 ISBN 0-8298-1699-2.</ref>
-On 8 December 1941, the Netherlands declared war on [[Japan]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/policy/1941/411208c.html |title=THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS DECLARES WAR WITH JAPAN |publisher=ibiblio |accessdate=2009-10-02}}</ref> The government-in-exile then lost control of its major colonial stronghold, the [[Netherlands East Indies]] (Indonesia), to [[Empire of Japan|Japanese]] forces in March 1942. "[[American-British-Dutch-Australian Command|American-British-Dutch-Australian]]" (ABDA) forces [[Netherlands East Indies campaign|fought hard in some instances]] but were overwhelmed. During the [[Japanese occupation of Indonesia]], the Japanese interned Dutch civilians and used Dutch and [[Indo people|Indos]] (Eurasians of Dutch and Indonesian descent) alike as [[forced labour]], both in the Netherlands East Indies and in neighbouring countries.<ref>[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+id0029) Library of Congress, 1992, "Indonesia: World War II and the Struggle For Independence, 1942-50; The Japanese Occupation, 1942-45"]  Access date: 9 February 2007.</ref> This included forcing women to work as "[[comfort women]]" (sex slaves) for Japanese personnel. The Dutch Red Cross reported the deaths in Japanese custody of 14,800 European civilians out of 80,000 interned and 12,500 of the 34,000 POW captured.<ref>M. Z. Aziz. ''Japan’s Colonialism and Indonesia.'' The Hague 1955.</ref> A later [[U.N.]] report stated that 4 million people died in Indonesia as a result of famine and forced labour (known as [[romusha]]) during the Japanese occupation.<ref>Cited in: Dower, John W. ''War Without Mercy: Race and Power in the Pacific War'' (1986; Pantheon; ISBN 0-394-75172-8)</ref> Some military personnel escaped to [[Australia]] and other Allied countries from where they carried on the fight against Japan. The Japanese furthered the cause of independence for the colony, so that after [[VE day]] many young Dutchmen found themselves fighting a colonial war against the new republic of Indonesia.
+[[File:101st with members of dutch resistance.jpg|thumb|[[Dutch resistance]] members with troops of the [[101st Airborne Division (United States)|US 101st Airborne]] in Eindhoven during [[Operation Market Garden]] in September 1944.]]
-Princess Juliana of the Netherlands, the only child of Queen Wilhelmina and heir to the throne, sought refuge in [[Ottawa]], [[Canada]], with her two daughters, Beatrix and Irene, during the war. During Princess Juliana’s stay in Canada, preparations were made for the birth of her third child. To ensure the Dutch citizenship of this royal baby, the Canadian Parliament passed a special law declaring Princess Juliana's suite at the Ottawa Civic Hospital “extraterritorial”. On 19 January 1943, Princess Margriet was born. The day after Princess Margriet's birth, the Dutch flag was flown on the [[Peace Tower]]. This was the only time in history a foreign flag has waved atop Canada’s Parliament Buildings. In 1944-45, the [[First Canadian Army]] was responsible for liberating much of the Netherlands from German occupation. The joyous "Canadian summer" that ensued after the liberation forged deep and long-lasting bonds of friendship between the Netherlands and Canada.<ref>[http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0004672 Liberation of Holland] from ''The Canadian Encyclopedia.''</ref> In 1949, [[Dutch annexation of German territory after World War II|Dutch troops occupied]] an area of {{convert|69|km²|0|abbr=on}} of the [[Allied-occupied Germany|British zone of occupied Germany]] and annexed it. At that time, these areas were inhabited by almost 10,000 people.{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}}
+Local fascists and anti-Bolsheviks joined the [[Waffen-SS]] in the [[4th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Brigade Netherlands]], fighting on the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]] as well as other units. Racial restrictions were relaxed to the extent that even Asians from Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) units were recruited.<ref>{{cite web|author=MOOXE from Close Combat Series |url=http://www.closecombatseries.net/CCS/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=7686&highlight= |title=Indonesian SS Volunteers |publisher=Closecombatseries.net |accessdate=28 October 2011}}</ref> Political collaborators were members of the [[Fascism|fascist]] [[National Socialist Movement in the Netherlands|NSB]], the only legal political party in the occupied Netherlands.
+On 8 December 1941, the Netherlands declared war on Japan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/policy/1941/411208c.html |title=The Kingdom of the Netherlands declares war with Japan |publisher=ibiblio |accessdate=2 October 2009}}</ref> The government-in-exile then lost control of its major colonial stronghold, the [[Netherlands East Indies]] (Indonesia), to [[Empire of Japan|Japanese]] forces in March 1942. "[[American-British-Dutch-Australian Command|American-British-Dutch-Australian]]" (ABDA) forces [[Netherlands East Indies campaign|fought hard in some instances]] but were overwhelmed. During the [[Japanese occupation of Indonesia]], the Japanese interned Dutch civilians and used Dutch and [[Indo people|Indos]] (Eurasians of Dutch and Indonesian descent) alike as [[forced labour]], both in the Netherlands East Indies and in neighbouring countries.<ref>[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+id0029) Library of Congress, 1992, "Indonesia: World War II and the Struggle For Independence, 1942–50; The Japanese Occupation, 1942–45"] Access date: 9 February 2007.</ref>
-===Recent history===
-[[File:Inpoldering Flevoland.gif|thumb|The [[Zuiderzeeworks]] were carried out from 1920 until 1975 and led to the creation of an entire new [[province]]. This province was established in 1986 and was given the name of [[Flevoland]].]]
-After the war, the Dutch economy prospered by leaving behind an era of neutrality and gaining closer ties with neighbouring states. The Netherlands was one of the founding members of the [[Benelux]] ('''Be'''lgium, the '''Ne'''therlands and '''Lux'''embourg) grouping, was among the twelve founding members of the [[NATO|North Atlantic Treaty Organisation]] (NATO), and was among the six founding members of the [[European Coal and Steel Community]], which would later evolve, via the [[European Economic Community|EEC]] ([[Common Market]]), into the [[European Union]].
+[[File:Liberation of Eindhoven 02.jpg|thumb|Crowds during the liberation of [[Eindhoven]], September 1944.]]
-The 1960s and 1970s were a time of great social and cultural change, such as rapid ''[[pillarization|ontzuiling]]'' (literally: depillarisation), a term that describes the decay of the old divisions along class and religious lines. Youths, and students in particular, rejected traditional mores and pushed for change in matters like [[women's rights]], [[Human sexuality|sexuality]], [[disarmament]] and [[environmental issues]]. Today, the Netherlands is regarded as a [[liberalism|liberal]] country, considering [[drug policy of the Netherlands|its drugs policy]] and its legalisation of [[euthanasia]]. [[Same-sex marriage in the Netherlands|Same-sex marriage]] has been permitted since 1 April 2001.
+The Dutch Red Cross reported the deaths in Japanese custody of 14,800 European civilians out of 80,000 interned and 12,500 of the 34,000 POW captured.<ref>Aziz, M. Z. (1955) ''Japan's Colonialism and Indonesia.'' The Hague.</ref> A later UN report stated that 4&nbsp;million people died in Indonesia as a result of famine and forced labour (known as [[romusha]]) during the Japanese occupation.<ref>Cited in: Dower, John W. ''War Without Mercy: Race and Power in the Pacific War'' (1986; Pantheon; ISBN 0-394-75172-8)</ref> Some military personnel escaped to Australia and other Allied countries from where they carried on the fight against Japan. Soon after [[VE day]], the Dutch fought a [[Indonesian National Revolution|colonial war against the new republic of Indonesia]].
+Princess Juliana of the Netherlands, the only child of Queen Wilhelmina and heir to the throne, sought refuge in [[Ottawa]], Canada, with her two daughters, Beatrix and Irene, during the war. During Princess Juliana's stay in Canada, preparations were made for the birth of her third child. To ensure the Dutch citizenship of this royal baby, the Canadian Parliament passed a special law declaring Princess Juliana's suite at the Ottawa Civic Hospital "extraterritorial".
-==Geography==
+<!--  Commented out: [[File:Signing of the Maastricht Treaty.jpg|thumb|upright|The Netherlands became a founding member of the [[European Union]] in 1993. (Signing of the [[Maastricht Treaty]])]] -->
-[[File:La2-demis-netherlands.png|thumb|[[River]]s in the Netherlands]]
+On 19 January 1943, [[Princess Margriet of the Netherlands|Princess Margriet]] was born. The day after Princess Margriet's birth, the Dutch flag was flown on the [[Peace Tower]]. This was the only time in history a foreign flag has waved above [[Parliament Hill|Canada's parliament buildings]]. In 1944–45, the [[First Canadian Army]], which included Canadian, [[I Corps (United Kingdom)|British]] and [[1st Armoured Division (Poland)|Polish]] troops, was responsible for liberating much of the Netherlands<ref>{{cite video
+ | year =1944
+ | title =Video: Allies Set For Offensive
+ | url =http://www.archive.org/details/gov.archives.arc.39141
+ | publisher =[[Universal Newsreel]]
+ | accessdate =21 February 2012
+}}</ref> from German occupation. The joyous "Canadian summer" that ensued after the liberation, forged deep and long-lasting bonds of friendship between the Netherlands and Canada<ref>[http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0004672 Liberation of Holland] from ''The Canadian Encyclopedia.''</ref> (See [[Canada–Netherlands relations]]). In 1949, [[Dutch annexation of German territory after World War II|Dutch troops occupied]] an area of {{convert|69|km²|0|abbr=out}} of the [[Allied-occupied Germany|British zone of occupied Germany]], including [[Elten]] and [[Selfkant]], and annexed it. At that time, these areas were inhabited by almost 10,000 people. As the result of a Dutch-German agreement, signed on 8 April 1960 in The Hague, the territory was returned to Germany on 1 August 1963, except one small hill (about 3&nbsp;km²) called Duivelsberg which was annexed by the Netherlands. {{Citation needed|date=February 2010}}
+===Post-war history (1945–present)===
+[[File:Tratado de Lisboa 13 12 2007 (081).jpg|thumb|right|The Netherlands is a founding member of the [[European Union]].]]
+After the war, the [[Economy of the Netherlands|Dutch economy]] prospered by leaving behind an era of neutrality and gaining closer ties with neighbouring states. Government-encouraged emigration efforts to reduce [[population density]] prompted some 500,000 [[Dutch people]] to leave the country after the war.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/409956/Netherlands |title=Netherlands |author= |work=[[Encyclopædia Britannica Online]] |publisher=[[Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.]] |accessdate=8 September 2012}}</ref> The Netherlands was one of the founding members of the [[Benelux]] ('''Be'''lgium, the '''Ne'''therlands and '''Lux'''embourg) grouping, was among the twelve founding members of the [[NATO|North Atlantic Treaty Organisation]] (NATO), and was among the six founding members of the [[European Coal and Steel Community]], which would evolve into the [[European Economic Community|EEC]] ([[Common Market]]) and later the [[European Union]].
+In 1954, the political structure of the Kingdom of the Netherlands was reformed when [[Juliana of the Netherlands|Queen Juliana]] signed the [[Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands]]. The Dutch colonies of [[Surinam (Dutch colony)|Suriname]] and [[Curaçao and Dependencies]] became integral parts of the Kingdom as the [[constituent countries]] of [[Suriname (Kingdom of the Netherlands)|Suriname]] and the [[Netherlands Antilles]]. At the same time, the European country known until then as the ''Kingdom of the Netherlands'' became the constituent country of the ''Netherlands'' within the now expanded Kingdom, on a basis of equality with the other constituent countries. The reformed [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]] was a result of the desire to review the relations between the Netherlands and its colonies (especially the [[Dutch East Indies]], now [[Indonesia]]). International pressure to carry out [[decolonisation]] was an important motivator for the reforms. Before the reform was completed, Indonesia declared its independence in August 1945, which was recognised in 1949, and thus has never been part of the Kingdom.
+The 1960s and 1970s were a time of great social and cultural change, such as rapid ''[[pillarization|ontzuiling]]'' (literally: depillarisation), a term that describes the decay of the old divisions along political and religious lines. Youths, and students in particular, rejected traditional mores and pushed for change in matters such as [[women's rights]], [[Human sexuality|sexuality]], [[disarmament]] and [[environmental issues]].
+On 10 October 2010, the [[Netherlands Antilles]] was [[Dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles|dissolved]]. Referendums were held on each island of the Netherlands Antilles between June 2000 and April 2005 to determine their future status. As a result the islands of [[Bonaire]], [[Sint Eustatius]] and [[Saba]] (the BES islands) were to obtain closer ties with the Netherlands. This led to the incorporation of these three islands into the country of the Netherlands as ''[[Special municipality (Netherlands)|special municipalities]]'' upon the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles. The special municipalities are collectively known as the [[Caribbean Netherlands]].
+==Geography of the Netherlands==
 {{Main|Geography of the Netherlands}}
-===Rivers===
+===European Netherlands===
+{{Further|European Netherlands}}
-The country is divided into two main parts by three large rivers, the [[Rhine]] (''Rijn'') and its main distributaries, the [[Waal (river)|Waal]] and the [[Meuse River|Meuse]] (''Maas''). These rivers functioned as a natural barrier between earlier [[fief]]doms and hence created traditionally a cultural divide, as is evident in some phonetic traits that are recognizable north and south of these "Large Rivers" (''de Grote Rivieren'').
+[[File:Satellite image of the Netherlands in May 2000.jpg|thumb|A satellite overview of the Netherlands.]]
+The European area of the Netherlands lies between [[latitudes]] [[50th parallel north|50°]] and [[54th parallel north|54° N]], and longitudes [[3rd meridian east|3°]] and [[8th meridian east|8° E]].
-The southwestern part of the Netherlands is a [[river delta]] and two tributaries of the [[Scheldt]] (''Westerschelde and Oosterschelde''). Only one significant branch of the Rhine flows northeastward, the [[IJssel]] river, discharging into the [[IJsselmeer]], the former [[Zuiderzee]] ('southern sea'). This river also forms a linguistic divide: people to the east of this river speak [[Dutch Low Saxon]] dialects (except for the province of [[Friesland]], which has its own language).<ref name="international2000">Welschen, Ad: Course ''Dutch Society and Culture'', International School for Humanities and Social Studies ISHSS, Universiteit van Amsterdam, 2000-2005.</ref>
+The country is divided into two main parts by three large rivers, the [[Rhine]] (''Rijn''), the [[Waal (river)|Waal]], its main distributary branch, and the [[Meuse River|Meuse]] (''Maas''), which originates in France. These rivers functioned as a natural barrier between earlier [[fief]]doms and hence created traditionally a cultural divide, as is evident in some phonetic traits that are recognisable north and south of these "Great Rivers" (''de Grote Rivieren'').
-===Floods===
-{{Main|Flood control in the Netherlands|Floods in the Netherlands|Storm tides of the North Sea}}
-[[File:NederlandvolgensNAP.PNG|thumb|right|The areas of the Netherlands that are above [[sea level]]]]
-Over the centuries, the Dutch coastline has changed considerably as a result of human intervention and natural disasters. Most notable in terms of land loss is the 1134 storm, which created the [[archipelago]] of [[Zeeland]] in the southwest.
+The south-western part of the Netherlands is a [[river delta]] of the [[Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta|Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt]] rivers. Another significant branch of the Rhine, the [[IJssel]] river, discharges into the [[IJsselmeer]], the former [[Zuiderzee]] ('southern sea'). This river also forms a linguistic divide: people to the east of this river speak [[Dutch Low Saxon]] dialects (except for the province of [[Friesland]], which has its own language).<ref name="international2000">Welschen, Ad: Course ''Dutch Society and Culture'', International School for Humanities and Social Studies ISHSS, Universiteit van Amsterdam, 2000–2005.</ref>
-On 14 December 1287, [[St. Lucia's flood]] affected the Netherlands and Germany killing more than 50,000 people in one of the most destructive floods in recorded history.<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1485002/Zuiderzee-floods Zuiderzee floods (Netherlands history)]. Britannica Online Encyclopedia.</ref> The [[St. Elizabeth's flood (1421)|St. Elizabeth flood]] of 1421 and the mismanagement in its aftermath destroyed a newly reclaimed [[polder]], replacing it with the {{convert|72|km2|mi2|0|sing=on}} ''[[Biesbosch]]'' tidal floodplains in the south-centre. The [[North Sea flood of 1953|last major flood in the Netherlands]] took place in early February 1953, when a huge storm caused the collapse of several dikes in the southwest of the Netherlands. More than 1,800 people drowned in the ensuing inundations. The Dutch government subsequently decided on a large-scale program of public works (the "[[Deltawerken|Delta Works]]") to protect the country against future flooding. The project took more than thirty years to complete.
+====Floods====
-The disasters were partially increased in severity through human influence. People had drained relatively high lying swampland to use it as farmland. This drainage caused the fertile [[peat]] to compress and the ground level to drop, whereby they would lower the water level to compensate for the drop in ground level, causing the underlying peat to compress even more. The problem remains unsolvable to this day. Also, up until the 19th century peat was mined, dried, and used for fuel, further adding to the problem.
+{{Main|Flood control in the Netherlands|Floods in the Netherlands|North Sea flood of 1953|Storm tides of the North Sea}}
+Over the centuries, the Dutch coastline has changed considerably as a result of human intervention and natural disasters. Most notable in terms of land loss was the storm of 1134, which created the [[archipelago]] of [[Zeeland]] in the south-west.
-To guard against floods, a series of defences against the water were contrived. In the first millennium AD, villages and farmhouses were built on man-made hills called ''terps''. Later, these terps were connected by dikes. In the 12th century, local government agencies called ''"[[Water board (The Netherlands)|waterschappen]]"'' (English "water bodies") or ''"[[Water board (The Netherlands)|hoogheemraadschappen]]"'' ("high home councils") started to appear, whose job it was to maintain the water level and to protect a region from floods. (These agencies exist to this day, performing the same function.) As the ground level dropped, the dikes by necessity grew and merged into an integrated system. By the 13th century, [[windmill]]s had come into use in order to pump water out of areas below sea level. The windmills were later used to drain lakes, creating the famous [[polders]].
+On 14 December 1287, [[St. Lucia's flood]] affected the Netherlands and Germany killing more than 50,000 people in one of the most destructive floods in recorded history.<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1485002/Zuiderzee-floods Zuiderzee floods (Netherlands history)]. Britannica Online Encyclopedia.</ref> The [[St. Elizabeth's flood (1421)|St. Elizabeth flood]] of 1421 and the mismanagement in its aftermath destroyed a newly reclaimed [[polder]], replacing it with the {{convert|72|km2|mi2|0|sing=on}} ''[[Biesbosch]]'' tidal floodplains in the south-centre. The huge [[North Sea flood of 1953|North Sea flood of early February 1953]] caused the collapse of several dikes in the south-west of the Netherlands; more than 1,800 people drowned in the flood. The Dutch government subsequently instituted a large-scale programme, the "[[Deltawerken|Delta Works]]", to protect the country against future flooding, which was completed over a period of more than thirty years.
-In 1932, the ''[[Afsluitdijk]]'' (English "Closure Dike") was completed, blocking the former ''[[Zuiderzee]]'' (Southern Sea) from the North Sea and thus creating the [[IJsselmeer]] ([[IJssel]] Lake). It became part of the larger [[Zuiderzee Works]] in which four polders totalling {{convert|2500|km2|mi2|0}} were reclaimed from the sea.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sdu.nl/staatscourant/gemeentes/gem533nh.htm|publisher=www.sdu.nl|title=Kerngegevens gemeente Wieringermeer|accessdate=2008-01-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sdu.nl/staatscourant/PROVINCIES/flevoland.htm|publisher=www.sdu.nl|title=Kerngegevens procincie Flevoland|accessdate=2008-01-21}}</ref>
-{{clr}}
+The disasters were somewhat increased in severity through human influence. People had drained relatively high-lying [[swamp]]land to use it as farmland. This drainage caused the fertile [[peat]] to compress and the ground level to drop, whereby they would lower the water level to compensate for the drop in ground level, causing the underlying peat to compress even more. Because of the flooding, farming was difficult, which encouraged foreign trade, the result of which was that the Dutch were involved in world affairs since the early 14th/15th century.<ref>Duplessis, Robert S. (1997) ''Transitions to Capitalism in Early Modern Europe'', Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0521397731</ref> The flooding problem remains unsolvable. Also, until the 19th century peat was mined, dried, and used for fuel, further exacerbating the problem.
-===Delta works===
-{{Main|Delta Works}}
-[[File:Deltawerken na.png|thumb|The [[Delta Works]] are located in the provinces of [[South Holland]] and [[Zeeland]].]]
-After the [[North Sea Flood of 1953|1953 disaster]], the [[Delta Works|Delta project]], a vast construction effort designed to end the threat from the sea once and for all, was launched in 1958 and largely completed in 1997 with the completion of the [[Maeslantkering]]. The official goal of the Delta project was to reduce the risk of flooding in South Holland and Zeeland to once per 10,000 years. (For the rest of the country, the protection level is once per 4,000 years.) This was achieved by raising {{convert|3000|km|mi|0|sp=us}} of outer sea-dykes and {{convert|10000|km|mi|0|sp=us}} of inner, canal, and river dikes to "delta" height, and by closing off the sea [[estuary|estuaries]] of the Zeeland province. New risk assessments occasionally show problems requiring additional Delta project dyke reinforcements. The Delta project is one of the largest construction efforts in human history and is considered by the [[American Society of Civil Engineers]] as one of the [[American Society of Civil Engineers#World Wonders|seven wonders of the modern world]].
+[[File:The Netherlands compared to sealevel.png||thumb|Map of the largest part of the Netherlands without flood control]]
-Additionally, the Netherlands is one of the countries that may suffer most from [[climate change|climatic change]]. Not only is the rising sea a problem, but also erratic weather patterns may cause the rivers to overflow.<ref>{{cite news | last = Nickerson | first = Colin | title = Netherlands relinquishes some of itself to the waters | work = | pages = | publisher = Boston Globe | date=  2005-12-05 | url = http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2005/12/05/holland_goes_beyond_holding_back_the_tide/ | accessdate = 2007-10-10 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last = Olsthoorn | first = A.A. | coauthors = Richard S.J. Tol | title = Floods, flood management and climate change in The Netherlands | journal = Institute for Environmental Studies | volume = | issue = | pages = | publisher = Institute for Environmental Studies, Vrije Universiteit | month=  February | year=  2001 | url = http://de.scientificcommons.org/16816958 | doi = | id = | accessdate = 2007-10-10 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last = Tol | first = Richard S. J. | coauthors = Nicolien van der Grijp, Alexander A. Olsthoorn, Peter E. van der Werff | title = Adapting to Climate: A Case Study on Riverine Flood Risks in the Netherlands | journal = Risk Analysis | volume = 23 | issue = 3 | pages = 575–583 | publisher =Blackwell-Synergy | year=  2003 | url = http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1539-6924.00338 | doi = 10.1111/1539-6924.00338 | id = | accessdate = 2007-10-10 }}</ref>
+To guard against floods, a series of defences against the water were contrived. In the first millennium [[AD]], villages and farmhouses were built on man-made hills called ''terps''. Later, these terps were connected by dikes. In the 12th century, local government agencies called ''"[[Water board (Netherlands)|waterschappen]]"'' ("water boards") or ''"[[Water board (Netherlands)|hoogheemraadschappen]]"'' ("high home councils") started to appear, whose job it was to maintain the water level and to protect a region from floods; these agencies continue to exist. As the ground level dropped, the dikes by necessity grew and merged into an integrated system. By the 13th century [[windmill]]s had come into use to pump water out of areas below sea level. The windmills were later used to drain lakes, creating the famous [[polders]]. {{Citation needed|date=February 2012}}
+In 1932 the ''[[Afsluitdijk]]'' ("Closure Dike") was completed, blocking the former ''[[Zuiderzee]]'' (Southern Sea) from the North Sea and thus creating the [[IJsselmeer]] ([[IJssel]] Lake). It became part of the larger [[Zuiderzee Works]] in which four polders totalling {{convert|2500|km2|mi2|0}} were reclaimed from the sea.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sdu.nl/staatscourant/gemeentes/gem533nh.htm|publisher=sdu.nl|title=Kerngegevens gemeente Wieringermeer|accessdate=21 January 2008 |archiveurl = //web.archive.org/web/20080106163025/http://www.sdu.nl/staatscourant/gemeentes/gem533nh.htm |archivedate = 6 January 2008}}{{dead link|date=April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sdu.nl/staatscourant/PROVINCIES/flevoland.htm|publisher=sdu.nl|title=Kerngegevens procincie Flevoland|accessdate=21 January 2008 |archiveurl = //web.archive.org/web/20071226115958/http://www.sdu.nl/staatscourant/PROVINCIES/flevoland.htm |archivedate = 26 December 2007}}{{dead link|date=April 2014}}</ref>
-===Climate===
-The predominant wind direction in the Netherlands is southwest, which causes a moderate [[Oceanic climate|maritime climate]], with cool summers and mild winters. The following tables are based on mean measurements by the [[KNMI (institute)|KNMI]] weather station in [[De Bilt]] between 1971 and 2000:
+The Netherlands is one of the countries that may suffer most from [[climate change]]. Not only is the rising sea a problem, but erratic weather patterns may cause the rivers to overflow.<ref>{{Cite news|last = Nickerson|first = Colin|title = Netherlands relinquishes some of itself to the waters|work=Boston Globe|date= 5 December 2005|url = http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2005/12/05/holland_goes_beyond_holding_back_the_tide/|accessdate =10 October 2007}}{{dead link|date=April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last = Olsthoorn|first = A.A.|coauthors = Richard S.J. Tol|title = Floods, flood management and climate change in The Netherlands|journal=Institute for Environmental Studies|publisher=Institute for Environmental Studies, Vrije Universiteit|date=February 2001|url = http://de.scientificcommons.org/16816958|accessdate =10 October 2007}}{{dead link|date=April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last = Tol|first = Richard S. J.|coauthors = Nicolien van der Grijp, Alexander A. Olsthoorn, Peter E. van der Werff|title = Adapting to Climate: A Case Study on Riverine Flood Risks in the Netherlands|journal=Risk Analysis|volume = 23|issue = 3|pages = 575–583|year= 2003|doi = 10.1111/1539-6924.00338|pmid = 12836850}}</ref>
-{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:97%; text-align:right; width:80%;"
-|-
-! style="width:150px;"| ''Month''
-! Jan !! Feb !! Mar !! Apr !! May !! Jun !! Jul !! Aug !! Sep !! Oct !! Nov !! Dec
-! ''Year''
-|-
-| ''Avg. maximum temp. (°C)''
-| 5.2 || 6.1 || 9.6 || 12.9 || 17.6 || 19.8 || 22.1 || 22.3 || 18.7 || 14.2 || 9.1 || 6.4 || 13.7
-|-
-|''Avg. minimum temp. (°C)''
-| 0.0 || -0.1 || 2.0 || 3.5 || 7.5 || 10.2 || 12.5 || 12.0 || 9.6 || 6.5 || 3.2 || 1.3 || 5.7
-|-
-|''Avg. temp. (°C)''
-| 2.8 || 3.0 || 5.8 || 8.3 || 12.7 || 15.2 || 17.4 || 17.2 || 14.2 || 10.3 || 6.2 || 4.0 || 9.8
-|}
-{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:97%; text-align:right; width:80%;"
-|-
-! style="width:150px;"| ''Month''
-! Jan !! Feb !! Mar !! Apr !! May !! Jun !! Jul !! Aug !! Sep !! Oct !! Nov !! Dec
-! ''Year''
-|-
-| ''Avg. precipitation (mm)''
-| 67 || 48 || 65 || 45 || 62 || 72 || 70 || 58 || 72 || 77 || 81 || 77 || 793
-|-
-|''Avg. hours sunshine''
-| 52 || 79 || 114 || 158 || 204 || 187 || 196 || 192 || 133 || 106 || 60 || 44 || 1524
-|}
+[[File:Netherlands, Zoetermeer, Zoetermeerse Meerpolder (1).JPG|thumb|A polder at 5.53 metres below sea level.]]
-===Nature===
-{{See|List of national parks of the Netherlands|List of extinct animals of the Netherlands}}
-[[File:Vuurtorenschiermonnikoog.jpg|thumb|National Park [[Schiermonnikoog]].]]
-The Netherlands has 20 national parks and hundreds of other nature reserves. Most are owned by [[Staatsbosbeheer]] and [[Natuurmonumenten]] and include [[lakes]], [[heathland]], [[Woodland|woods]], [[dunes]] and other habitats.
+=====Delta works=====
-[[Phytogeography|Phytogeographically]], the Netherlands is shared between the Atlantic European and Central European provinces of the [[Circumboreal Region]] within the [[Boreal Kingdom]]. According to the [[World Wide Fund for Nature]], the territory of the Netherlands belongs to the [[ecoregion]] of Atlantic mixed forests. In 1871 the last old original natural woods (Beekbergerwoud) were cut down, and most woods today are planted monocultures of trees like [[Scots Pine]] and trees that are not native to the Netherlands.{{Citation needed|date=January 2009}} These woods were planted on [[heath (habitat)#Anthropogenic heaths|anthropogenic heaths]] and sand-drifts (overgrazed heaths) ([[Veluwe]]).
+{{Main|Delta Works}}
+[[File:Deltawerken na.png|thumb|The [[Delta Works]] are located in the provinces of [[South Holland]] and [[Zeeland]].]]
+After the [[North Sea Flood of 1953|1953 disaster]], the [[Delta Works]] were constructed, a comprehensive set of civil works throughout the Dutch coast. The project started in 1958 and was largely completed in 1997 with the completion of the [[Maeslantkering]]. New projects have been periodically started since to renovate and renew the Delta Works. A main goal of the Delta project was to reduce the risk of flooding in South Holland and Zeeland to once per 10,000 years (compared to 1 per 4000 years for the rest of the country). This was achieved by raising {{convert|3000|km|mi|0}} of outer sea-dykes and {{convert|10000|km|mi|0}} of inner, canal, and river dikes, and by closing off the sea [[estuary|estuaries]] of the Zeeland province. New risk assessments occasionally show problems requiring additional Delta project dyke reinforcements. The Delta project is considered by the [[American Society of Civil Engineers]] as one of the [[American Society of Civil Engineers#World wonders|seven wonders of the modern world]].<ref>[http://www.asce.org/Content.aspx?id=2147487305 Seven Wonders]. Asce.org (19 July 2010). Retrieved on 21 August 2012.</ref>
+It is anticipated that [[global warming]] in the 21st century will result in a rise in [[sea level]] which, despite popular belief, will possibly not overwhelm the [[flood control in the Netherlands|measures the Netherlands has taken to control floods]].{{citation needed|date=December 2013}} Even more specifically, the Netherlands is the only country in the world actively preparing for a sea level rise. A politically neutral [http://www.deltacommissie.com/ Delta Commission] has formulated an action plan to cope with a sea level rise of {{convert|1.10|m|ft}} and a simultaneous land height decline of {{convert|10|cm|in}}. The plan foresees in the reinforcement of the existing coastal defenses like [[Levee|dikes]] and [[dune]]s with {{convert|1.30|m|ft}} of additional flood protection. Climate change will not only threaten the Netherlands from the sea side, but could also alter rain fall patterns and river run-off. To protect the country from river flooding, another program is already being executed. The [[Room for the River (Netherlands)|Room for the River plan]] grants more flow space to rivers, protects the major populated areas and allows for periodic flooding of indefensible lands. The few residents that lived in these so-called "overflow areas" have been moved to higher ground, with some of that ground having been raised above anticipated flood levels.<ref name=NYT021313>{{cite news|title=Going With the Flow|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/17/arts/design/flood-control-in-the-netherlands-now-allows-sea-water-in.html|accessdate=19 February 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=13 February 2013|author=Kimmelman, Michael}}</ref>
-==Economy==
-{{Main|Economy of the Netherlands|List of Dutch companies}}
-[[File:AEX performance.jpg|thumb|left|[[Amsterdam Stock Exchange]] performance]]
-The Netherlands has a prosperous and [[open economy]] in which the government has reduced its role since the 1980s. Industrial activity is predominantly in food-processing ([[Unilever]], [[Heineken International|Heineken]]), financial services ([[ING Group|ING]]), chemicals ([[DSM (company)|DSM]]), [[petroleum]] refining ([[Royal Dutch Shell|Shell]]), and electrical machinery ([[Philips]], [[ASML Holding|ASML]]).
+Protecting the country against floods is one element of climate change. The other is that the pressure of the sea water on ground water will increase.{{citation needed|date=December 2013}} As a result, the fresh water table will be pushed more inland, resulting in more brackish or saline groundwater in the coastal provinces. Due to this change, some drinking water areas will be forced to apply desalination despite the apparent abundance of water. It will also affect agriculture. The [[greenhouse]]s can continue their production by becoming more water efficient (they are already disconnected from the groundwater, thereby not becoming more saline), though they will need to become more energy and water efficient. The push of more brackish water into the mainland will also cause changes in flora and fauna.{{citation needed|date=December 2013}}
-The Netherlands has the [[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|16th largest economy in the world]], and [[List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|ranks 10th in GDP (nominal) per capita]]. Between 1998 and 2000 annual economic growth ([[GDP]]) averaged nearly 4%, well above the European average. Growth slowed considerably from 2001 to 2005 with the global economic slowdown, but accelerated to 4.1% in the third quarter of 2007. [[Inflation]] is 1.3%, and [[unemployment]] is at 4.0% of the [[labour force]]. By [[Eurostat]] standards however, unemployment in the Netherlands is at only 3.3% (June 2009) - the lowest rate of all [[European Union]] member states.<ref>{{cite web
-|url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/PGP_PRD_CAT_PREREL/PGE_CAT_PREREL_YEAR_2008/PGE_CAT_PREREL_YEAR_2008_MONTH_01/3-07012008-EN-BP.PDF
-|title=Eurostat unemployment rates november 2007|accessdate=2008-01-07|format=PDF}}</ref> The Netherlands also has a relatively low [[Gini coefficient|GINI coefficient]] of 0.326. Despite ranking only 10th in GDP per capita, UNICEF ranked the Netherlands 1st in child well-being.<ref>{{cite web
-|url=http://www.unicef.org/media/files/ChildPovertyReport.pdf
-|title=Child Poverty Report Study by UNICEF 2007|format=PDF}}</ref> On the [[Index of Economic Freedom]] Netherlands is the 13th most [[free market]] [[capitalist]] economy out of 157 surveyed countries.
+====Climate====
-[[File:Euro banknotes.png|thumb|The Netherlands introduced the [[euro]] in 1999. It is one of the 16 [[sovereign state]]s that make up the [[Eurozone]].]]
+The predominant wind direction in the Netherlands is south-west, which causes a moderate [[Oceanic climate|maritime climate]], with cool summers and mild winters. This is especially the case in places within direct proximity of the Dutch coastline, which sometimes are over {{convert|10|C-change|0}} warmer (in winter) or cooler (in summer) than places in the (south) east of the country.
+The following tables are based on mean measurements by the [[KNMI (institute)|KNMI]] weather station in [[De Bilt]] between 1981 and 2010:
-[[Amsterdam]] is the financial and business capital of the Netherlands.<ref name="ez">{{cite web
-|url=http://www.ez.amsterdam.nl/page.php?menu=24&page=6
-|title=Amsterdam - Economische Zaken
-|language=Dutch
-|accessdate=2008-05-22
-}}</ref> The [[Amsterdam Stock Exchange]] (AEX), part of [[Euronext]], is the world's oldest stock exchange and is one of Europe's largest bourses. It is situated near [[Dam Square]] in the city's centre. As a founding member of the [[euro]], the Netherlands replaced (for accounting purposes) its former [[currency]], the "Gulden" ([[Dutch guilder|guilder]]), on 1 January 1999, along with 15 other adopters of the Euro. Actual [[euro coins]] and [[euro banknotes|banknotes]] followed on 1 January 2002. One euro was equivalent to 2.20371 Dutch guilders.
+{{Weather box
-The Netherlands' location gives it prime access to markets in the UK and Germany, with the port of Rotterdam being the largest port in Europe. Other important parts of the economy are [[international trade]] (Dutch colonialism started with cooperative private enterprises such as the [[Dutch East India Company|VOC]]), [[banking]] and [[transport]]. The Netherlands successfully addressed the issue of public finances and stagnating job growth long before its European partners. Amsterdam is the 5th busiest tourist destination in Europe with more than 4.2 million international visitors.<ref name="42milvisitors">[http://www.ez.amsterdam.nl/page.php?page=9&menu=27 Amsterdam - Economische Zaken]{{dead link|date=April 2010}}</ref>
+|location = De Bilt (1981–2010 averages), all KNMI locations (1901–2011 extremes), snowy days: (1971–2000 averages).
+|metric first = Yes
+|single line = Yes
+|Jan record high C = 17.2
+|Feb record high C = 20.4
+|Mar record high C = 25.6
+|Apr record high C = 32.2
+|May record high C = 35.6
+|Jun record high C = 38.4
+|Jul record high C = 37.1
+|Aug record high C = 38.6
+|Sep record high C = 35.2
+|Oct record high C = 30.1
+|Nov record high C = 21.1
+|Dec record high C = 17.8
+|year record high C = 38.6
+|Jan high C = 5.6
+|Feb high C = 6.4
+|Mar high C = 10.0
+|Apr high C = 14.0
+|May high C = 18.0
+|Jun high C = 20.4
+|Jul high C = 22.8
+|Aug high C = 22.6
+|Sep high C = 19.1
+|Oct high C = 14.6
+|Nov high C = 9.6
+|Dec high C = 6.1
+|year high C = 14.1
+|Jan mean C = 3.1
+|Feb mean C = 3.3
+|Mar mean C = 6.2
+|Apr mean C = 9.2
+|May mean C = 13.1
+|Jun mean C = 15.6
+|Jul mean C = 17.9
+|Aug mean C = 17.5
+|Sep mean C = 14.5
+|Oct mean C = 10.7
+|Nov mean C = 6.7
+|Dec mean C = 3.7
+|year mean C = 10.1
+|Jan low C = 0.3
+|Feb low C = 0.2
+|Mar low C = 2.3
+|Apr low C = 4.1
+|May low C = 7.8
+|Jun low C = 10.5
+|Jul low C = 12.8
+|Aug low C = 12.3
+|Sep low C = 9.9
+|Oct low C = 6.9
+|Nov low C = 3.6
+|Dec low C = 1.0
+|year low C = 6.0
+|Jan record low C = -27.4
+|Feb record low C = -26.8
+|Mar record low C = -20.7
+|Apr record low C = -9.4
+|May record low C = -5.4
+|Jun record low C = -1.2
+|Jul record low C = 0.7
+|Aug record low C = 1.3
+|Sep record low C = -3.7
+|Oct record low C = -8.5
+|Nov record low C = -14.4
+|Dec record low C = -22.3
+|year record low C = -27.4
+|Jan precipitation mm = 69.6
+|Feb precipitation mm = 55.8
+|Mar precipitation mm = 66.8
+|Apr precipitation mm = 42.3
+|May precipitation mm = 61.9
+|Jun precipitation mm = 65.6
+|Jul precipitation mm = 81.1
+|Aug precipitation mm = 72.9
+|Sep precipitation mm = 78.1
+|Oct precipitation mm = 82.8
+|Nov precipitation mm = 79.8
+|Dec precipitation mm = 75.8
+|year precipitation mm = 832.5
+|precipitation colour = green
+|Jan humidity= 87
+|Feb humidity= 84
+|Mar humidity= 81
+|Apr humidity= 75
+|May humidity= 75
+|Jun humidity= 76
+|Jul humidity= 77
+|Aug humidity= 79
+|Sep humidity= 84
+|Oct humidity= 86
+|Nov humidity= 89
+|Dec humidity= 89
+|year humidity= 82
+|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
+|Jan precipitation days = 17
+|Feb precipitation days = 14
+|Mar precipitation days = 17
+|Apr precipitation days = 13
+|May precipitation days = 14
+|Jun precipitation days = 14
+|Jul precipitation days = 14
+|Aug precipitation days = 14
+|Sep precipitation days = 15
+|Oct precipitation days = 16
+|Nov precipitation days = 18
+|Dec precipitation days = 17
+|year precipitation days = 184
+|unit snow days = 0 cm
+|Jan snow days = 6
+|Feb snow days = 6
+|Mar snow days = 4
+|Apr snow days = 2
+|May snow days = 0
+|Jun snow days = –
+|Jul snow days = –
+|Aug snow days = –
+|Sep snow days = –
+|Oct snow days = 0
+|Nov snow days = 2
+|Dec snow days = 5
+|year snow days = 25
+|Jan sun = 62.3
+|Feb sun = 85.7
+|Mar sun = 121.6
+|Apr sun = 173.6
+|May sun = 207.2
+|Jun sun = 193.9
+|Jul sun = 206.0
+|Aug sun = 187.7
+|Sep sun = 138.3
+|Oct sun = 112.9
+|Nov sun = 63.0
+|Dec sun = 49.3
+|year sun = 1601.5
+|date=December 2011
+|source 1 = Knmi.nl<ref name="knmi">{{cite web
+| url = http://www.knmi.nl/|title = Knmi.nl| accessdate =25 December 2011
+|language = Dutch}}</ref>
+}}
+Ice days (maximum temperature below {{convert|0|C|F|0}}) usually occur from December until February, with the occasional rare ice day prior to or after that period. Freezing days (minimum temperature below {{convert|0|C|F|0}}) occur much more often, usually ranging from mid-November to late March, but not rarely measured as early as mid October and as late as mid May. If one chooses the height of measurement to be {{convert|10|cm|0|abbr=on}} above ground instead of {{convert|150|cm|0|abbr=on}}, one may even find such temperatures in the middle of the summer. On average, snow can occur from November to April, but sometimes occurs in May or October too.
-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 U.S. 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.The Netherlands moved up from the 11th position in the [[Global Competitiveness Index]] <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollandtrade.com/holland-information/economic-development/?gclid=CIfivLDGvJ4CFUgA4wodRk1F1g |title=Economic development |publisher=www.hollandtrade.com |date=2008-06-18 |accessdate=2010-01-27}}</ref> to the 9th position in 2007
+[[File:Nijlânnermolen Workum.jpg|thumb|[[Friesland]]]]
+Warm days (maximum temperature above {{convert|20|C|F|0}}) in De Bilt are usually found in April to October, but in some parts of the country these warm days can also occur in March, or even sometimes in November or February (usually not in De Bilt, however). Summer days (maximum temperature above {{convert|25|C|F|0}}) are usually measured in De Bilt from May until September, tropical days (maximum temperature above {{convert|30|C|F|0}}) are rare and usually occur only in June to August.
-===Infrastructure, agriculture and natural resources===
-[[File:Friesian-Holstein.jpg|thumb|left|A [[Holstein (cattle)|Frisian Holstein]] cow in the Netherlands: [[Intensive farming|Intensive]] [[dairy farming]] is an important part of agriculture.]]
-{{See also|Transport in the Netherlands|Rail transport in the Netherlands}}
-[[Rotterdam]] has the largest [[port]] in [[Europe]], with the rivers Meuse and Rhine providing excellent access to the [[hinterland]] upstream reaching to [[Basel, Switzerland]], and into France. In 2006, Rotterdam was the world's seventh largest [[container port]] in terms of [[Twenty-foot equivalent units]] (TEU) handled.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.portofrotterdam.com/en/home/ |title=Port of Rotterdam |publisher=Port of Rotterdam |date=2007-02-14 |accessdate=2010-04-29}}</ref> The port's main activities are [[petrochemical]] industries and general [[cargo]] handling and [[transshipment]]. The harbour functions as an important transit point for [[bulk material handling|bulk materials]] and between the European continent and overseas. From Rotterdam goods are transported by ship, river barge, train or road. In 2007, the ''[[Betuweroute]]'', a new fast freight [[railway]] from Rotterdam to [[Germany]], was completed.
+Precipitation throughout the year is distributed relatively equally each month. Summer and autumn months tend to gather a little more precipitation than the other months, mainly because of the intensity of the rainfall rather than the frequency of rain days (this is especially the case in summer, when lightning is also much more frequent).
-A highly mechanised [[agriculture|agricultural]] sector employs 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]], with exports earning $55 billion annually. 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 [[Capsicum|chilis]] and cucumbers.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200501/146118432.pdf#search=%22netherlands%20main%20agriculture%20export%20flowers%22 | title = Netherlands: Agricultural situation | accessdate = 2007-06-20 | publisher = USDA Foreign Agriculture Service}}</ref>
+The number of sunshine hours is affected by the fact that because of the geographical latitude, the length of the days varies between barely eight hours in December and nearly 17 hours in June.
-One of the largest [[natural gas field]]s in the world is situated near [[Slochteren]]. Exploitation of this field resulted in a total revenue of €159 billion since the mid 1970s. With just over half of the reserves used up and an expected continued rise in oil prices, the revenues over the next few decades are expected to be at least that much.<ref>{{cite episode | title = Aardgas als smeerolie | url = http://geschiedenis.vpro.nl/programmas/2899536/afleveringen/25899792/ | series =  Andere Tijden | network = [[VPRO]] | airdate = 2006-01-15 | transcript = Transscript | transcripturl= http://geschiedenis.vpro.nl/attachment.db/27053006/Website_Aardgas11.doc}}</ref>
+====Environment====
-==Government and administration==
+{{Further|List of national parks of the Netherlands|List of extinct animals of the Netherlands}}
-===Government===
+The Netherlands has 20 national parks and hundreds of other nature reserves, most of which are owned by [[Staatsbosbeheer]] and [[Natuurmonumenten]] and include [[lake]]s, [[heathland]], [[Woodland|woods]], [[dunes]] and other habitats. [[Phytogeography|Phytogeographically]], the Netherlands is shared between the Atlantic European and Central European provinces of the [[Circumboreal Region]] within the [[Boreal Kingdom]]. According to the [[World Wide Fund for Nature]], the territory of the Netherlands belongs to the [[ecoregion]] of Atlantic mixed forests. In 1871, the last old original natural woods were cut down, and most woods today are planted monocultures of trees like [[Scots Pine]] and trees that are not native to the Netherlands.{{Citation needed|date=January 2009}} These woods were planted on [[heath (habitat)#Anthropogenic heaths|anthropogenic heaths]] and sand-drifts (overgrazed heaths) ([[Veluwe]]).
-{{Main|Politics of the Netherlands}}
-[[File:Thorbecke.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Johan Rudolf Thorbecke|Thorbecke]] reformed the Dutch government to a parliamentary monarchy.]]
+[[File:Netherlands Grote Peel lake.jpg|thumb|[[De Groote Peel National Park]] in [[North Brabant]].]]
-The Netherlands has been a [[constitutional monarchy]] since 1815 and a [[parliamentary system|parliamentary democracy]] since 1848. The Netherlands is described as a [[consociational state]]. Dutch [[politics]] and governance are characterised by an effort to achieve broad consensus on important issues, within both the political community and society as a whole. In 2008, [[The Economist]] ranked The Netherlands as the fourth [[Democracy Index|most democratic country in the world]].
+===Caribbean islands===
-The [[Dutch monarchy|monarch]] is the [[head of state]], at present [[Queen Beatrix]]. Constitutionally, the position is equipped with limited powers. The monarch can exert some influence during the [[Cabinet of the Netherlands#Formation|formation of a new cabinet]], where they serve as neutral arbiter between the political parties. Additionally, the king (the title queen has no constitutional significance) has the right to be informed and consulted. Depending on the personality and qualities of the king and the ministers, the king might have ''influence'' beyond the ''power'' granted by the constitution.
+{{Main|Bonaire#Geography|l1=Bonaire|Saba#Geography and ecology|l2=Saba|Sint Eustatius#Geography|l3=Sint Eustatius}}
+[[File:Bonaire 1.jpg|thumb|right|View of the coast of [[Bonaire]]]]
+The [[Caribbean Netherlands]] form a part of the [[Lesser Antilles]]. Within this island group,
+* '''Bonaire''' is part of the [[ABC islands (Lesser Antilles)|ABC islands]] within the [[Leeward Antilles]] island chain off the [[Venezuela]]n coast. The Leeward Antilles have a mixed volcanic and coral origin.
+* '''Saba''' and '''Sint Eustatius''' are part of the [[SSS islands]]. They are located east of [[Puerto Rico]] and the [[Virgin Islands]]. Although in the English language they are considered part of the [[Leeward Islands]], French, Spanish, [[Dutch language|Dutch]] and the English spoken locally consider them part of the [[Windward Islands]]. The Windward Islands are all of volcanic origin and hilly, leaving little ground suitable for [[agriculture]]. The highest point is [[Mount Scenery]], {{convert|887|m|ft|0}}, on [[Saba]] (also the highest point in all the [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]]).
+The islands of the Caribbean Netherlands enjoy a [[tropical]] [[climate]] with warm weather all year round. The Leeward Islands are warmer and drier than the Windward islands. In summer, the Windward Islands can be subject to [[hurricanes]].
-In practice, the [[executive (government)|executive power]] is formed by the [[ministerraad]], the deliberative council of the [[cabinet of the Netherlands|Dutch cabinet]]. The cabinet consists usually of thirteen to sixteen ministers and a varying number of [[State Secretary (Netherlands)|state secretaries]]. One to three ministers are [[minister without portfolio|ministers without portfolio]]. The [[head of government]] is the [[Prime Minister of the Netherlands]], who often is the leader of the largest party of the coalition. In fact, this has been continuously the case since 1973. The Prime Minister is a ''[[primus inter pares]]'', meaning he has no explicit powers beyond those of the other ministers. Currently, the Prime Minister is [[Jan Peter Balkenende]].
+==Government==
-[[File:Den Haag Binnenhof.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Binnenhof]] is the centre of Dutch politics.]]
+{{Main|Government of the Netherlands}}
-The cabinet is [[ministerial responsibility|responsible]] to the [[bicameralism|bicameral]] [[parliament]], the [[States-General of the Netherlands|States-General]] which also has [[legislative|legislative powers]]. The 150 members of the [[House of Representatives of the Netherlands|House of Representatives]], the [[Lower House]], are elected in [[direct election]]s, which are held every four years or after the fall of the cabinet (by example: when one of the chambers carries a motion of no-confidence, the cabinet offers its resignation to the monarch). The [[States-Provincial]] are directly elected every four years as well. The members of the provincial assemblies elect the 75 members of the [[Senate of the Netherlands|Senate]], the [[upper house]], which has less legislative powers, as it can merely reject laws, not propose or amend them.
+The Netherlands has been a [[constitutional monarchy]] since 1815 and a [[parliamentary system|parliamentary democracy]] since 1848. The Netherlands is described as a [[consociational state]]. Dutch politics and governance are characterised by an effort to achieve broad consensus on important issues, within both the political community and society as a whole. In 2010, ''[[The Economist]]'' ranked the Netherlands as the 10th [[Democracy Index|most democratic country in the world]].
+The [[Dutch monarchy|monarch]] is the [[head of state]], at present [[King Willem-Alexander]].  Constitutionally, the position is equipped with limited powers. The monarch can exert some influence during the [[Cabinet of the Netherlands#Formation|formation of a new cabinet]], where they serve as neutral arbiter between the political parties. Additionally, the king (the title queen has no constitutional significance) has the right to be briefed and consulted. Depending on the personalities and relationships of the king and the ministers, the king might have ''influence'' beyond the ''power'' granted by the constitution.
-Both [[trade union]]s and [[employers organisation]]s are consulted beforehand in policymaking in the financial, economic and social areas. They meet regularly with government in the [[Social-Economic Council]]. This body advises government and its advice cannot be put aside easily.
+[[File:Willem-Alexander (Royal Wedding in Stockholm, 2010) cropped.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands|Willem-Alexander]] became King of the Netherlands on 30 April 2013.]]
+The [[executive (government)|executive power]] is formed by the [[Council of Ministers of the Netherlands|council of Ministers]], the deliberative council of the [[Cabinet of the Netherlands|Dutch cabinet]]. The cabinet consists usually of 13 to 16 ministers and a varying number of [[State Secretary (Netherlands)|state secretaries]]. One to three ministers are [[minister without portfolio|ministers without portfolio]]. The [[head of government]] is the [[Prime Minister of the Netherlands]], who often is the leader of the largest party of the coalition. The Prime Minister is a ''[[primus inter pares]]'', with no explicit powers beyond those of the other ministers. [[Mark Rutte]] has been Prime Minister since October 2010; the Prime Minister had been the leader of the largest party continuously since 1973.
-While historically the [[foreign relations of the Netherlands|Dutch foreign policy]] was characterised by [[neutral state|neutrality]], since the [[World War II|Second World War]] the Netherlands became a member of a large number of international organisations, most prominently the [[United Nations|UN]], [[NATO]] and the [[European Union|EU]]. The Dutch economy is very open and relies on [[international trade]].
+[[File:Den Haag Binnenhof.jpg|thumb|The [[Binnenhof]], where the lower and upper houses of the States General meet.]]
-The Netherlands has a long tradition of [[Toleration|social tolerance]]. In the 18th century, while the [[Dutch Reformed Church]] was the [[state religion]], [[Roman Catholicism in the Netherlands|Catholicism]] and [[History of the Jews in the Netherlands|Judaism]] were tolerated. In the late 19th century this Dutch tradition of religious tolerance transformed into a system of [[pillarisation]], in which religious groups coexisted separately and only interacted at the level of government. This tradition of tolerance is linked to Dutch [[criminal justice system of the Netherlands|criminal justice]] policies on [[Drug policy of the Netherlands|recreational drugs]], [[Prostitution in the Netherlands|prostitution]], [[LGBT rights in the Netherlands|LGBT rights]], [[euthanasia]], and [[abortion in the Netherlands|abortion]] which are among the most liberal in the world.
+The cabinet is [[ministerial responsibility|responsible]] to the [[bicameralism|bicameral]] parliament, the [[States General of the Netherlands|States General]], which also has [[legislative|legislative powers]]. The 150 members of the [[House of Representatives of the Netherlands|House of Representatives]], the [[Lower House]], are elected in [[direct election]]s, which are held every four years or after the fall of the cabinet (by example: when one of the chambers carries a [[motion of no confidence]], the cabinet offers its resignation to the monarch). The [[States-Provincial]] are directly elected every four years as well. The members of the provincial assemblies elect the 75 members of the [[Senate of the Netherlands|Senate]], the [[upper house]], which has the power to reject laws, but not propose or amend them.
+Both trade unions and [[employers organisation]]s are consulted beforehand in policymaking in the financial, economic and social areas. They meet regularly with government in the [[Social-Economic Council]]. This body advises government and its advice cannot be put aside easily.
+The Netherlands has a long tradition of [[Toleration|social tolerance]]. In the 18th century, while the [[Dutch Reformed Church]] was the [[state religion]], [[Roman Catholicism in the Netherlands|Catholicism]], other forms of Protestantism, such as Baptists and Lutherans, and [[History of the Jews in the Netherlands|Judaism]] were tolerated. In the late 19th century this Dutch tradition of religious tolerance transformed into a system of [[pillarisation]], in which religious groups coexisted separately and only interacted at the level of government. This tradition of tolerance influences Dutch [[criminal justice system of the Netherlands|criminal justice]] policies on [[Drug policy of the Netherlands|recreational drugs]], [[Prostitution in the Netherlands|prostitution]], [[LGBT rights in the Netherlands|LGBT rights]], [[euthanasia]], and [[abortion in the Netherlands|abortion]], which are among the most liberal in the world.
 ===Political parties===
-{{Main|Political parties of the Netherlands}}
+{{Main|Political parties of the Netherlands|Politics of the Netherlands}}
+[[File:Mark Rutte-4.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Mark Rutte]] has been the Prime Minister of the Netherlands since October 2010.]]
+Because of the [[political parties of the Netherlands|multi-party system]], no single party has held a majority in parliament since the 19th century, and [[coalition government|coalition cabinets]] had to be formed. Since [[suffrage]] became universal in 1919, the Dutch political system has been dominated by three families of political parties: the strongest of which were the [[Christian democracy|Christian democrats]], currently represented by the [[Christian Democratic Appeal]] (CDA); second were the [[social democracy|social democrats]], represented by the [[Dutch Labour Party|Labour Party]] (PvdA); and third were the [[liberalism in the Netherlands|liberals]], of which the right wing [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy]] (VVD) is the main representative.
+These parties co-operated in coalition cabinets in which the Christian democrats had always been a partner: so either a [[centre-left]] coalition of the Christian democrats and social democrats was ruling or a centre-right coalition of Christian democrats and liberals. In the 1970s, the [[party system]] became more volatile: the Christian democratic parties lost seats, while new parties became successful, such as the [[radicalism (historical)|radical]] democrat and [[progressivism|progressive]] liberal [[D'66|D66]].
-[[File:ZetelsTK2006.png|thumb|right|'''Seats in the Dutch [[House of Representatives of the Netherlands|House of Representatives]] after the 2006 elections'''
-{{col-begin}}{{col-3}}{{legend|#D88C34|[[Party for the Animals|PvdD]] (2)}}{{legend|#2CC800|[[Democrats 66|D66]] (3)}}{{legend|#15803C|[[GreenLeft|GL]] (7)}}{{legend|#FF0000|[[Socialist Party (Netherlands)|SP]] (25)}}{{legend|#920C19|[[Labour Party (Netherlands)|PvdA]] (33)}}{{col-3}}{{legend|#3FAFD0|[[ChristianUnion|CU]] (6)}}{{legend|#339933|[[Christian Democratic Appeal|CDA]] (41)}}{{legend|#0E2783|[[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|VVD]] (22)}}{{legend|#FF8000|[[Reformed Political Party|SGP]] (2)}}{{legend|#043555|[[Party for Freedom|PVV]] (9)}}{{col-end}}]]
-Due to the [[political parties of the Netherlands|multi-party system]], no single party has ever held a majority in parliament since the 19th century, and [[coalition government|coalition cabinets]] had to be formed. Since [[suffrage]] became universal in 1919, the Dutch political system has been dominated by three families of political parties: the strongest family were the [[Christian democracy|Christian democrats]], currently represented by the [[Christian Democratic Appeal]] (CDA), second were the [[social democracy|social democrats]], of which the [[Dutch Labour Party|Labour Party]] (PvdA) is currently the largest party, and third were the [[liberalism in the Netherlands|liberals]], of which the [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy]] (VVD) is the main representative. These cooperated in coalition cabinets in which the Christian democrats had always been a partner: so either a centre left coalition of the Christian democrats and social democrats was ruling or a centre right coalition of Christian democrats and liberals. In the 1970s, the party system became more volatile: the Christian democratic parties lost seats, while new parties became successful, such as the [[radicalism (historical)|radical]] democrat and [[progressivism|progressive]] [[liberalism|liberal]] [[D'66|D66]].
-In the [[Dutch general election, 1994|1994 election]], the CDA lost its dominant position. A "[[purple (government)|purple]]" cabinet was formed by VVD, D66, and PvdA. In the [[Dutch general election, 2002|2002 elections]], this cabinet lost its majority, due to the rise of the [[Lijst Pim Fortuyn|LPF]], a new political party around the flamboyant populist [[Pim Fortuyn]], who was assassinated a week before the elections. The elections also saw increased support for the CDA. A short lived [[First Balkenende cabinet|cabinet]] was formed by CDA, VVD, and LPF, which was led by the CDA leader democrats, [[Jan Peter Balkenende]]. After the [[Dutch general election, 2003|2003 elections]] in which the LPF lost almost all its seats, a [[Balkenende II|cabinet]] was formed by CDA, VVD, and D66. The cabinet initiated an ambitious program of reforming the [[welfare state]], the [[health care system]], and the [[immigration policy|immigration]] policies.
+In the [[Dutch general election, 1994|1994 election]], the CDA lost its dominant position. A "[[purple (government)|purple]]" cabinet was formed by VVD, D66, and PvdA. In the [[Dutch general election, 2002|2002 elections]], this cabinet lost its majority, because of an increased support for the CDA and the rise of the right [[Lijst Pim Fortuyn|LPF]], a new political party, around [[Pim Fortuyn]], who was assassinated a week before the elections. A short-lived [[First Balkenende cabinet|cabinet]] was formed by CDA, VVD, and LPF, which was led by the CDA leader [[Jan Peter Balkenende]]. After the [[Dutch general election, 2003|2003 elections]], in which the LPF lost most of its seats, a [[Balkenende II|cabinet]] was formed by CDA, VVD, and D66. The cabinet initiated an ambitious programme of reforming the [[welfare state]], the [[Healthcare in the Netherlands|healthcare system]], and [[immigration policy|immigration]] policy.
-In June 2006, the cabinet fell after D66 voted in favour of a motion of no confidence against minister of immigration and integration [[Rita Verdonk]] in the aftermath of the upheaval about the asylum procedure of VVD MP [[Ayaan Hirsi Ali]] instigated by the Dutch immigration minister [[Verdonk]]. A [[Balkenende III|care taker cabinet]] was formed by CDA and VVD, and [[Dutch general election, 2006|the general elections]] were held on 22 November 2006. In these elections, the [[Christian Democratic Appeal]] remained the largest party and the [[Socialist Party (Netherlands)|Socialist Party]] made the largest gains. The [[2006-2007 Dutch cabinet formation|formation of a new cabinet]] started two days after the elections. Initial investigations towards a CDA-SP-PvdA coalition failed, after which a [[Netherlands cabinet Balkenende-4|coalition]] of CDA, PvdA, and [[ChristianUnion]] was formed.
+In June 2006, the cabinet fell after D66 voted in favour of a motion of no confidence against the Minister of Immigration and Integration, [[Rita Verdonk]], who had instigated an investigation of the asylum procedure of [[Ayaan Hirsi Ali]], a VVD [[Member of Parliament|MP]]. A [[Balkenende III|caretaker cabinet]] was formed by CDA and VVD, and [[Dutch general election, 2006|general elections]] were held on 22 November 2006. In these elections, the CDA remained the largest party and the [[Socialist Party (Netherlands)|Socialist Party]] made the largest gains. The [[2006–07 Dutch cabinet formation|formation of a new cabinet]] took three months, resulting in a [[Netherlands cabinet Balkenende-4|coalition]] of CDA, PvdA, and [[ChristianUnion]].
+On 20 February 2010, the cabinet fell when the PvdA refused to prolong the involvement of the Dutch Army in [[Uruzgan]], Afghanistan.<ref>{{cite web |title = Kabinet valt over Uruzgan-besluit|publisher=[[De Volkskrant]]|date = 20 February 2010|url =http://www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/article1350355.ece/Kabinet_valt_over_Uruzgan-besluit|archiveurl =//web.archive.org/web/20100223041947/http://www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/article1350355.ece/Kabinet_valt_over_Uruzgan-besluit|archivedate=23 February 2010|accessdate=20 February 2010|author=Dirks, Bart and Koelé, Theo |language=Dutch}}</ref> [[Snap election]]s were held on [[Dutch general election, 2010|9 June 2010]], with devastating results for the previously largest party, the CDA, which lost about half of its seats, resulting in 21 seats. The VVD became the largest party with 31 seats, closely followed by the PvdA with 30 seats. The big winner of the 2010 elections was [[Geert Wilders]], whose extreme-right wing [[Party for Freedom|PVV]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/dutch-parliamentary-elections-will-far-right-freedom-party-defy-polls-again-780833 |title=Dutch Parliamentary Elections: Will Far-Right Freedom Party Defy Polls Again? |publisher=International Business Times |date=12 September 2012 |accessdate=26 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/w/geert_wilders/index.html |title=Times Topics: Geert Wilders |publisher=The New York Times|accessdate=26 March 2013|first1=Stephen|last1=Castle|first2=Steven|last2=Erlanger}}</ref> the ideological successor to the [[Pim Fortuyn List|LPF]], more than doubled its number of seats.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.france24.com/en/20100610-netherlands-government-coalition-elections-party-for-freedom-anti-islam |title=Lengthy coalition talks loom after far-right gain in Dutch elections |publisher=France24 |accessdate=12 June 2010}}</ref> [[2010 Dutch cabinet formation|Negotiation talks for a new government]] resulted in a [[minority government]], led by VVD (a first) in coalition with CDA, which was sworn in on 14 October 2010. This unprecedented minority government was supported by PVV, but proved ultimately to be unstable,<ref>{{de icon}} {{cite web|url=http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/0,1518,722177,00.html |title=Neue niederländische Regierung formiert sich |work=Der Spiegel |date=8 October 2010}}</ref> when on 21 April 2012, Wilders, leader of PVV, unexpectedly 'torpedoed seven weeks of austerity talks' on new austerity measures, paving the way for early elections.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dutch prime minister says government austerity talks collapse |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2012/04/21/dutch_prime_minister_says_austerity_talks_collapse/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date= 21 April 2012|author= Corder, Mike |accessdate=21 April 2012}}{{dead link|date=April 2014}}</ref>
-On 20 February 2010, the cabinet fell as the PvdA refused to prolong the involvement of the Dutch Army in [[Uruzgan]], Afghanistan.<ref>{{nl icon}}{{cite web | coauthors = Bart Dirks, Theo Koelé | title = Kabinet valt over Uruzgan-besluit | publisher = [[De Volkskrant]] | date = 20 February 2010 | url = http://www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/article1350355.ece/Kabinet_valt_over_Uruzgan-besluit | accessdate = 20 February 2010}}</ref>
+<ref>{{cite news |title=Dutch prime minister lays blame squarely with Geert Wilders|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/apr/23/eurozone-crisis-austerity-dutch-government | location=London | work=The Guardian |first=Graeme |last=Wearden |date=23 April 2012}}</ref>
-New general elections will be held 9 June 2010.
+<ref>{{cite news |title=Dutch prime minister says austerity talks collapse|url=http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2012/apr/21/dutch-prime-minister-says-austerity-talks-collapse/}}</ref>
+VVD and PvdA were the big winners of the elections. Since 5 November 2012 they have formed the [[second Rutte cabinet]].
 ===Administrative divisions===
-{{Main|Provinces of the Netherlands|Municipalities in the Netherlands|Water board (Netherlands)}}
+{{Main|Provinces of the Netherlands|Municipalities of the Netherlands|Water board (Netherlands)|Public body (Netherlands)|Caribbean Netherlands}}
-[[File:Netherlands map large.png|thumb|[[Provinces of the Netherlands]]]]
+[[File:Netherlands Map.svg|thumb|[[Provinces of the Netherlands|Provinces]] and [[Special municipality (Netherlands)|special municipalities]] of the Netherlands.]]
-The Netherlands is divided into twelve administrative regions, called [[province]]s, each under a [[Governor]], who is called ''Commissaris van de Koningin'' (Commissioner of the Queen), except for the province [[Limburg (Netherlands)|Limburg]] where the commissioner is called Gouverneur ([[Governor]]). All provinces are divided into [[Municipalities of the Netherlands|municipalities]] (''gemeenten''), 431 in total (1 January 2010). The country is also subdivided in water districts, governed by a [[Water board (The Netherlands)|water board]] (''waterschap'' or ''hoogheemraadschap''), each having authority in matters concerning water management. As of 1 January 2005 there are 27. The creation of water boards actually pre-dates that of the nation itself, the first appearing in 1196. In fact, the Dutch water boards are one of the oldest democratic entities in the world still in existence.
+The Netherlands is divided into twelve provinces, each under a Commissioner of the King (''Commissaris van de Koning''), except for [[Limburg (Netherlands)|Limburg province]] where the position is named Governor (''Gouverneur''). All provinces are divided into [[Municipalities of the Netherlands|municipalities]] (''gemeenten''), of which there are 403.<ref name=MUNICPS>{{cite web |url = http://www.cbs.nl/nl-NL/menu/methoden/classificaties/overzicht/gemeentelijke-indeling/2014/default.htm |title = Gemeentelijke indeling op 1 januari 2014 |trans_title = Municipalities on 1 January 2014 |language = Dutch |author = <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date = 1 January 2014 |work = CBS Classifications |publisher = [[Statistics Netherlands|CBS]] |accessdate = 7 January 2014}}</ref>
+The country is also subdivided into 24 water districts, governed by a [[Water board (Netherlands)|water board]] (''waterschap'' or ''hoogheemraadschap''), each having authority in matters concerning water management.<ref name=WATER>{{cite web|url=http://www.uvw.nl/de-waterschappen.html|title=De waterschappen|language=Dutch|accessdate=7 June 2013}}{{dead link|date=April 2014}}</ref> The creation of water boards actually pre-dates that of the nation itself, the first appearing in 1196. The Dutch water boards are among the oldest democratic entities in the world still in existence.
+The administrative structure on the 3 BES islands, also known as the [[Caribbean Netherlands]], is different. These islands have the status of ''openbare lichamen ([[Public body (Netherlands)|public bodies]])'' and are generally referred to as ''special municipalities''. They are not part of a province.<ref name=WOLBES>{{cite web|url=http://www.eerstekamer.nl/wetsvoorstel/31954_wet_openbare_lichamen|title=31.954, Wet openbare lichamen Bonaire, Sint Eustatius en Saba|language=Dutch|publisher=Eerste kamer der Staten-Generaal|quote=De openbare lichamen vallen rechtstreeks onder het Rijk omdat zij geen deel uitmaken van een provincie.<br>"Through the establishment of the BES islands as public bodies, rather than communities, the BES islands' rules may deviate from the rules in the European part of the Netherlands. The Dutch legislation will be introduced gradually. The public bodies fall directly under the central government because they are not part of a province."|accessdate=15 October 2010}}</ref>
+====Provinces====
 {| style="background:none;" cellspacing="2px"
 |
@@ Line 307: / Line 487: @@
 |-
 ! style="width:40px;" class="unsortable"| [[Flag]]
-! style="width:140px;"| [[Province]]
+! style="width:140px;"| Province
-! style="width:80px;"| [[Capital (political)|Capital]]
+! style="width:115px;"| Capital
 ! style="width:80px;"| Largest city
+! style="width:60px;"| Area<ref name="ProvArea">{{cite web|url=http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?VW=T&DM=SLNL&PA=70072ned&D1=224&D2=5-16&D3=l&HD=081103-1603&HDR=T&STB=G1,G2|language=Dutch|publisher=[[Statistics Netherlands]]|year=2007|accessdate=13 October 2007|title=Regionale Kerncijfers Nederland}}</ref><br> (km²)
-! style="width:60px;"| [[Area]] (km<sup>2</sup>)
-!<ref name="ProvArea">{{cite web|url=http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?VW=T&DM=SLNL&PA=70072ned&D1=224&D2=5-16&D3=l&HD=081103-1603&HDR=T&STB=G1,G2|language=Dutch|publisher=[[Statistics Netherlands]]|year=2007|accessdate=2007-10-13|title=Regionale Kerncijfers Nederland}}</ref> width="70px"| [[Population]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?VW=T&DM=SLNL&PA=03759ned&D1=0&D2=802-813&D3=0&D4=l&HD=081103-1603|language=Dutch|publisher=[[Statistics Netherlands]]|year=2007|accessdate=2007-10-13|title=Bevolking per regio naar leeftijd, geslacht en burgerlijke staat}}</ref>
+! style="width:90px;"| Population<ref>{{cite web|url=http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?DM=SLNL&PA=03759NED&D1=0&D2=129-132&D3=0,5-16,101-902&D4=21-22&HDR=T,G2&STB=G1,G3&VW=T|language=Dutch|publisher=[[Statistics Netherlands]]|year=2013|accessdate=31 October 2013|title=Bevolking; geslacht, leeftijd, burgerlijke staat en regio, 1 januari}}</ref><br><small>31-09-2013</small>
-! style="width:80px;"|Density<br />(per km<sup>2</sup>)
+! style="width:80px;"|Density<br/>(per km²)
 |-
-| [[File:Flag Drenthe.svg|27px]] || [[Drenthe]] || [[Assen]] ||<!-- Please DO NOT change the largest city of Drenthe to Emmen. What is intended here is the city proper; not the municipality. Assen city proper is larger than Emmen city proper although Emmen municipality is larger. --> [[Assen]] || style="text-align:right"|2,641|| style="text-align:right"|486,197|| style="text-align:right"|184
+| style="text-align:center"|[[File:Flag Drenthe.svg|27px]] || [[Drenthe]] || [[Assen]] ||<!-- Please DO NOT change the largest city of Drenthe to Emmen. What is intended here is the city proper; not the municipality. Assen city proper is larger than Emmen city proper although Emmen municipality is larger. --> [[Assen]] || style="text-align:right"|2,639|| style="text-align:right"|489,155|| style="text-align:right"|185
 |-
-| [[File:Flevolandflag.svg|27px]] || [[Flevoland]] || [[Lelystad]] || [[Almere]] || style="text-align:right"|1,417|| style="text-align:right"|374,424|| style="text-align:right"|264
+| style="text-align:center"|[[File:Flevolandflag.svg|27px]] || [[Flevoland]] || [[Lelystad]] || [[Almere]] || style="text-align:right"|1,415|| style="text-align:right"|399,825|| style="text-align:right"|282
 |-
-| [[File:Frisian flag.svg|27px]] || [[Friesland]] || [[Leeuwarden]] || [[Leeuwarden]] || style="text-align:right"|3,341|| style="text-align:right"|642,209|| style="text-align:right"|192
+| style="text-align:center"|[[File:Frisian flag.svg|27px]] || [[Friesland]] || [[Leeuwarden]] || [[Leeuwarden]] || style="text-align:right"|3,340|| style="text-align:right"|646,401|| style="text-align:right"|194
 |-
-| [[File:Gelderland-Flag.svg|27px]] || [[Gelderland]] || [[Arnhem]] || [[Nijmegen]] || style="text-align:right"|4,971|| style="text-align:right"|1,979,059|| style="text-align:right"|398
+| style="text-align:center"|[[File:Gelderland-Flag.svg|27px]] || [[Gelderland]] || [[Arnhem]] || [[Nijmegen]] || style="text-align:right"|4,970|| style="text-align:right"|2,019,196|| style="text-align:right"|406
 |-
-| [[File:Flag Groningen.svg|27px]] || [[Groningen (province)|Groningen]] || [[Groningen (city)|Groningen]] || [[Groningen (city)|Groningen]] || style="text-align:right"|2,333|| style="text-align:right"|573,614|| style="text-align:right"|246
+| style="text-align:center"|[[File:Flag Groningen.svg|27px]] || [[Groningen (province)|Groningen]] || [[Groningen (city)|Groningen]] || [[Groningen (city)|Groningen]] || style="text-align:right"|2,325|| style="text-align:right"|582,908|| style="text-align:right"|251
 |-
-| [[File:NL-LimburgVlag.svg|27px]] || [[Limburg (Netherlands)|Limburg]] || [[Maastricht]] || [[Maastricht]] || style="text-align:right"|2,150|| style="text-align:right"|1,127,805|| style="text-align:right"|525
+| style="text-align:center"|[[File:NL-LimburgVlag.svg|27px]] || [[Limburg (Netherlands)|Limburg]] || [[Maastricht]] || [[Maastricht]] || style="text-align:right"|2,150|| style="text-align:right"|1,120,332|| style="text-align:right"|521
 |-
-| [[File:North Brabant-Flag.svg|27px]] || [[North Brabant]]|| [['s-Hertogenbosch|Den Bosch]]<!-- spelled this way for table-aesthetic reasons--> || [[Eindhoven]] || style="text-align:right"|4,916|| style="text-align:right"|2,419,042|| style="text-align:right"|492
+| style="text-align:center"|[[File:North Brabant-Flag.svg|27px]] || [[North Brabant]]|| [['s-Hertogenbosch]]<!-- spelled this way for table-aesthetic reasons--> || [[Eindhoven]] || style="text-align:right"|4,914|| style="text-align:right"|2,478,687|| style="text-align:right"|504
 |-
-| [[File:Flag North-Holland, Netherlands.svg|27px]] || [[North Holland]] || [[Haarlem]] || [[Amsterdam]] || style="text-align:right"|2,671|| style="text-align:right"|2,613,070|| style="text-align:right"|978
+| style="text-align:center"|[[File:Flag North-Holland, Netherlands.svg|27px]] || [[North Holland]] || [[Haarlem]] || [[Amsterdam]] || style="text-align:right"|2,665|| style="text-align:right"|2,737,540|| style="text-align:right"|1,027
 |-
-| [[File:Flag Overijssel.svg|27px]] || [[Overijssel]] || [[Zwolle]] || [[Enschede]] || style="text-align:right"|3,325|| style="text-align:right"|1,116,374|| style="text-align:right"|336
+| style="text-align:center"|[[File:Flag Overijssel.svg|27px]] || [[Overijssel]] || [[Zwolle]] || [[Enschede]] || style="text-align:right"|3,324|| style="text-align:right"|1,139,462|| style="text-align:right"|343
 |-
-| [[File:Utrecht (province)-Flag.svg|27px]] || [[Utrecht (province)|Utrecht]] || [[Utrecht (city)|Utrecht]] || [[Utrecht (city)|Utrecht]] || style="text-align:right"|1,385|| style="text-align:right"|1,190,604|| style="text-align:right"|860
+| style="text-align:center"|[[File:Utrecht (province)-Flag.svg|27px]] || [[Utrecht (province)|Utrecht]] || [[Utrecht (city)|Utrecht]] || [[Utrecht]] || style="text-align:right"|1,383|| style="text-align:right"|1,251,266|| style="text-align:right"|905
 |-
-| [[File:Flag of Zeeland.svg|27px]] || [[Zeeland]] || [[Middelburg]] || [[Middelburg]] || style="text-align:right"|1,787|| style="text-align:right"|380,497|| style="text-align:right"|213
+| style="text-align:center"|[[File:Flag of Zeeland.svg|27px]] || [[Zeeland]] || [[Middelburg]] || [[Middelburg]] || style="text-align:right"|1,784|| style="text-align:right"|380,864|| style="text-align:right"|213
 |-
-| [[File:Flag Zuid-Holland.svg|27px]] || [[South Holland]] || [[The Hague]] || [[Rotterdam]] || style="text-align:right"|2,814|| style="text-align:right"|3,455,097|| style="text-align:right"|1228
+| style="text-align:center"|[[File:Flag Zuid-Holland.svg|27px]] || [[South Holland]] || [[The Hague]] || [[Rotterdam]] || style="text-align:right"|2,808|| style="text-align:right"|3,572,409|| style="text-align:right"|1,272
+|- class="sortbottom"
+! colspan="4" style="text-align:right;"| Total
+! style="text-align:right;"| 33,718
+! style="text-align:right;"| 16,818,045
+! style="text-align:right;"| 499
 |}
 |}
+====Special municipalities====
+{| style="background:none;" cellspacing="2px"
+|
+{| class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
+|-
+! style="width:40px;" class="unsortable"| [[Flag]]
+! style="width:140px;"| Name
+! style="width:115px;"| Capital
+! style="width:80px;"| Largest city
+! style="width:60px;"| Area<ref name="BESArea">{{cite web|url=http://www.cbs.an/area_climate/area_a1.asp|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20110706074026/http://www.cbs.an/area_climate/area_a1.asp|archivedate=6 July 2011|publisher=Central Bureau of Statistics (Netherlands Antilles)|year=2010|accessdate=11 June 2013|title=Statistical Info: Area and Climate}}{{dead link|date=April 2014}}</ref><br> (km²)
+! style="width:90px;"| Population<ref>{{cite web|url=http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?DM=SLNL&PA=80539ned&D1=0-1,9-10&D2=a&D3=a&HDR=T&STB=G1,G2&CHARTTYPE=1&VW=T|publisher=Central Bureau of Statistics|year=2012|accessdate=18 October 2013|title=Bevolkingsontwikkeling Caribisch Nederland; geboorte, sterfte, migratie|language=Dutch}}</ref><br><small>31-12-2012</small>
+! style="width:80px;"|Density<br/>(per km²)
+|-
+| style="text-align:center"|{{flagicon|Bonaire|size=27px}} || [[Bonaire]] || [[Kralendijk]] || [[Kralendijk]] || style="text-align:right"|288|| style="text-align:right"|17,408|| style="text-align:right"|60
+|-
+| style="text-align:center"|{{flagicon|Sint Eustatius|size=27px}} || [[Sint Eustatius]] || [[Oranjestad, Sint Eustatius|Oranjestad]] || [[Oranjestad, Sint Eustatius|Oranjestad]] || style="text-align:right"|21|| style="text-align:right"|3,897|| style="text-align:right"|186
+|-
+| style="text-align:center"|{{flagicon|Saba|size=27px}} || [[Saba]] || [[The Bottom]] || [[The Bottom]] || style="text-align:right"|13|| style="text-align:right"|1,991|| style="text-align:right"|153
+|- class="sortbottom"
+! colspan="4" style="text-align:right;"| Total
+! style="text-align:right;"| 322
+! style="text-align:right;"| 23,296
+! style="text-align:right;"| 72
+|}
+|}
+===Foreign relations===
+[[File:International Court of Justice.jpg|thumb|The [[Peace Palace]] (''Vredespaleis''), [[The Hague]]]]
+{{Main|Foreign relations of the Netherlands}}
+The history of [[foreign relations of the Netherlands|Dutch foreign policy]] has been characterised by its [[neutral state|neutrality]]. Since the Second World War the Netherlands has become a member of a large number of international organisations, most prominently the UN, [[NATO]] and the EU. The Dutch economy is very open and relies on [[international trade]].
+The [[foreign policy]] of the Netherlands is based on four basic commitments: to [[atlanticism|atlantic co-operation]], to [[European integration]], to [[international development]] and to [[international law]]. One of the more controversial international issues surrounding the Netherlands is its [[drug policy of the Netherlands|liberal policy towards soft drugs]].
+During and after the [[Dutch Golden Age]], the Dutch people built up a commercial and colonial empire, which fell apart quickly after the Second World War. The historical ties inherited from its colonial past still influence the foreign relations of the Netherlands.
+===Military===
+{{Main|Military of the Netherlands}}
+The Netherlands has one of the oldest standing armies in Europe; it was first established as such by [[Maurice of Nassau]]. The Dutch army was used throughout the [[Dutch Empire]]. After the defeat of Napoleon, the Dutch army was transformed into a [[conscription]] army. The army was unsuccessfully deployed during the [[Belgian revolution]] in 1830. After 1830, it was deployed mainly in the Dutch colonies, as the Netherlands remained neutral in European wars (including the First World War), until the [[Battle of the Netherlands|Netherlands was invaded in the Second World War]] and quickly defeated by the Wehrmacht in May 1940.
+[[File:HNLMS Holland.jpg|thumb|Zr. Ms. Holland, a [[Royal Dutch Navy]] [[Offshore patrol vessel]]]]
+The Netherlands abandoned its neutrality in 1948 when it signed the [[Treaty of Brussels]], and later became a founding member of [[NATO]] in 1949. The Dutch military was therefore part of the NATO strength in [[Cold War]] Europe, deploying its army to several bases in Germany. More than 3.000 Dutch soldiers were assigned to the [[2nd Infantry Division (United States)|2nd Infantry Division]] of the [[United States Army]] during the [[Korean War]]. In 1996 conscription was suspended, and the Dutch army was once again transformed into a professional army. Since the 1990s the Dutch army has been involved in the [[Bosnian War]] and the [[Kosovo War]], it held a province in [[Iraq]] after the defeat of [[Saddam Hussein]], and it was engaged in [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|Afghanistan]].
+The military is composed of four branches, all of which carry the prefix ''Koninklijke'' (Royal):
+<!-- Pls do not change any of these from 'Royal Netherlands' to 'Dutch', the official name of ALL branches of the Army is Royal Netherlands-->
+* ''Koninklijke Landmacht'' (KL), the [[Royal Netherlands Army]]
+* ''Koninklijke Marine'' (KM), the [[Royal Netherlands Navy]], including the Naval Air Service and Marine Corps
+* ''Koninklijke Luchtmacht'' (KLu), the [[Royal Netherlands Air Force]]
+* ''Koninklijke Marechaussee'' (KMar), the [[Royal Marechaussee]] (Military Police), tasks include military police and border control
+General [[Tom Middendorp]] is the current Commander of the Netherlands armed forces.
+All military specialities except the [[Koninklijke Marine#Submarine service|submarine service]] and the [[Royal Netherlands Marine Corps]] (''Korps Mariniers'') are open to women. [[Korps Commandotroepen|The Korps Commandotroepen]], the Special Operations Force of the Netherlands Army, is open to women, but because of the extremely high physical demands for initial training, it is almost impossible for women to become a commando.<ref>[http://www.korpscommandotroepen.nl/index.php?l=nl&p=118 KCT. Official website of the Dutch Commando Foundation]. Korpscommandotroepen.nl (14 April 2010). Retrieved on 21 August 2012.</ref> The Dutch Ministry of Defence employs more than 70,000 personnel, including over 20,000 civilians and over 50,000 military personnel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defensie.nl/onderwerpen/werken_bij_defensie |title=Ministerie van defensie – Werken bij Defensie |publisher=Mindef.nl |accessdate=29 April 2010}}{{dead link|date=April 2014}}</ref> In April 2011 the government announced a major reduction in its military because of a cut in government expenditure, including a decrease in the number of tanks, fighter aircraft, naval ships and senior officials.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defensie.nl/actueel/nieuws/2011/04/08/46180709/Defensie_hard_getroffen_door_bezuinigingen_video |title=Defensie hard getroffen door bezuinigingen |publisher=Ministry of Defence |accessdate=26 April 2011}}{{dead link|date=April 2014}}</ref>
+==Economy==
+{{Main|Economy of the Netherlands}}
+[[File:Netherlands treemap.png|thumb|300px|A graphical depiction of Dutch product exports in 28 colour-coded categories.<ref>{{cite web |title=Economic Complexity Observatory |publisher=MIT Media Lab and the Center for International Development at Harvard University |url=http://atlas.media.mit.edu/ |accessdate=17 January 2014}}</ref>]]
+The Netherlands has a developed economy and has been playing a special role in the European economy for many centuries. Since the 16th century, shipping, fishing, trade, and banking have been leading sectors of the Dutch economy. The Netherlands is one of the world's 10 leading exporting countries. Foodstuffs form the largest industrial sector. Other major industries include chemicals, metallurgy, machinery, electrical goods, and tourism (in 2012 the Netherlands welcomed 11.7 million international tourists). Examples include
+[[Unilever]], [[Heineken International|Heineken]], financial services ([[ING Group|ING]]), chemicals ([[DSM (company)|DSM]], [[AkzoNobel|AKZO]]), petroleum refining ([[Royal Dutch Shell|Shell]]), electronical machinery ([[Philips]], [[ASML Holding|ASML]]), and car navigation ([[TomTom]]).
+The Netherlands has the [[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|18th-largest economy in the world]], and [[List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|ranks 10th in GDP (nominal) per capita]]. Between 1997 and 2000 annual economic growth (GDP) averaged nearly 4%, well above the European average. Growth slowed considerably from 2001 to 2005 with the global economic slowdown, but accelerated to 4.1% in the third quarter of 2007. In May 2013, inflation was at 2.8% per year.<ref>{{cite web|title=Inflation up to 2.8 percent|url=http://www.cbs.nl/en-GB/menu/themas/dossiers/conjunctuur/publicaties/artikelen/archief/2013/2013-042-pb.htm|publisher=Statistics Netherlands|accessdate=11 June 2013|date=6 June 2013}}</ref> In April 2013, unemployment was at 8.2% (or 6.7% following the [[International Labour Organization|ILO]] definition) of the [[labour force]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbs.nl/en-GB/menu/themas/dossiers/conjunctuur/publicaties/artikelen/archief/2013/2013-035-pb.htm|title=Unemployment further up|accessdate=10 June 2013|date=15 May 2013|publisher=Statistics Netherlands}}</ref>
+In [[Quarter (time)|Q3]] and Q4 2011, the Dutch economy contracted by 0.4% and 0.7%, respectively, because of European Debt Crisis, while in Q4 the Eurozone economy shrunk by 0.3%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world_business/view/1183178/1/.html |title=Eurozone economy shrinks 0.3% in Q4 |date=15 February 2012|work=channelnewsasia.com}}</ref> The Netherlands also has a relatively low [[Gini coefficient|GINI coefficient]] of 0.326. Despite ranking 7th in [[GDP per capita]], [[UNICEF]] ranked the Netherlands 1st in child well-being.<ref>{{cite web
+|url=http://www.unicef.org/media/files/ChildPovertyReport.pdf
+|title=Child Poverty Report Study by UNICEF 2007|format=PDF|work=unicef.org}}</ref> On the [[Index of Economic Freedom]] Netherlands is the 13th most [[free market]] capitalist economy out of 157 surveyed countries.
+[[Amsterdam]] is the financial and business capital of the Netherlands.<ref name="ez">{{cite web
+|url=http://www.ez.amsterdam.nl/page.php?menu=24&page=6
+|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20081205161807/http://www.ez.amsterdam.nl/page.php?menu=24&page=6
+|archivedate=5 December 2008
+|title=Amsterdam – Economische Zaken
+|language=Dutch
+|accessdate=22 May 2008
+}}{{dead link|date=April 2014}}</ref> The [[Amsterdam Stock Exchange]] (AEX), part of [[Euronext]], is the world's oldest stock exchange and is one of Europe's largest bourses. It is situated near [[Dam Square]] in the city's centre. As a founding member of the [[euro]], the Netherlands replaced (for accounting purposes) its former currency, the "gulden" ([[Dutch guilder|guilder]]), on 1 January 1999, along with 15 other adopters of the euro. Actual [[euro coins]] and [[euro banknotes|banknotes]] followed on 1 January 2002. One euro was equivalent to 2.20371 Dutch guilders. In the [[Caribbean Netherlands]], the [[US dollar]] is used instead of the euro.
+[[File:Amazonehaven.JPG|thumb|The [[Port of Rotterdam]] is Europe's largest port.]]
+The Dutch location gives it prime access to markets in the UK and Germany, with the [[port of Rotterdam]] being the largest port in Europe. Other important parts of the economy are [[international trade]] (Dutch colonialism started with co-operative private enterprises such as the [[Dutch East India Company|VOC]]), banking and transport. The Netherlands successfully addressed the issue of public finances and stagnating job growth long before its European partners. Amsterdam is the 5th-busiest tourist destination in Europe with more than 4.2&nbsp;million international visitors.<ref name="42milvisitors">{{Wayback |date=20090215160103 |url=http://www.ez.amsterdam.nl/page.php?page=9&menu=27 |title=Amsterdam en de wereld: Toerisme en congreswezen }}{{dead link|date=April 2014}}. ez.amsterdam.nl</ref> Since the enlargement of the EU large numbers of [[migrant worker]]s have arrived in the Netherlands from [[Central Europe|central]] and [[eastern Europe]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/02/10/uk-dutch-immigrants-idUKTRE8191ML20120210 |title= Dutch allow Wilders' anti-Pole website, EU critical | publisher= Reuters | date=10 February 2012 |first=Gilbert |last=Kreijger}}</ref>
+Of economic importance is [[BrabantStad]], a partnership between the municipalities of [[Breda]], [[Eindhoven]], [[Helmond]], [['s-Hertogenbosch]] and [[Tilburg]] and the province of North Brabant. BrabantStad is the fastest growing economic region in the Netherlands, with Brainport as one of the three national top regions and as a top region in the world. The region lies within the [[Eindhoven]]-[[Leuven]]-[[Aachen]] Triangle (ELAT).<ref name="ref608454752">{{cite web|url=http://www.sre.nl/|title=- De factor SRE|publisher=sre.nl|accessdate=2014-02-19}}</ref> The partnership aims to form an urban network and to make North Brabant explicitly known as a leading knowledge region within Europe. With a total of 1.5&nbsp;million people and 20% of the industrial production in the Netherlands is BrabantStad one of the major economical important, metropolitan regions of the Netherlands. Of all the money that goes to research and development in the Netherlands, one third is spent in [[Eindhoven]]. A quarter of the jobs in the region are in technology and ICT.<ref name="ref-213874478">{{cite web|url=http://www.eindhoven.nl/web/show|title=Eindhoven - Eindhoven|publisher=eindhoven.nl|accessdate=2014-02-19}}</ref> Of all European patent applications in the field of physics and electronics about eight per cent is from North Brabant.<ref name="ref-601915138">{{cite web|url=http://www.brabantstad.nl/index.php|title=Welkom &#124; BrabantStad, een sterk internationaal concurrerend en duurzaam groeiend stedelijk netwerk.|publisher=brabantstad.nl|accessdate=2014-02-19}}</ref> In the extended region, BrabantStad is part of the [[Eindhoven]]-[[Leuven]]-[[Aachen]] Triangle (ELAT). This economic cooperation agreement between three cities in three countries has created one of the most innovative regions in the European Union (measured in terms of money invested in [[technology]] and [[knowledge economy]]).<ref name="ref1983490620">{{cite web|url=http://www.elat.org/|title=http://www.elat.org/|publisher=elat.org|accessdate=2014-02-19}}</ref> The economic success of this region is important for the international competitiveness of the Netherlands; Together  [[Amsterdam]] ([[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol|airport]]), [[Rotterdam]] ([[Port of Rotterdam|seaport]]), and [[Eindhoven]] ([[Brainport, Netherlands|Brainport]]) form the foundation of the Dutch economy.<ref name="ref1367203750">{{cite web|url=http://www.brainport.nl/over-brainport|title=Over Brainport|publisher=brainport.nl|accessdate=2014-02-19}}</ref>
+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 United States. 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. The Netherlands is the fifth-most competitive economy in the world, according to the [[World Economic Forum]]'s [[Global Competitiveness Report]].<ref name="wefcomp">{{cite web|url=http://www.weforum.org/issues/global-competitiveness |title=Global Competitiveness Report 2012–2013 |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=5 September 2012 |accessdate=11 June 2013}}</ref>
+The [[Groningen gas field]], one of the largest [[natural gas field]]s in the world, is situated near [[Slochteren]]. Exploitation of this field has resulted in €159&nbsp;billion in revenue since the mid-1970s.<ref name="geo">{{cite web|url=http://www.geoexpro.com/article/The_Groningen_Gas_Field/bf349ab1.aspx|title=The Groningen Gas Field|year=2009|publisher=''GEO ExPro Magazine''|accessdate=11 June 2013}}</ref>
+===Agriculture===
+[[File:NL Moerdijk municipality Zevenbergen city IMG 2832.JPG|thumb|Farmland in the Netherlands]]
+A highly mechanised agricultural sector employs 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, with exports earning $55&nbsp;billion annually. 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.<ref name="USDA Foreign Agriculture Service">{{cite web|url = http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200501/146118432.pdf#search=%22netherlands%20main%20agriculture%20export%20flowers%22|title = Netherlands: Agricultural situation|accessdate =20 June 2007|publisher=USDA Foreign Agriculture Service}}</ref>
+The Netherlands also exports a quarter of all the world's tomatoes, and trade of one-third of the world's exports of [[Capsicum|chilis]], tomatoes and cucumbers goes through the country. The Netherlands also exports one-fifteenth of the world's apples.<ref name="USDA Foreign Agriculture Service"/>
+===Transport===
+{{See also|Transport in the Netherlands|Rail transport in the Netherlands}}
+[[Rotterdam]] has the largest port in Europe, with the rivers Meuse and Rhine providing excellent access to the [[hinterland]] upstream reaching to [[Basel, Switzerland]], and into France. As of 2013, Rotterdam was the world's eighth largest [[container port]] handling 440.5 million metric tonnes of cargo annually.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.portofrotterdam.com/en/Port/port-statistics/Pages/default.aspx |title=Port of Rotterdam Statistics 2011-2013 |publisher=Port of Rotterdam |accessdate=1 June 2014}}</ref> The port's main activities are [[petrochemical]] industries and general cargo handling and [[transshipment]]. The harbour functions as an important transit point for [[bulk material handling|bulk materials]] and between the European continent and overseas. From Rotterdam goods are transported by ship, river barge, train or road. In 2007, the [[Betuweroute]], a new fast freight railway from Rotterdam to Germany, was completed.
+As part of its commitment to environmental sustainability, the Dutch government initiated a plan to establish over 200 recharging stations for electric vehicles across the country by 2015. The rollout will be undertaken by Switzerland-based power and automation company ABB and Dutch startup Fastned, and will aim to provide at least one station within a 50-kilometre radius (30 miles) from every home in the Netherlands.<ref>{{cite web|title=Every Dutch citizen will live within 31 miles of an electric vehicle charging station by 2015|url=http://www.theverge.com/2013/7/10/4509962/netherlands-nationwide-electric-vehicle-charging-network-abb-fastned|work=The Verge|publisher=Vox Media, Inc|accessdate=11 July 2013|last=Toor |first=Amar |date=10 July 2013}}</ref>
 ==Demographics==
 {{Main|Demographics of the Netherlands}}
+[[File:Queensday 2011 Amsterdam 26.jpg|thumb|Dutch people in orange celebrating [[Koninginnedag|Queen's Day]] in Amsterdam.]]
-[[File:Population of the Netherlands 1900-2000.png|thumb|[[Population]] of the Netherlands from 1900 to 2000]]
-The Netherlands have an estimated [[population]] of 16,491,852 (as of 8 March 2009).<ref name="cbs-counter">[http://www.cbs.nl/en-GB/menu/themas/bevolking/cijfers/extra/bevolkingsteller.htm CBS - Population counter - Extra]. [[Statistics Netherlands]]. Retrieved on 2009-03-08.</ref> It is the [[List of European countries by population|11th most populous country in Europe]] and the [[List of countries by population|61st most populous country]] in the world. Between 1900 and 1950, the country's population almost doubled from 5.1 to 10.0 million people. From 1950 to 2000, the population further increased from 10.0 to 15.9 million people, but the [[population growth]] decreased compared to the previous fifty years.<ref>[http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?DM=SLEN&PA=37556ENG&D1=0-44,53-60&D2=1,11,21,31,41,51,61,71,81,91,101&LA=EN&VW=T CBS Statline - Population; history]. [[Statistics Netherlands]]. Retrieved on 2009-03-08.</ref> The estimated growth rate is currently 0.436% (as of 2008).<ref name="cia-worldfactbook-nl">[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/nl.html CIA - The World Factbook - Netherlands]. [[Central Intelligence Agency]]. Retrieved on 2009-03-08.</ref> The [[fertility rate]] in the Netherlands is 1.66 children per woman (as of 2008),<ref name="cia-worldfactbook-nl"/> which is high compared to many other European countries, but well below the 2.1-rate required for [[Sub-replacement fertility|natural population replacement]]. [[Life expectancy]] is high in the Netherlands: 82 years for newborn girls and 77 for boys (2007). The country has a [[Human migration|migration]] rate of 2.55 migrants per 1,000 inhabitants.
+The Netherlands had an estimated population of 16,785,403 on 30 April 2013.<ref name="cbs-counter">{{cite web|title=Population and population dynamics; month, quarter and year|url=http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?VW=T&DM=SLEN&PA=37943eng&LA=EN|publisher=Statistics Netherlands|accessdate=12 June 2013}}</ref> It is the [[List of European countries by population|10th most populous country in Europe]] and the [[List of countries by population|63rd most populous country]] in the world. Between 1900 and 1950, the country's population almost doubled from 5.1 to 10.0&nbsp;million people. From 1950 to 2000, the population further increased from 10.0 to 15.9&nbsp;million people, but the rate of [[population growth]] was less than that of the previous fifty years.<ref>[http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?DM=SLEN&PA=37556ENG&D1=0-44,53-60&D2=1,11,21,31,41,51,61,71,81,91,101&LA=EN&VW=T CBS Statline – Population; history]. [[Statistics Netherlands]]. Retrieved on 8 March 2009.</ref> The estimated growth rate {{As of|2013|alt=in 2013}} is 0.44%.<ref name="cia-worldfactbook-nl">{{cite web|title=The World Factbook – Netherlands|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/nl.html|publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]]|accessdate=11 June 2013}}</ref>
+The [[fertility rate]] in the Netherlands is 1.78 children per woman (2013 est<ref name="cia-worldfactbook-nl"/>), which is high compared with many other European countries, but [[sub-replacement fertility|below the rate of 2.1 children per woman required for natural population replacement]]. [[Life expectancy]] is high in the Netherlands: 83.21 years for newborn girls and 78.93 for boys (2013 est<ref name="cia-worldfactbook-nl"/>). The country has a [[Human migration|migration]] rate of 1.99 migrants per 1,000 inhabitants per year.<ref name="cia-worldfactbook-nl"/>
-The majority of the population of the Netherlands are ethnically [[Dutch people|Dutch]]. A 2005 estimate counted: 80.9% [[Dutch people|Dutch]], 2.4% [[Indonesia]]n ([[Indo people|Indo-Dutch]], [[South Moluccas|South Moluccan]]), 2.4% [[German people|German]], 2.2% [[Turkish-Dutch|Turkish]], 2.0% [[Suriname]]se, 1.9% [[Morocco|Moroccan]], 0.8% [[Netherlands Antilles|Antillean]] and [[Aruba]]n, and 6.0% others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbs.nl/NR/rdonlyres/CCD504EA-9D41-40C2-AE28-BFB0A51C2045/0/2005k3b15p096art.pdf|title=Demografie van de allochtonen in Nederland|publisher=[[Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek]]|author=Garssen, Joop, Han Nicolaas and Arno Sprangers|year=2005|language=Dutch|format=PDF}}</ref> The Dutch people are [[Human height|among the tallest]] in the world, with an average height of about 1.81&nbsp;m (5&nbsp;ft 11&nbsp;in) for adult males and 1.68&nbsp;m (5&nbsp;ft 6&nbsp;in) for adult females.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dined.io.tudelft.nl/nl,dined2004,301|title=Dataset 'Nederlandse volwassenen', Populatie 'DINED 2004 (20-30 jaar)'|language=Dutch|accessdate=2008-02-04|publisher=[[TU Delft]]}}</ref> People in the south are on average about 2&nbsp;cm shorter than those in the north.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?VW=T&DM=SLNL&PA=03799&D1=242,254,267-270&D2=0-17&HD=081103-1603&HDR=T.&STB=G1
-|publisher=Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek|title=Reported health and lifestyle|accessdate=2007-08-28}}</ref>
+The majority of the population of the Netherlands is ethnically [[Dutch people|Dutch]]. A 2005 estimate counted: 80.9% Dutch, 2.4% [[Indonesia]]n, 2.4% [[Germans|German]], 2.2% [[Turkish-Dutch|Turkish]], 2.0% [[Surinamese people|Surinamese]], 1.9% [[Morocco|Moroccan]], 0.8% [[Netherlands Antilles|Antillean]] and [[Aruba]]n, and 7.4% others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbs.nl/NR/rdonlyres/CCD504EA-9D41-40C2-AE28-BFB0A51C2045/0/2005k3b15p096art.pdf|title=Demografie van de allochtonen in Nederland|publisher=[[Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek]]|author=Garssen, Joop, Han Nicolaas and Arno Sprangers|year=2005|language=Dutch|format=PDF|accessdate=2 July 2011}}</ref> The [[Dutch people|Dutch]] are the tallest people in the world, with an average [[Human height|height]] of {{convert|1.81|m|ftin|1|abbr=out}} for adult males and {{convert|1.67|m|ftin|1|abbr=out}} for adult females in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?VW=T&DM=SLNL&PA=03799&D1=242,254,267-270&D2=0-17&HD=081103-1603&HDR=T.&STB=G1|publisher=Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek|title=Reported health and lifestyle|accessdate=12 August 2012}}</ref> People in the south are on average about {{convert|2|cm|1|abbr=in}} shorter than those in the north.
-The Netherlands is the 25th [[List of countries by population density|most densely populated]] country in the world, with 395 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,023&nbsp;sq&nbsp;mi)—or 484 people per square kilometre (1,254/sq&nbsp;mi) if only the land area is counted. It is the most densely populated country in Europe with a population over 16 million. The [[Randstad]] is the country's largest [[conurbation]] located in the west of the country and contains the four largest cities: [[Amsterdam]] in the province [[North Holland]], [[Rotterdam]] and [[The Hague]] in the province [[South Holland]], and [[Utrecht (city)|Utrecht]] in the province [[Utrecht (province)|Utrecht]]. The Randstad has a population of 7 million inhabitants and is the [[List of metropolitan areas in Europe by population|6th largest]] [[metropolitan area]] in Europe.
-[[Dutch people]], or [[Dutch diaspora|descendants of Dutch people]], are also found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Canada, Australia, South Africa and the United States. According to the 2006 U.S. Census, more than 5 million Americans claim total or partial [[Dutch American|Dutch]] ancestry.<ref>{{cite web|author=American FactFinder, United States Census Bureau |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ADPTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=01000US&-ds_name=ACS_2006_EST_G00_&-_lang=en&-_caller=geoselect&-format= |title="Census 2006 ACS Ancestry estimates" |publisher=Factfinder.census.gov |date= |accessdate=2010-04-29}}</ref> There are close to 3 million Dutch-descended [[Afrikaner]]s living in [[South Africa]].<ref>[http://countrystudies.us/south-africa/49.htm South Africa - Afrikaans Speakers]. ''U.S. Library of Congress.''</ref> In 1940, there were 290,000 Europeans and Eurasians in [[Dutch East Indies|Indonesia]],<ref>[http://repositories.cdlib.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1077&context=ies A Hidden Language – Dutch in Indonesia] (PDF). Institute of European Studies (University of California, Berkeley).</ref> but most have since left the country.<ref>[http://www.kitlv.nl/pdf_documents/asia-migrations.pdf Dutch colonialism, migration and cultural heritage] (PDF). Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asia and Caribbean Studies.</ref>
+Dutch people, or [[Dutch diaspora|descendants of Dutch people]], are also found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in [[Canada]], [[Australia]], [[Brazil]], [[South Africa]] and [[the United States]]. According to the 2006 US Census, more than 5&nbsp;million Americans claim total or partial [[Dutch American|Dutch]] ancestry.<ref>{{cite web|author=American FactFinder, United States Census Bureau |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ADPTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=01000US&-ds_name=ACS_2006_EST_G00_%2526amp%253B-_lang%253Den%2526amp%253B-_caller%253Dgeoselect%2526amp%253B-format%253D |title=Census 2006 ACS Ancestry estimates |publisher=Factfinder.census.gov |accessdate=29 April 2010}}{{dead link|date=April 2014}}</ref> There are close to 3&nbsp;million Dutch-descended [[Afrikaner]]s living in South Africa.<ref>[http://countrystudies.us/south-africa/49.htm South Africa – Afrikaans Speakers]. ''Library of Congress.''</ref> In 1940, there were 290,000 Europeans and Eurasians in Indonesia,<ref>[http://repositories.cdlib.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1077&context=ies A Hidden Language – Dutch in Indonesia] (PDF). Institute of European Studies (University of California, Berkeley).</ref> but most have since left the country.<ref>[http://www.kitlv.nl/pdf_documents/asia-migrations.pdf Dutch colonialism, migration and cultural heritage] (PDF). Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asia and Caribbean Studies.</ref> According to [[Eurostat]], in 2010 there were 1.8 million foreign-born residents in the Netherlands, corresponding to 11.1% of the total population. Of these, 1.4 million (8.5%) were born outside the EU and 0.428 million (2.6%) were born in another EU Member State.<ref>Vasileva, Katya (2011) [http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-SF-11-034/EN/KS-SF-11-034-EN.PDF 6.5% of the EU population are foreigners and 9.4% are born abroad], Eurostat, Statistics in focus vol. 34.</ref>
+The Netherlands is the 24th [[List of sovereign states and dependent territories by population density|most densely populated]] country in the world, with {{convert|404.6|PD/sqkm|sigfig=4}}—or {{convert|497|PD/sqkm|sigfig=4}} if only the land area is counted. The [[Randstad]] is the country's largest [[conurbation]] located in the west of the country and contains the four largest cities: Amsterdam in the province [[North Holland]], [[Rotterdam]] and [[The Hague]] in the province [[South Holland]], and [[Utrecht (city)|Utrecht]] in the province [[Utrecht (province)|Utrecht]]. The Randstad has a population of 7&nbsp;million inhabitants and is the [[List of metropolitan areas in Europe by population|6th largest]] [[metropolitan area]] in Europe.
 {{Largest cities of the Netherlands}}
+{{-}}
 ===Language===
-{{FixHTML|beg}}
-{{FixHTML|mid}}
-{{Life in the Netherlands}}
-{{FixHTML|end}}
 {{Main|Languages of the Netherlands}}
+[[File:Population of the Netherlands 1900-2000.png|thumb|Population of the Netherlands from 1900 to 2000]]
-The official language is [[Dutch language|Dutch]], which is spoken by a majority of the inhabitants.
+The official language is [[Dutch language|Dutch]], which is spoken by the vast majority of the inhabitants. Besides Dutch, the European part of the Netherlands recognises three regional languages under the  [[European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages]]. One of those is [[West Frisian language|Frisian]], which is spoken in the northern province of [[Friesland]], called ''Fryslân'' in that language.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2098.html |title=CIA World Factbook: Official languages per country |publisher=Cia.gov |accessdate=23 April 2011}}</ref> Frisian is the only of the three which is standardised and has a formal status for government correspondence, albeit only in the province of Friesland. In addition [[Dutch Low Saxon|Low Saxon]] (''Nedersaksisch'' in Dutch) is recognised. Low Saxon consists of several dialects spoken in the north and east, like [[Twents]] in the region of [[Twente]], and [[Drents]] in the province of [[Drenthe]]. [[Limburgish]] is the third recognised regional language. It consists of Dutch varieties of [[Meuse-Rhenish]] [[Franconian languages|Franconian]] languages and is spoken in the south-eastern province of [[Limburg (Netherlands)|Limburg]].<ref name="international2000"/>
+The dialects most spoken in the Netherlands are the [[Brabantian]]-[[Hollandic]] dialects.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.taalcanon.nl/vragen/hoeveel-dialecten-heeft-het-nederlands/ |title=Hoeveel dialecten heeft het Nederlands? &#124; Taalcanon |publisher=Taalcanon.nl |accessdate=2014-04-23}}</ref>
+English has a formal status in the special municipalities of [[Saba]] and [[Sint Eustatius]]. It is widely spoken on these islands. [[Papiamento]] has a formal status in the special municipality of [[Bonaire]]. [[Yiddish]] and the [[Romani language]] were recognised in 1996 as non-territorial languages.<ref>"The Kingdom of the Netherlands further declares that the principles enumerated in Part II of the Charter will be applied to the Lower-Saxon languages used in the Netherlands, and, in accordance with Article 7, paragraph 5, to Yiddish and the Romanes languages." [http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/Commun/ListeDeclarations.asp?NT=148&CM=8&DF=23/01/05&CL=ENG&VL=1 Netherlands: Declaration contained in the instrument of acceptance, deposited on 2 May 1996 – Or. Engl.], List of declarations made with respect to treaty No. 148 – [[European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages]]</ref>
+There is a tradition of learning foreign languages in the Netherlands: about 70% of the total population have good knowledge of conversational English, 55– 59% of German, and 19% of French. Children start with English courses at primary schools when they are about four or five years old.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.denhaag.nl/en/residents/to/Primary-education-in-the-Netherlands.htm |title=The Hague - Primary education in the Netherlands |publisher=Denhaag.nl |accessdate=2014-04-23}}</ref> English is a mandatory course in all secondary schools.<ref name=xyz>{{cite web|title = Foreign languages in secondary education|work=Wat is het aanbod aan vreemde talen in de onderbouw van het voortgezet onderwijs (vo)?|publisher=Rijksoverheid|url =http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten-en-publicaties/vragen-en-antwoorden/wat-is-het-aanbod-aan-vreemde-talen-in-de-onderbouw-van-het-voortgezet-onderwijs-vo.html|archiveurl =//web.archive.org/web/20110429185145/http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten-en-publicaties/vragen-en-antwoorden/wat-is-het-aanbod-aan-vreemde-talen-in-de-onderbouw-van-het-voortgezet-onderwijs-vo.html|archivedate =29 April 2011|accessdate =3 May 2010}}{{dead link|date=April 2014}}{{Nl icon}}</ref> In most lower level secondary school educations (''[[voorbereidend middelbaar beroepsonderwijs|vmbo]]''), one additional modern foreign language is mandatory during the first two years.<ref name="Roster of the Central Exams of 2009">[http://www.examenblad.nl/9336000/1/j9vvhinitagymgn_m7mvh57glpdohx6_n11vg41h1h4i9qe/vhl5jftd1sx8 Roster of the Central Exams of 2009], Examenblad</ref>
-Another official language is [[West Frisian language|Frisian]], which is spoken in the northern province of [[Friesland]], called ''Fryslân'' in that language. Frisian is also spoken in some villages in the west of the province of [[Groningen (province)|Groningen]].<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2098.html CIA World Factbook: Official languages per country]</ref> Frisian is co-official only in the province of Friesland, although with a few restrictions. Several dialects of [[Dutch Low Saxon|Low Saxon]] (''Nedersaksisch'' in Dutch) are spoken in much of the north and east, like the [[Tweants]] in the [[Twente]] region, and are recognised by the Netherlands as ''regional languages'' according to the [[European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages]], as well as the [[Meuse-Rhenish]] [[Franconian languages|Franconian]] varieties in the southeastern province of [[Limburg (Netherlands)|Limburg]], here called [[Limburgish]] language.<ref name="international2000"/>
+In higher level secondary schools (''[[hoger algemeen voortgezet onderwijs|havo]]'' and ''[[voorbereidend wetenschappelijk onderwijs|vwo]]''), two additional modern foreign languages are mandatory during the first three years. Only during the last three years in ''vwo'' one foreign language is mandatory. The standard modern languages are French and German, although schools can change one of these modern languages with Spanish, [[Turkish language|Turkish]], [[Arabic]], or Russian.<ref name="Roster of the Central Exams of 2009"/> Additionally, schools in the Frisia region teach and have exams in [[West Frisian language|Frisian]], and schools across the country teach and have exams in classical Greek and Latin for secondary school (called gymnasium or vwo+).
-There is a tradition of learning foreign languages in the Netherlands: about 70% of the total population have good knowledge of conversational [[English language|English]], 55– 59% of [[German language|German]] and 19% of [[French language|French]]. Most Dutch secondary schools also teach classical languages and/or modern languages. Modern languages with official state exams are English, French, German, [[Spanish language|Spanish]], [[Turkish language|Turkish]], [[Arabic]], [[Russian language|Russian]] and Frisian.<ref>[http://www.examenblad.nl/9336000/1/j9vvhinitagymgn_m7mvh57glpdohx6_n11vg41h1h4i9qe/vhl5jftd1sx8] Roster of the Central Exams of 2009, Examenblad</ref>
 ===Religion===
 {{Main|Religion in the Netherlands}}
-[[File:DomTorenUtrechtNederland.jpg|thumb|left|[[Dom Tower of Utrecht]]]]
+[[File:DomTorenUtrechtNederland.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Dom Tower of Utrecht]]]]
+The Netherlands was a predominantly Christian society until late into the 20th century, with a strong demarcation ([[pillarisation]]) between roughly the Catholic south on one side and the [[calvinism|Calvinist]] north on the other side. In the 1960s, this started to diminish. Although religious diversity remains, there has been a decline of religious adherence. The Netherlands is one of the most [[secular]] countries in [[Western Europe]], with only 39% being religiously affiliated (31% for those aged under 35), and fewer than 5.6% attending church regularly (meaning once or more per month) in 2010. Religion is in the Netherlands generally considered a personal matter which is not supposed to be propagated in public.<ref>{{cite book|title=Godsdienstige veranderingen in Nederland|language=Dutch|author=Becker, Jos and Joep de Hart|isbn=90-377-0259-7|year=2006|publisher=Sociaal en Cultureel Planbureau|oclc=84601762}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Godsdienstige veranderingen in Nederland|language=Dutch|author=Becker, Jos and Joep de Hart|isbn=90-377-0259-7|year=2006|publisher=Sociaal en Cultureel Planbureau|oclc=84601762}}</ref><ref>[http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/338181/news/world/dutch-bishops-give-pope-francis-bleak-picture-of-church-in-decline Bleak picture of church in decline] 4.12.3013 GMA news</ref> According to the most recent [[Eurobarometer]] poll 2010,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_341_en.pdf|title=Special Eurobarometer, biotechnology, page 204|date=Fieldwork: Jan–Feb 2010|format=PDF}}</ref> 28% of the Dutch citizens responded that "they believe there is a God", whereas 39% answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force", and 30% that "they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, god, or life force". Since 1989, the [[Religious affiliation|unaffiliated]] have become mainstream, the number of adults without a religion in 2005 being at 51.3% and steadily growing.
-The Netherlands is one of the most [[secular]] countries in Western Europe, with only 39% being religiously affiliated (31% for those aged under 35), and fewer than 20% visiting church regularly.<ref>{{cite book|title=Godsdienstige veranderingen in Nederland|language=Dutch|author=Becker, Jos and Joep de Hart|isbn=9037702597|year=2006|publisher=[[Social and Cultural Planning Office|Sociaal en Cultureel Planbureau]]|oclc=84601762}}</ref>
+Almost all Christian groups show a decrease in the number of members or less stable membership. However, in particular the loss of members of the two major churches, which are the Roman Catholic Church in the Netherlands, with a membership loss of more than 300,000 members between late 2005 and late 2010, and the Protestant Church in the Netherlands, with a membership loss of more than 150,000 members, cause the number of Christians in the Netherlands to have decreased from approximately 7.132 million (44%) by the end of 2005 to 6.861 million (39%) <ref>http://www.gh.nl/onderzoek/Lectoraat%20Zorg%20en%20Spiritualiteit/~/media/Files/Onderzoek/ZS/Diversen/20111103%20GrevelS-handout.ashx</ref> by the end of 2010.
+Also [[Ietsism]], [[Agnosticism]] and [[Christian atheism]] are on the rise; the first two being general accepted and the last being more or less considered to be non-controversial.<ref>H. Knippenberg, "The Changing Religious Landscape of Europe", Het Spinhuis, Amsterdam 2005 ISBN 90-5589-248-3</ref> A countervailing trend is produced by a religious revival in the Protestant [[Bible Belt (Netherlands)|Bible Belt]], and the growth of Muslim and Hindu communities resulting from immigration and high birth rates.<ref>Hans Knippenberg, "Secularization in the Netherlands in its historical and geographical dimensions," ''GeoJournal'' (1998) 45#3 pp 209-220. [http://www.springerlink.com/content/k0658n63j673385u/ online]</ref><ref>Tomáš Sobotka and Feray Adigüzel, "Religiosity and spatial demographic differences in the Netherlands" (2002) [http://som.eldoc.ub.rug.nl/ online]</ref>
+The SCP (Sociaal Cultureel Planbureau) expects the number of non-affiliated Dutch to be at 72% in 2020.<ref>Sociaal en Cultureel Planbureau, God in Nederland (2006/2007)</ref>
+It should be noted that different sources give very different percentages.<ref name="Knippenberg page 92">Knippenberg, Hans  "The Changing Religious Landscape of Europe" edited by Knippenberg published by Het Spinhuis, Amsterdam 2005 ISBN 90-5589-248-3, page 92</ref> A 2007 research ''God in Nederland'', based on in-depth interviews of 1132 people concluded that 61% of the Dutch are non-affiliated. Fewer than 7% attend church regularly (at least once a month). Similar studies were done in 1966, 1979 and 1996, showing a steady decline of religious affiliation. That this trend is likely to continue is illustrated by the fact that in the age group under 35, 69% are non-affiliated. However, those who ''do'' identify with a religious denomination tend to be more profoundly religious than in the past. Religious belief is also regarded as a very personal affair, as is illustrated by the fact that 60% of self-described believers are not affiliated with any organised religion. There is a stronger stress on positive sides of belief, with [[Hell]] and the concept of damnation being pushed into the background. One quarter of non-believers sometimes pray, but more in a sense of meditative self-reflection.<ref name="Knippenberg page 92"/>
-Currently, [[Roman Catholicism]] is the single largest religion of the Netherlands, forming the religious home of some 26.3% of the Dutch people, down from 40% in the 1970s. The [[Protestant Church of the Netherlands]] follows with 11.4% of the population.{{Citation needed|in the fifth paragraph of this section other percentages are stated|date=April 2010}} It was formed in 2004 as a merger of the two major strands of [[Calvinism]]: the [[Dutch Reformed Church]] (which represented roughly 8.5% of the population), the [[Reformed Churches in the Netherlands]] (3.7% of the population), and a smaller [[Lutheran]] Church. Other Protestant churches, mostly orthodox Calvinist splits, represent 6% of the population. In 2006, there were 850,000 [[Islam in the Netherlands|Muslims]] (5% of the total Dutch population).<ref name=CBS>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbs.nl/NR/rdonlyres/ACE89EBE-0785-4664-9973-A6A00A457A55/0/2007k3b15p48art.pdf|title=Towards a new estimation on the number of Muslims in the Netherlands|work=Central Bureau of Statistics, the Netherlands|year=2006|accessdate=2009-07-05|format=PDF}}</ref> The Netherlands has an estimated 250,000 [[Buddhism in the Netherlands|Buddhists]] or people who feel strongly attracted by this religion, largely white Dutch. In 1998, there were only 16,000 Buddhists including just 4,000 Dutch natives and 12,000 Buddhist immigrants from Asia. There are approximately 95,000 [[Hinduism in the Netherlands|Hindus]], of whom 85% originate from [[Suriname]]. [[Sikh]]s are another religious minority numbering around 12,000, mainly located in or around Amsterdam. There are five [[gurudwara]]s in the Netherlands.
+Freedom of education has been guaranteed by the Dutch constitution since 1917, and schools run by religious groups (especially Catholic and Protestant) are funded by the government. All schools must meet strict quality criteria.
-Although the [[Holocaust]] deeply affected the [[History of the Jews in the Netherlands|Jewish]] community (killing about 75% of its 140,000 members at the time), it has managed to rebuild a vibrant and lively Jewish life for its approximately 45,000 current members. Before World War II, 10% of the [[Amsterdam]] population was [[Jewish Amsterdam|Jewish]].<ref>[http://www.jewishhistoryamsterdam.com/jewish-history-amsterdam.html Jewish Amsterdam]. Retrieved 20 July 2007.</ref>
+Three political parties in the Dutch parliament ([[Christian Democratic Appeal|CDA]], [[ChristianUnion]], and [[Reformed Political Party|SGP]]) base their policy on Christian belief in varying degrees. Although the Netherlands is a secular state, in some [[Municipalities of the Netherlands|municipalities]] where the Christian parties have the majority, the council meetings are opened by prayer.
-According to the most recent [[Eurobarometer]] poll 2005,<ref name=EUROBAROMETER>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_225_report_en.pdf|title=Eurobarometer on Social Values, Science and technology 2005 - page 11|accessdate=2007-05-05|format=PDF}}</ref> 34% of the Dutch citizens responded that "they believe there is a god", whereas 37% answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force", and 27% that "they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, god, or life force".
+Municipalities in general also give civil servants a day off on Christian religious holidays, such as Easter and the [[Ascension of Jesus]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beleven.org/feesten/lijsten/landen.php?land=Nederland |title=Feestdagen Nederland |publisher=Beleven.org |accessdate=27 January 2010}}</ref>
-In 1947, before the secularisation of Europe and the large settlement of non-Europeans in the Netherlands, most Dutch citizens identified themselves as Christians. In the same year, 44.3% belonged to Protestant denominations, 38.7% belonged to the Roman Catholic Church, and 17.1% were unaffiliated.<ref>[[www.Volkstellingen.nl Volkstellingen.nl]] (nl)</ref> Since then, the general collapse in religiosity has struck Protestants somewhat harder than Catholics, which partly explains why the Catholic Church has a larger percentage than the Protestants nowadays. In 2003, those percentages were approximately: Protestant 20, Catholic 30 and unaffiliated 41.{{Citation needed|in the first paragraph of this section other percentages are stated|date=April 2010}}
+{{Pie chart
-Freedom of education has been guaranteed by the Dutch constitution since 1917, and schools run by religious groups (especially Christian and Islam) are funded by the government. Nevertheless, all schools must meet strict quality criteria.
+|thumb = right
+|caption = Religion in the Netherlands (2005)<ref>Donk, W.B.H.J. van de; Jonkers, A.P.; Kronjee, G.J.; Plum, R.J.J.M.: Geloven in het publieke domein, verkenningen van een dubbele transformatie, WRR, Amsterdam University Press, Amsterdam</ref>
+|label1 = [[Irreligion|Irreligious]]
+|value1 = 51.3
+|color1 = Orange
+|label2 = [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholicism]]
+|value2 = 24.6
+|color2 = DarkOrchid
+|label3 = [[Protestantism]]
+|value3 = 14.8
+|color3 = DodgerBlue
+|label4 = [[Islam]]
+|value4 = 5.8
+|color4 = LimeGreen
+|label5 = [[Hinduism]]
+|value5 = 1.4
+|color5 = Yellow
+|label6 = [[Buddhism]]
+|value6 = 1.2
+|color6 = Magenta
+|label7  = Other Unspecified
+|value7  = 0.9
+|color7  = Blue
+}}
+====Roman Catholicism====
-Three political parties in the Dutch parliament (CDA, ChristianUnion, and SGP) base their policy on Christian belief in varying degrees. Although the Netherlands is a secular state, in some [[Municipalities of the Netherlands|municipalities]] where the Christian parties have the majority, the council practices religion by praying before a meeting. Moreover, in a few remaining (rural) spots, roads are closed for car traffic on Sundays and religious holidays.{{Citation needed|is that true|date=April 2010}} Municipalities in general also give civil servants a day off on Christian religious holidays, such as [[Easter]] and the [[Ascension of Jesus]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beleven.org/feesten/lijsten/landen.php?land=Nederland |title=Feestdagen Nederland |publisher=Beleven.org |date= |accessdate=2010-01-27}}</ref>  On 4 September 2008, a discussion was started by [[Tineke Huizinga]] whether Islam should receive a holiday, since there are multiple for Christianity. In 2005, 20% of the Dutch thought that such a holiday should be a national holiday (which means the entire country receives a day off work or school) and 45% thought that [[Eid ul-Fitr]] should at least be recognized as a holiday.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://weblogs2.nrc.nl/discussie/2008/09/04/moet-nederland-een-islamitische-feestdag-krijgen/ |title=Discussie » Moet Nederland een islamitische feestdag krijgen? |publisher=Weblogs2.nrc.nl |date=2008-09-04 |accessdate=2010-01-27}}</ref>
+Currently, Roman Catholicism is the single largest religion of the Netherlands with around four million registered adherents which is 24% of the Dutch population in 2011.<ref name="SILA">{{cite news |url=http://www.sila.nl/5-Pages/01-Aantallen2011.html |title=Kerkelijke gezindte en kerkbezoek; vanaf 1849; 18 jaar of ouder |date=15 October 2010 }}</ref> In the second half of the twentieth century a rapid secularization took place in the Catholic parts of the Netherlands. A planned visit of [[Pope Francis]] to the Netherlands was blocked by [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|Cardinal]] [[Wim Eijk]] in 2014, allegedly because of the feared lack of interest for the [[Pope]] among the Dutch public.<ref>{{cite web|author=Emiel Hakkenes |url=http://www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/4492/Nederland/article/detail/3587802/2014/02/01/Kardinaal-Eijk-blokkeert-bezoek-paus-Franciscus.dhtml |title=Kardinaal Eijk blokkeert bezoek paus Franciscus - Nederland - TROUW |publisher=Trouw.nl |accessdate=2014-04-23}}</ref>
+In 2006 slightly more than half of the Brabantian people identified with Catholism, but only 1-2% of the total population of that area attend the [[mass]], and these churchgoers consist mostly of people over 65 years old.<ref>Kerncijfers 2006 uit de kerkelijke statistiek van het Rooms-Katholiek Kerkgenootschap in Nederland, Rapport nr. 561 oktober 2007, Jolanda Massaar- Remmerswaal dr. Ton Bernts, KASKI, onderzoek en advies over religie en samenleving</ref> Since the provinces of [[North Brabant]] and [[Limburg (Netherlands)|Limburg]] are in the Netherlands historically most [[Roman Catholic]], their people still use the term and some traditions as a base for their [[Cultural Christian|cultural identity]] rather than as a religious identity. The vast majority of the Catholic population in the Netherlands is now largely irreligious in practice. Research among Catholics in the Netherlands in 2007 shows that only 27% of the Dutch Catholics can be regarded as a [[theist]], 55% as an [[ietsism|ietsist]] / [[agnostic theist]] and 17% as [[agnostic]].<ref name="Nederland' 2006">God in Nederland' (1996-2006), by Ronald Meester, G. Dekker, ISBN  9789025957407</ref>
+====Protestantism====
+The [[Protestant Church in the Netherlands]] (PKN) follows with 10.8% of the population.<ref name="CBS 2009">{{cite news |url=http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?DM=SLNL&PA=37944&D1=0-5,10&D2=29-40&VW=T |title=Kerkelijke gezindte en kerkbezoek; vanaf 1849; 18 jaar of ouder |date=15 October 2010}}</ref> It was formed in 2004 as a merger of the two major strands of [[Calvinism]]: the [[Dutch Reformed Church]], the [[Reformed Churches in the Netherlands]] and a smaller [[Lutheran]] Church. Other Protestant churches, both orthodox Calvinist and liberal churches did not merge into the PKN.
+The number of members falls on average by about 2.5% per year. This is caused primarily by the death of older members and little growth among the younger population.<ref>Bron: Statistische Jaarbrief 2011</ref>
+Research in 2007 concludes that 42% of the members of the PKN is a [[non-theist]].<ref name="Nederland' 2006"/> Furthermore, in the [[Protestant Church in the Netherlands]] (PKN) and several other smaller denominations of the Netherlands, 1 in 6 clergy are either agnostic or [[Christian Atheism|atheist]].<ref name=PKN-Hendrikse>{{cite news|last=Pigott|first=Robert|title=Dutch rethink Christianity for a doubtful world|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14417362|accessdate=2 October 2011|newspaper=BBC News|date=5 August 2011}}</ref>
+====Humanism====
+A research in 2003 shows that about 1.27 million people in the Netherlands express explicitly an affinity with [[secular humanism]], which is about 9.4% of the total population.<ref name="verwey-jonker.nl">http://www.verwey-jonker.nl/doc/participatie/D0693416.pdf</ref>
+[[Erasmus]] and [[Dirck Coornhert]] are important early representatives of [[humanism]] in the Netherlands in the 16th century.
+In the 17th century, especially [[Spinoza]] and [[Hugo Grotius]] were important.
+During the [[Age of Enlightenment]] (18th century), the importance of science and research increased sharply. Confidence in human understanding and logical reasoning was given shape in [[liberalism]]. The German philosophers [[Ludwig Feuerbach]] and [[Kant]] and the [[evolution theory]] of [[Charles Darwin|Darwin]], among other scientific theories in the 19th century, had an exceptionally strong influence and were a major step in the development of humanism in the Netherlands. The modern organized humanist movement began in the Netherlands in the mid-nineteenth century with the establishment of freethinkers association ''De Dageraad'' (Dawn). The members, including writer [[Multatuli]] and later Anton Constandse.
+[[Marx]]' [[socialism]] had a significant influence on the Dutch humanism of the 20th century. With the establishment of the humanistic associations ''Humanitas'' in 1945 and the ''Humanistisch Verbond'' in 1946, Dutch humanists organized themselves after the [[World War II|Second World War]]. When the [[Universal Declaration of Human Rights]] was adopted by the [[United Nations]] in 1948, the Dutch Humanist movements became involved with the establishment of the [[International Humanist and Ethical Union]] in 1952 (and since 1990 also the [[European Humanist Federation]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.humanistischverbond.nl/geschiedenis-humanisme |title=Geschiedenis humanisme |publisher=Humanistischverbond.nl |accessdate=2014-04-23}}</ref>
+====Pluralism====
+Slightly more than half (52.8%) of the respondents to a research about [[humanism]] in 2003 affiliated with no religious or philosophical movement at all. In contrast 8% said to follow more than 1 movement. This form of pluralism occurs in all religious and philosophical Dutch movements, but is strongest among supporters of non-[[Western religion]]s. 75% of Dutch Buddhists also affiliate with other religious or philosophical movements. Among followers of [[Hinduism]] in the Netherlands, this ratio is even higher, at 91%. On the other hand, followers of Western religions and humanism, as well as movements in the 'other' category were least likely to affiliate with more than one religious or philosophical movement.
+Within Western movements the people affiliating with humanism were most likely to also adhere to one or more other movements (47%). Most of these humanists adhere to Catholicism (27%), Protestantism (14%) or Buddhism (12%). Also 9% of Catholics, 6% of Protestants and 50% of the Buddhists counting themselves as humanists, as well as 25% of the Muslims, 55% of the Hindu, 19% of the Jews and 15% of the supporters of a movement other than these listed.<ref name="verwey-jonker.nl"/>
+====Minority Religions====
+In 2006, there were 850,000 [[Islam in the Netherlands|Muslims]].<ref name=CBS>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbs.nl/NR/rdonlyres/ACE89EBE-0785-4664-9973-A6A00A457A55/0/2007k3b15p48art.pdf|title=Towards a new estimation on the number of Muslims in the Netherlands|work=Central Bureau of Statistics, Netherlands|year=2006|accessdate=5 July 2009|format=PDF}}</ref>
+As a result of different determination methods in 2012 this number had dropped to 825.000 (4% of the total Dutch population).<ref name=CBS2>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbs.nl/nl-NL/menu/themas/vrije-tijd-cultuur/publicaties/artikelen/archief/2012/2012-3759-wm.htm|title=Een op de zes bezoekt regelmatig kerk of moskee|work=Central Bureau of Statistics, Netherlands|year=2012|accessdate=30 March 2014}}</ref> Muslim numbers began to rise after the 1970s as the result of [[Demographics of the Netherlands#Im- and Emigration|immigration]]. Some migrants from former [[Dutch Empire|Dutch colonies]], such as [[Surinam]] and [[Indonesia]], were sometimes Muslim, but migrant workers from [[Turkey]] and [[Morocco]] are the biggest part, as well as their children. During the 1990s, the Netherlands opened its borders for Muslim refugees from countries like [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[Iran]], [[Iraq]], [[Somalia]], and [[Afghanistan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scp.nl/publicaties/boeken/9037702597/Godsdienstige_veranderingen.pdf  |title=Godsdienstige veranderingen in Nederland |format=PDF |accessdate=2010-05-17 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070125142251/http://www.scp.nl/publicaties/boeken/9037702597/Godsdienstige_veranderingen.pdf |archivedate = 2007-01-25}}</ref> Muslims form a diverse group. Social tensions between native Dutch and migrant Muslims began to rise in the early 21st century, with the rise and murder of populist politician [[Pim Fortuyn]] by militant animal rights activist [[Volkert van der Graaf]] and the murder of [[Theo van Gogh (film director)|Theo van Gogh]] by an extremist Muslim, [[Mohammed Bouyeri]]. There are about 1,500 [[Ahmadiyya|Ahmadi]] Muslims in Netherlands.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dichtbij.nl/almere/regionaal-nieuws/artikel/2567273/poort-krijgt-nieuwe-moskee.aspx | title=Poort krijgt nieuwe moskee | date=December 13, 2013 | accessdate=April 26, 2014}}</ref>
+The Netherlands has an estimated 250,000 [[Buddhism in the Netherlands|Buddhists]] or people who feel strongly attracted by this religion, mainly ethnic Dutch people. There are approximately 200,000 [[Hinduism in the Netherlands|Hindus]], most of them of [[Suriname]]se origin. [[Sikh]]s are another religious minority in the Netherlands, numbering around 12,000, mainly located in or around Amsterdam. There are five [[gurudwara]]s in the Netherlands. The [[Association of Religion Data Archives]] (relying on [[World Christian Encyclopedia]]) estimated some 6,400 Bahá'ís in 2005.<ref name="WCE-05">{{cite web| title = Most Baha'i Nations (2005)|work=The Association of Religion Data Archives|year = 2005| url =http://www.thearda.com/QuickLists/QuickList_40c.asp|accessdate =4 July 2009}}</ref>
+Although the [[Holocaust]] deeply affected the [[History of the Jews in the Netherlands|Jewish]] community (killing about 75% of its 140,000 members at the time<ref>{{cite journal |author=Blom, JCH |title=The Persecution of the Jews in the Netherlands: A Comparative Western European Perspective |doi=10.1177/026569148901900302 |journal=European History Quarterly |date=July 1989 |volume=19 |issue=3 |pages=333–351}}</ref>), it has managed to rebuild a vibrant and lively Jewish life for its approximately 45,000 current members. Before the [[World War II|Second World War]], 10% of the Amsterdam population was [[Jewish Amsterdam|Jewish]].<ref>[http://www.jewishhistoryamsterdam.com/jewish-history-amsterdam.html The Jewish history of Amsterdam]. jewishhistoryamsterdam.com.</ref>
+===Education===
+{{Main|Education in the Netherlands}}
+Education in the Netherlands is compulsory between the ages of 4 and 16, and partially compulsory between the ages of 16 and 18.
+All children in the Netherlands usually attend elementary school from (on average) ages 4 to 12. It comprises eight grades, the first of which is facultative. Based on an aptitude test, the 8th grade teacher's recommendation and the opinion of the pupil's parents or caretakers, a choice is made for one of the three main streams of secondary education (after completing a particular stream, a pupil may still continue in the penultimate year of the next stream):
+* The [[voorbereidend middelbaar beroepsonderwijs|vmbo]] has 4 grades and is subdivided over several levels. Successfully completing the vmbo results in a low-level vocational degree that grants access to the mbo ("middle-level applied education"). This form of education primarily focuses on teaching a practical trade. With the mbo certification, a student can apply for the hbo.
+* The [[hoger algemeen voortgezet onderwijs|havo]] has 5 grades and allows for admission to the hbo ("higher professional education"), which are [[vocational university|universities of professional education]] (or applied sciences) that award professional bachelor degrees that gives access to the university system.
+* The [[voorbereidend wetenschappelijk onderwijs|vwo]] (including [[Atheneum (school)|atheneum]] and [[Gymnasium (school)|gymnasium]]) has 6 grades and prepares for studying at a research university. The university consists of a three-year bachelor's degree, followed by a one-, two- or three-year master's degree, and finally a four-year [[doctoral degree]]. [[Research assistant|Doctoral candidates]] in the Netherlands are temporary employees of a university.
 ==Culture==
 {{Main|Culture of the Netherlands}}
+[[File:Hollande04.jpg|thumb|300px|Symbols and icons of Dutch culture]]
-The Netherlands has had many well-known painters. The 17th century, when the Dutch republic was prosperous, was the age of the "Dutch Masters", such as [[Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn|Rembrandt van Rijn]], [[Johannes Vermeer]], [[Jan Steen]], [[Jacob van Ruysdael]] and many others. Famous Dutch [[painters]] of the 19th and 20th century were [[Vincent van Gogh]] and [[Piet Mondrian|Piet Mondriaan]]. [[M. C. Escher]] is a well-known graphics artist. [[Willem de Kooning]] was born and trained in [[Rotterdam]], although he is considered to have reached acclaim as an American artist. The Netherlands is the country of philosophers [[Erasmus|Erasmus of Rotterdam]] and [[Baruch Spinoza|Spinoza]]. All of [[René Descartes|Descartes]]' major work was done in the Netherlands. The Dutch scientist [[Christiaan Huygens]] (1629–1695) discovered [[Saturn]]'s moon [[Titan (moon)|Titan]] and invented the [[pendulum clock]]. [[Antonie van Leeuwenhoek]] was the first to observe and describe [[Microorganism|single-celled organisms]] with a [[microscope]].
+The Netherlands has had many well-known painters. The 17th century, in which the Dutch Republic was prosperous, was the age of the "Dutch Masters", such as [[Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn|Rembrandt van Rijn]], [[Johannes Vermeer]], [[Jan Steen]], [[Jacob van Ruysdael]] and many others. Famous Dutch painters of the 19th and 20th century were [[Vincent van Gogh]] and [[Piet Mondrian|Piet Mondriaan]]. [[M. C. Escher]] is a well-known graphics artist. [[Willem de Kooning]] was born and trained in [[Rotterdam]], although he is considered to have reached acclaim as an American artist.
-In the [[Dutch Golden Age]], [[literature]] flourished as well, with [[Joost van den Vondel]] and [[Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft|P.C. Hooft]] as the two most famous writers. In the 19th century, [[Multatuli]] wrote about the poor treatment of the natives in Dutch colonies. Important 20th century authors include [[Harry Mulisch]], [[Jan Wolkers]], [[Simon Vestdijk]], [[Cees Nooteboom]], [[Gerard van het Reve|Gerard (van het) Reve]] and [[Willem Frederik Hermans]]. [[Anne Frank]]'s [[The Diary of a Young Girl|''Diary of a Young Girl'']] was published after she died in the Holocaust and translated from Dutch to all major languages.
+The Netherlands is the country of philosophers [[Erasmus|Erasmus of Rotterdam]] and [[Baruch Spinoza|Spinoza]]. All of [[René Descartes|Descartes]]' major work was done in the Netherlands. The Dutch scientist [[Christiaan Huygens]] (1629–1695) discovered [[Saturn]]'s moon [[Titan (moon)|Titan]], argued that light travelled as waves, invented the [[pendulum clock]] and was the first physicist to use mathematical formulae. [[Antonie van Leeuwenhoek]] was the first to observe and describe [[microorganism|single-celled organisms]] with a [[microscope]].
-Replicas of Dutch buildings can be found in [[Huis ten Bosch (theme park)|Huis ten Bosch]], [[Nagasaki, Nagasaki|Nagasaki]], [[Japan]]. A similar Holland Village is being built in [[Shenyang]], [[China]]. [[Windmill]]s, [[tulip]]s, [[Clog (shoe)|wooden shoes]], cheese,  [[Delftware]] pottery, and [[cannabis]] are among the items associated with the Netherlands by tourists.
-[[File:Netherlands.jpg|thumb|right|The Netherlands in a single image: flat, dense traffic, a big polder ('Grote Polder'), a canal, old and new windmills, and flowers]]
-<gallery>
-File:VanGogh-starry night ballance1.jpg|The [[painting]] [[Starry Night]] by [[Vincent van Gogh]] (1854–1890)
-File:SouvenirKlompjes1212.jpg|Dutch wooden [[clogs]]
-File:MolenSneeuwAmsterdam.jpg|Dutch [[windmill]]
-File:Keukenhof tulips.JPG|[[Tulips]] at the [[Keukenhof]]
-</gallery>
-{{clearleft}}
+In the [[Dutch Golden Age]], literature flourished as well, with [[Joost van den Vondel]] and [[Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft|P. C. Hooft]] as the two most famous writers. In the 19th century, [[Multatuli]] wrote about the poor treatment of the natives in Dutch colonies. Important 20th century authors include [[Harry Mulisch]], [[Jan Wolkers]], [[Simon Vestdijk]], [[Hella S. Haasse]], [[Cees Nooteboom]], [[Gerard van het Reve|Gerard (van het) Reve]] and [[Willem Frederik Hermans]]. [[Anne Frank]]'s [[The Diary of a Young Girl|''Diary of a Young Girl'']] was published after she died in the Holocaust and translated from Dutch to all major languages.
-==Education==
-{{Main|Education in the Netherlands}}
-The Netherlands has compulsory education from age 5 to 18 (or 16 as a study is completed which has given the student adequate professional skills to start as a professional in the labour market).
+Replicas of Dutch buildings can be found in [[Huis Ten Bosch (theme park)|Huis Ten Bosch]], [[Nagasaki]], Japan. A similar Holland Village is being built in [[Shenyang]], China. [[Windmill]]s, [[tulip]]s, [[Clog (shoe)|wooden shoes]], cheese, [[Delftware]] pottery, and [[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]] are among the items associated with the Netherlands by tourists.
-Pupils attend [[primary school|primary]] or [[elementary school]] from age 4 to age 12. After that they continue their education at [[secondary school]] minimally until age 18; which indicates one of three tracks in the Dutch educational system.
+The Netherlands has a long history of social tolerance and today is regarded as a liberal country, considering [[drug policy of the Netherlands|its drug policy]] and its legalisation of [[euthanasia]]. On 1 April 2001, the Netherlands became the first nation to legalize [[same-sex marriage in the Netherlands|same-sex marriage]].
-The vocational track starts with [[VMBO]], which is seen as the lowest level of secondary education and lasts four years. Successfully completing VMBO results in a low level vocational degree and/or gives access to higher (secondary) levels vocational education. Completion of second level vocational education results in professional skills and gives access to further study a [[Vocational universities in The Netherlands|university of applied science]].<br />
-The medium level [[Hoger algemeen voortgezet onderwijs|HAVO]] lasts five years. After completion a student can attend a university of applied science, which award professional bachelor degrees. A degree at a university of applied science gives access to the university system.<br />
-The highest level of high school education is [[Voorbereidend wetenschappelijk onderwijs|VWO]], which lasts six years, completion of which allows students to attend a [[university]]. University consists of a three year bachelor's degrees, followed by one or two year master's degrees. A master's degree is required to start a four year doctoral degree. Doctoral candidates in the Netherlands are temporary employees of a university.
+===Customs and etiquette===
-==Military==
+The Dutch have a [[etiquette|code of etiquette]] which governs social behaviour and is considered important. Because of the international position of the Netherlands, many books have been written on the subject. Some customs may not be true in all regions and they are never absolute. In addition to those specific to the Dutch, many general points of [[etiquette in Europe|European etiquette]] apply to the Dutch as well. Dutch society is [[Egalitarianism|egalitarian]], individualistic and modern. The people tend to view themselves as modest, independent and self-reliant. They value ability over dependency. The Dutch have an aversion to the non-essential. Ostentatious behaviour is to be avoided. Accumulating money is fine, but public spending of large amounts of money is considered something of a [[vice]] and associated with being a show-off. A high lifestyle is considered wasteful and suspect with most people. The Dutch are proud of their [[cultural heritage]], rich history in art and involvement in [[international relations|international affairs]].
-{{Main|Military of the Netherlands}}
+Dutch manners are blunt with a no-nonsense attitude; informality combined with adherence to basic behaviour. This might be perceived as impersonal and patronising by other cultures, but is the norm in Dutch culture.  According to a humorous source on Dutch culture, [[The UnDutchables|The Undutchables]]: ''Their directness gives many the impression that they are rude and crude—attributes they prefer to call ‘openness’''.<ref name="Colin White 1995">Colin White & Laurie Boucke (1995). The UnDutchables: An observation of the Netherlands, its culture and its inhabitants (3rd Ed.). White-Boucke Publishing.</ref> A well known more serious source on Dutch etiquette is "Dealing with the Dutch" from Jacob Vossestein: ''Dutch egalitarianism is the idea that people are equal, especially from a moral point of view, and accordingly, causes the somewhat ambiguous stance the Dutch have towards hierarchy and status.''<ref>J. Vossenstein, Dealing with the Dutch, 9789460220791</ref> As always, manners differ between groups. Asking about basic rules will not be considered impolite. ''What may strike you as being blatantly blunt topics and comments are no more embarrassing or unusual to the Dutch than discussing the weather''.<ref name="Colin White 1995"/>
-[[File:Holland Leopard 2A6 02.jpg|thumb|A [[Leopard 2]] [[main battle tank]] of the [[Royal Netherlands Army]]]]
-The Netherlands has the oldest standing army in Europe; it was first established as such by [[Maurice of Nassau]]. The Dutch army was used throughout the [[Dutch empire]]. After the defeat of Napoleon, the Dutch army was transformed into a [[conscription]] army. The army was unsuccessfully deployed during the [[Belgian revolution]] in 1830. After 1830, it was deployed mainly in the Dutch colonies, as the Netherlands remained neutral in European wars (including WWI), until the [[Battle of the Netherlands|Netherlands was invaded in WWII]] and quickly conquered by the Wehrmacht in May 1940.
+===Sport===
-[[File:F805 Evertsen.jpg|thumb|right|[[HNLMS Evertsen (F805)|HNLMS ''Evertsen'']], a [[Royal Dutch Navy]] [[frigate]]]]
+[[File:Robin Van Persie vs Swansea 2011 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Dutch star football player [[Robin van Persie]] in a match in 2011]]
-After WWII, the Netherlands dropped their neutrality, and the Dutch army became part of the NATO army strength in [[Cold War]] Europe; holding several bases in Germany. In 1996 conscription was ended, and the Dutch army was once again transformed into a professional army. Since the 1990s the Dutch army has been involved in the [[Bosnian War]], the [[Kosovo War]], has been holding a province in [[Iraq]] after the defeat of [[Saddam Hussein]], and is currently engaged in [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|Afghanistan]].
+[[File:Simple Dutch meal.JPG|thumb|Example of traditional Dutch dinner: [[Brussels sprout]]s, boiled potatoes and sausage, including its gravy]]
+{{main|Sport in the Netherlands}}
+Approximately 4.5 million of the 16.8 million people in the Netherlands are registered to one of the 35,000 sports clubs in the country. About two-thirds of the population older than 15 years participates in sports weekly.<ref>{{nl}} {{Wayback |date=20080925042514 |url=http://s2.ned.univie.ac.at/NoN/landeskunde/nl/h11/index.htm |title=Sport in Nederland }}. ned.univie.ac.at</ref> [[Association football|Football]] is the most popular participant sport in the Netherlands, before [[field hockey]] and [[volleyball]] as the second and third most popular team sports. Tennis, gymnastics and golf are the three most widely engaged individual sports.<ref name="sport">{{nl}} {{Wayback |date=20070812034648 |url=http://www.sport.nl/content/nieuwsartikelen/nocnsf/223198?channel=nocnsf |title=Ledental sportbonden opnieuw gestegen }}{{dead link|date=April 2014}}. sport.nl. 24 July 2006</ref>
-The military is composed of four branches, all of which carry the prefix ''Koninklijke'' (Royal):
-*''[[Koninklijke Landmacht]]'' (KL), the Royal <!-- Do not change any of these to Dutch, the official name of ALL branches of the Army is Royal Netherlands.... --> Netherlands Army
-*''[[Koninklijke Marine]]'' (KM), the Royal Netherlands Navy, including the Naval Air Service and Marine Corps
-*''[[Koninklijke Luchtmacht]]'' (KLu), the Royal Netherlands Air Force
-*''[[Koninklijke Marechaussee]]'' (KMar), the Royal Military Police, tasks include military police and border control
+Organisation of sports began at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Federations for sports were established (such as the speed skating federation in 1882), rules were unified and sports clubs came into existence. A Dutch National Olympic Committee was established in 1912. Thus far, the nation has won 230 medals at the [[Summer Olympic Games]] and another 78 medals at the [[Winter Olympic Games]].
-General [[Peter van Uhm]] is the current Commander of the Netherlands armed forces.
-All military specialities except the [[Koninklijke Marine#Submarine service|submarine service]] and the [[Royal Netherlands Marine Corps]] (''Korps Mariniers'') are open to women. The Korps Commandotroepen, the Special Operations Force of the Netherlands Army, is open to women, but because of the extremely high physical demands for initial training, it is found impossible for women to become a commando. The Dutch Ministry of Defence employs almost 70,000 personnel, including over 20,000 civilian and over 50,000 military personnel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mindef.nl/personeel/werken_bij_defensie/index.aspx |title=Ministerie van defensie - Werken bij Defensie |publisher=Mindef.nl |date= |accessdate=2010-04-29}}</ref>
+===Cuisine===
-== International rankings ==
+{{main|Dutch Cuisine}}
-{{Main|International rankings of the Netherlands}}
-{| class="wikitable"
-|-
-! Organization
-! Survey
-! Ranking
-|-
-| Institute for Economics and Peace
-| [[Global Peace Index]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visionofhumanity.org/gpi/home.php |title=Vision of Humanity |publisher=Vision of Humanity |date= |accessdate=2010-02-04}}</ref>
-| 22 out of 144
-|-
-| [[United Nations Development Programme]]
-| [[Human Development Index]]
-| 6 out of 182
-|-
-| [[Transparency International]]
-| [[Corruption Perceptions Index]]
-| 6 out of 180
-|-
-| [[World Economic Forum]]
-| [[Global Competitiveness Report]]
-| 10 out of 133
-|-
-| [[Reporters Without Borders]]
-| [[Press Freedom Index]]
-| 7 out of 175
-|-
-| [[The Economist]]
-| [[Democracy Index]]
-| 4 out of 167
-|}
+The country's cuisine is shaped by the practice of [[fishing]] and [[farming]], including the cultivation of the soil for raising crops and the raising of domesticated animals, and the [[history of the Netherlands]]. Traditionally, Dutch cuisine is simple and straightforward, with many vegetables and little meat; breakfast and lunch are typically bread with toppings while dinner is meat and potatoes, supplemented with seasonal vegetables. The Dutch diet was relatively high in carbohydrates and fat, reflecting the dietary need of the labourers whose culture moulded the country, and contains many dairy products. Without many refinements, it is best described as rustic, though many holidays are still celebrated with special foods. In the course of the twentieth century this diet changed and became much more [[Multiculturalism|cosmopolitan]], with most international cuisines being represented in the major cities.
-==Born in {{BASEPAGENAME}}==
+The Southern Dutch cuisine constitutes the cuisine of the Dutch provinces of [[North-Brabant]] and [[Limburg (Netherlands)|Limburg]] and the [[Flemish Region]] in [[Belgium]]. It is renowned for its many rich pastries, soups, stews and vegetable dishes and is often called Burgundian which is a Dutch idiom invoking the rich Burgundian court which ruled the Low Countries in the Middle Ages renowned for its splendor and great feasts. It is the only Dutch culinary region which developed an [[haute cuisine]].
-{{#ask: [[Birth_nation::{{BASEPAGENAME}}]]
-|?Birth year
-|?Father
-|?Mother
-}}
+==Colonial heritage==
-==Died in {{BASEPAGENAME}}==
+{{main|Dutch Empire}}
-{{#ask: [[Death_nation::{{BASEPAGENAME}}]]
+{{further|Dutch East Indies|Indos in the Dutch East Indies}}
-|?Death year
+[[File:GezichtOpNieuwAmsterdam.jpg|thumb|[[New Amsterdam]] as it appeared in 1664. Under British rule it became known as [[New York City|New York]].]]
-|?Father
+From the exploitations of the [[Dutch East India Company]] in the 17th century, to the [[New Imperialism|colonisations]] in the 19th century, [[Dutch Empire|Dutch imperial possessions]] continued to expand, reaching their greatest extent by establishing a hegemony of the [[Dutch East Indies]] in the early 20th century. The Dutch East Indies, which later formed modern-day Indonesia, was one of the most valuable European colonies in the world and the most important one for the Netherlands.<ref>{{cite book|author=Hart, Jonathan |title=Empires and Colonies |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=LnevC1FYdnEC&pg=PA201 |accessdate=21 August 2012 |year=2008|publisher=Polity |isbn=978-0-7456-2614-7 |pages=201–}}</ref> Over 350 years of mutual heritage has left a significant cultural mark on the Netherlands.
-|?Mother
-}}
+In the [[Dutch Golden Age]] of the 17th century, the Netherlands urbanised considerably, mostly financed by corporate revenue from the Asian trade monopolies. Social status was based on merchants' income, which reduced [[feudalism]] and considerably changed the dynamics of Dutch society. When the [[Dutch Royal Family]] was established in 1815, much of its wealth came from Colonial trade.<ref>To this day the Dutch Royal family is in fact the wealthiest family of the Netherlands. One of the foundations of its wealth was the colonial trade.{{cite news|url=http://www.forbes.com/2007/08/30/worlds-richest-royals-biz-royals07-cx_lk_0830royalintro_slide_15.html?thisSpeed=30000 |title=In Pictures: The World's Richest Royals |work=Forbes |date=30 August 2007 |accessdate=5 March 2010 |first1=Devon |last1=Pendleton |first2=Tatiana |last2=Serafin}}</ref>
+Universities such as the Royal [[Leiden University]], founded in the 16th century, have developed into leading knowledge centres for [[Southeast Asia|South-east Asia]]n and Indonesian studies.<ref>Some of the university faculties still include: Indonesian Languages and Cultures; South-east Asia and Oceania Languages and Cultures; Cultural Anthropology</ref> Leiden University has produced leading academics such as [[Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje]], and still has academics who specialise in Indonesian languages and cultures. Leiden University and in particular [[KITLV]] are educational and scientific institutions that to this day share both an intellectual and historical interest in Indonesian studies. Other scientific institutions in the Netherlands include the Amsterdam [[Tropenmuseum]], an anthropological museum with massive collections of Indonesian art, culture, ethnography and anthropology.
+[[File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Een Europeaan vaccineert Indonesische patiënten met neosalvarsaan tegen de ziekte framboesia TMnr 10006691.jpg|thumb|A European doctor vaccinates Indonesian patients.]]
+The traditions of the [[Royal Dutch East Indies Army]] (KNIL) are maintained by the [[Regiment Van Heutsz]] of the modern [[Royal Netherlands Army]]. A dedicated ''[[Bronbeek]] Museum'', a former home for retired KNIL soldiers, exists in [[Arnhem]] to this day.
+A specific segment of Dutch literature called [[Dutch Indies literature]] still exists and includes established authors, such as [[Louis Couperus]], the writer of "The Hidden Force", taking the colonial era as an important source of inspiration.<ref>Nieuwenhuys, Rob ''Mirror of the Indies: A History of Dutch Colonial Literature'' translated from Dutch by E. M. Beekman (Publisher: Periplus, 1999) [http://dannyreviews.com/h/Mirror_Indies.html Book review.]</ref> One of the great masterpieces of [[Dutch literature]] is the book "[[Max Havelaar]]", written by [[Multatuli]] in 1860.<ref>Etty, Elsbeth (July 1998). [http://retro.nrc.nl/W2/Lab/Profiel/Nederland/novels.html "Novels: Coming to terms with Calvinism, colonies and the war."] NRC Handelsblad</ref>
+The majority of Dutchmen that repatriated to the Netherlands after and during the Indonesian revolution are [[Indo people|Indo]] (Eurasian), native to the islands of the Dutch East Indies. This relatively large Eurasian population had developed over a period of 400 years and were classified by colonial law as belonging to the European legal community.<ref>Bosma U., Raben R. (2008). [http://books.google.com/books?id=47wCTCJX9X4C ''Being "Dutch" in the Indies: a history of creolisation and empire, 1500–1920''], University of Michigan, NUS Press, ISBN 9971-69-373-9</ref> In Dutch they are referred to as ''Indische Nederlanders'' or as Indo (short for Indo-European).<ref>Note: Of the 296,200 so-called Dutch 'repatriants' only 92,200 were expatriate Dutchmen born in the Netherlands. Willems, Wim (2001). ''De uittocht uit Indie 1945–1995''. Bert Bakker, Amsterdam, pp. 12–13. ISBN 90-351-2361-1</ref>
+Including their second generation descendants, Indos are currently the largest foreign-born group in the Netherlands. In 2008, the Dutch Census Bureau for Statistics (CBS)<ref>[http://www.cbs.nl/nl-NL/menu/themas/bevolking/cijfers/default.htm Official CBS website containing all Dutch demographic statistics]. Cbs.nl. Retrieved on 21 August 2012.</ref> registered 387,000 first- and second-generation Indos living in the Netherlands.<ref>De Vries, Marlene (2009). [http://books.google.com/books?id=PNo0ZYamYsUC ''Indisch is een gevoel, de tweede en derde generatie Indische Nederlanders.''] Amsterdam University Press, ISBN 978-90-8964-125-0, p. 369</ref> Although considered fully assimilated into Dutch society, as the main ethnic minority in the Netherlands, these 'repatriants' have played a pivotal role in introducing elements of Indonesian culture into Dutch mainstream culture.
+Practically every town in the Netherlands has a 'Toko' (Dutch Indonesian Shop) or an Indonesian restaurant<ref>[http://indisch-eten.startpagina.nl/ Overview website (incomplete)]. Indisch-eten.startpagina.nl. Retrieved on 21 August 2012.</ref> and many '[[Pasar Malam]]' (Night market in Malay/Indonesian) fairs are organised throughout the year. Many Indonesian dishes and foodstuffs have become commonplace in the Netherlands. [[Rijsttafel]], a colonial culinary concept, and dishes such as [[Nasi goreng]] and [[satay|sateh]] are very popular in the Netherlands.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dutchfood.about.com/od/mainmeals/Main_Meals.htm |title=Dutch Food – Main Meals |publisher=about.com |accessdate=19 May 2012}}</ref>
 ==See also==
+* [[Dutch Caribbean]]
-{{portal|Netherlands|Flag of the Netherlands.svg}}
-{{Main|Outline of the Netherlands}}
+* [[Monarchy of the Netherlands]]
+* [[Outline of the Netherlands]]
-{{-}}
 ==Notes==
-{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
+{{reflist|30em|group=nb}}
 ==References==
+{{Reflist|30em}}
-;Statistics
+; Statistics
 {{Refbegin}}
-*[[Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek]] (2006). [http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?VW=T&DM=SLEN&PA=7068eng&D1=69-134&D2=(l-11)-l&HD=081103-1603&LA=EN Health statistics]. Retrieved 17 June 2006.
+* [[Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek]] (2006). [http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?VW=T&DM=SLEN&PA=7068eng&D1=69-134&D2=(l-11)-l&HD=081103-1603&LA=EN Health statistics]. Retrieved 17 June 2006.
-*{{cite news |url=http://www.economist.com/countries/Netherlands/profile.cfm?folder=Profile%2DEconomic%20Structure |title=The Netherlands: Economic structure|publisher=The Economist|accessdate=2007-06-20}}
 {{Refend}}
-;Articles
+; Articles
 {{Refbegin}}
-*{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/country_profiles/1043423.stm|title=Country profiles: The Netherlands|accessdate=2007-06-20|publisher=BBC | date=2010-03-03}}
+*{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/country_profiles/1043423.stm|title=Country profiles: The Netherlands|accessdate=20 June 2007|publisher=BBC|date=3 March 2010}}
-*{{cite web|url=http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3204.htm|title=Background Note: The Netherlands|accessdate=2007-06-20|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]}}
+*{{cite web|url=http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3204.htm|title=Background Note: The Netherlands|accessdate=20 June 2007|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]}}
-*{{cite news |url=http://www.economist.com/countries/Netherlands/profile.cfm?folder=Profile%2DPolitical%20Forces
-|title=The Netherlands: Political forces|publisher=The Economist|accessdate=2007-06-20}}
-*{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/countries/Netherlands/profile.cfm?folder=History%20in%20brief |title=The Netherlands: History in brief|publisher=The Economist|accessdate=2007-06-20}}
 {{Refend}}
-;Books
+==Further reading==
+{{main|History of the Netherlands#Further reading}}
 {{Refbegin}}
+===Geography and environment===
+* Burke, Gerald L. ''The making of Dutch towns: A study in urban development from the 10th–17th centuries'' (1960)
+*  Lambert, Audrey M. ''The Making of the Dutch Landscape: An Historical Geography of the Netherlands'' (1985); focus on the history of land reclamation
+* Meijer, Henk. ''Compact geography of the Netherlands''  (1985)
+* Riley, R. C., and G. J. Ashworth. ''Benelux: An Economic Geography of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg'' (1975) [http://www.questia.com/read/85882918/benelux-an-economic-geography-of-belgium-the-netherlands online]
+===History===
 * Paul Arblaster. ''A History of the Low Countries''. Palgrave Essential Histories Series New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2006. 298 pp.&nbsp;ISBN 1-4039-4828-3.
 * J. C. H. Blom and E. Lamberts, eds. ''History of the Low Countries'' (1998)
-* Jonathan Israel. ''The Dutch Republic: Its Rise, Greatness, and Fall 1477-1806'' (1995)
+* Jonathan Israel. ''The Dutch Republic: Its Rise, Greatness, and Fall 1477–1806'' (1995)
 * J. A. Kossmann-Putto and E. H. Kossmann. ''The Low Countries: History of the Northern and Southern Netherlands'' (1987)
 {{Refend}}
 ==External links==
-{{sisterlinks|Netherlands}}
+{{Sister project links|Netherlands|voy=Netherlands}}
 ; Government
-*[http://overheid.nl/english/ Overheid.nl] - official Dutch government portal
+* [http://overheid.nl/english/ Overheid.nl] – official Dutch government portal
-*[http://www.government.nl/ Government.nl] - official Dutch government web site
+* [http://www.government.nl/ Government.nl] – official Dutch government web site
+* [http://www.cbs.nl/en-GB/menu/cijfers/default.htm CBS] – Key figures from the Dutch bureau of statistics
-*[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-n/netherlands.html Chief of State and Cabinet Members]
+*{{Statoids|id=unl|title=Provinces of Netherlands}}
-*[http://www.minbuza.nl/en/welcome/Netherlands About the Netherlands – Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs]
-*[http://www.cbs.nl/en-GB/menu/cijfers/default.htm CBS] - Key figures from the Dutch bureau of statistics
-*{{statoids|id=unl|title=Provinces of Netherlands}}
 ; General information
+*[http://www.cbg.nl/index.php/EN?taal=EN CBG] - the Netherlands Centre for Family History (English-language homepage)
+*[http://en.nationaalarchief.nl/ Nationaal Archief] - Dutch National Archives (English-language homepage)
 *{{CIA World Factbook link|nl|Netherlands}}
-*[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/409956/The-Netherlands The Netherlands] entry at ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]''
+* [http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/netherlands.htm Netherlands] from ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''
-*[http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/netherlands.htm Netherlands] from ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''
 *{{dmoz|Regional/Europe/Netherlands}}
+* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17740800 Netherlands profile] from the [[BBC News]]
-{{wikiatlas|Netherlands}}
+*{{Wikiatlas|Netherlands}}
-; News media
+*{{osmrelation-inline|47796}}
-*[http://www.expatica.com/nl/main.html Expatica.com, local news and features on the Netherlands]
+* [http://www.ifs.du.edu/ifs/frm_CountryProfile.aspx?Country=NL Key Development Forecasts for the Netherlands] from [[International Futures]]
-; Employment
-*[http://www.jobsinthenetherlands.nl Dutch employment portal]
-*[http://www.werk.nl Dutch employment agency]
 ; Travel
+* [http://www.holland.com/ Holland.com] – English website of the Netherlands tourist office
-*{{wikitravel}}
-*[http://www.holland.com/ Holland.com] - English website of the Netherlands tourist office
+* [http://www.netherlands-tourism.com/ netherlands-tourism.com] – Tourism guide to the Netherlands
+* [http://www.nbtc.nl/en/homepage.htm nbtc.nl] – Organisation responsible for promoting the Netherlands nationally and internationally
-*[http://www.iamexpat.nl IamExpat in the Netherlands, Free and quick access to career opportunities, accommodation tips, education hints, nightlife suggestions and more]
+{{Netherlands topics}}
-{{Template group
+{{Navboxes
-|title = Articles Related to the Netherlands
+|title = Articles related to the Netherlands
 |list  =
+{{Navboxes
-{{Template group
 |title = Geographic locale
 |list  =
+{{Geographic location
-{{Countries of Europe}}
+| Centre = {{flag|Netherlands}}
-<!-- Redirecting Template removed per [[Wikipedia:Templates_for_deletion/Log/2008_April_7#Template:Germanic-speaking_regions_of_Europe]] -->
+| North = ''[[North Sea]]''
+| Northeast = ''[[North Sea]]'' • {{flag|Denmark}}
+| East = {{flag|Germany}}
+| Southeast = {{flag|Germany}}
+| South = {{flag|Belgium}}
+| Southwest = {{flag|Belgium}}
+| West = {{flag|United Kingdom}} • ''[[North Sea]]''
+| Northwest = ''[[North Sea]]''
 }}
+{{Sovereign states of Europe}}
-{{Template group
+<!-- Redirecting Template removed per [[Wikipedia:Templates for deletion/Log/2008 April 7#Template:Germanic-speaking regions of Europe]] -->
-|title = International organisations
+}}
-|list  =
+{{Navboxes
+|title = International membership and history
+|list  =
 {{EU members}}
 {{Council of Europe members}}
 {{Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development}}
 {{North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)}}
+{{World Trade Organization}}
-{{WTO}}
 {{Dutch Language Union}}
+{{dutch colonies|Kingdom2}}
 }}
 {{National personifications}}
 {{Europe topic|Climate of}}
 }}
+{{Portal bar|Netherlands|European Union|Europe}}
+{{Coord|52|19|N|5|33|E|type:country|display=title}}
 [[Category:Netherlands| ]]
-[[Category:Benelux countries]]
+[[Category:Benelux]]
-[[Category:Bicontinental countries]]
 [[Category:Constitutional monarchies]]
-[[Category:Countries bordering the Atlantic Ocean]]
+[[Category:Countries in Europe]]
-[[Category:Countries bordering the North Sea]]
+[[Category:Countries in the Caribbean]]
-[[Category:Dutch-speaking countries]]
+[[Category:Dutch-speaking countries and territories]]
-[[Category:Countries of Europe]]
+[[Category:Germanic countries and territories]]
 [[Category:Kingdom of the Netherlands]]
 [[Category:Liberal democracies]]
-[[Category:Northern Europe]]
+[[Category:Member states of NATO]]
-[[Category:Western Europe]]
+[[Category:Member states of the Dutch Language Union]]
-[[Category:Caribbean countries]]
 [[Category:Member states of the European Union]]
 [[Category:Member states of the Union for the Mediterranean]]
-[[Category:Member states of the Dutch Language Union]]
+[[Category:Northern Europe]]
-[[Category:Member states of NATO]]
+[[Category:Western Europe]]
+{{usedwp|Netherlands}}
-{{usedwp}}
 [[category:Valid name- nation]]<!-- this is to offer it for autocompletion in forms -->
 {{#set:Definite article=1}} <!-- refer to "the Netherlands" -->

Changes: Netherlands

Latest revision as of 15:44, 25 September 2017

Names[]

History[]

Habsburg Netherlands (1519–1581)[]

Dutch Republic (1581–1795)[]

French influence (1795–1814)[]

Kingdom of the Netherlands (1815–1940)[]

World War II (1940–1945)[]

Post-war history (1945–present)[]

Geography of the Netherlands[]

European Netherlands[]

Floods[]

Delta works[]

Climate[]

Environment[]

Caribbean islands[]

Government[]

Political parties[]

Administrative divisions[]

Provinces[]

Special municipalities[]

Foreign relations[]

Military[]

Economy[]

Agriculture[]

Transport[]

Demographics[]

Language[]

Religion[]

Roman Catholicism[]

Protestantism[]

Humanism[]

Pluralism[]

Minority Religions[]

Education[]

Culture[]

Customs and etiquette[]

Sport[]

Cuisine[]

Colonial heritage[]

See also[]

Notes[]

References[]

Further reading[]

Geography and environment[]

History[]

External links[]