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Background
In a country where you can get a sex change on
the national health scheme, and where Hilde and
her two dads can share a joint (legally!) to
celebrate that she likes boys too, why does the
washing up always get done straight after
dinner? The Netherlands has managed to combine
liberal attitudes with one of the most orderly
societies on earth, in a community that manages
to be radical and sensible without being silly
or staid. The Dutch aren't bogged in their
clichés, even though bikes, dykes, windmills and
blazing flower fields are pretty much the norm
outside the major cities.
For travelers, the integration of the clog and
the microchip works well. The Netherlands is
easy to travel in and the locals are friendly
and speak excellent English, but towns are still
surrounded by canals and castle walls, the
endlessly flat landscape which inspired the
nation's early artists still stretches unbroken
to the horizons, and the dykes still
occasionally threaten to give way.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed in 1815. In 1830 Belgium seceded and formed a separate
Kingdom. The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I but suffered a brutal invasion and occupation by Germany
in World War II. A modern, industrialized nation, the Netherlands is also a large exporter of agricultural products.
The
country was a founding member of NATO and the EC, and participated in the introduction of the euro in 1999.
The standard of health care (and other
social services) is very high, with an unusually high
proportion of national income devoted to public health.
Certain medications may be brought into The Netherlands
provided you have a doctor’s prescription. You do not need
any inoculations and it is safe to drink tap water. For
police assistance, fire or ambulance emergencies, dial 112
anywhere in the country.
Summers are lovely but along with your
shorts and beachwear pack a light-weight raincoat - the odd
shower cannot be ruled out. Winter winds can be cold and you
should certainly wrap up well in January and February. The
average temperature in these months hovers just above 2
degrees centigrade. The voltage in The Netherlands is
220 volts. Hotels may have a 110-volt or 120-volt outlet for
shavers, but travelers are advised to bring a power
converter and an adapter for two-prong, round-prong plugs
with side grounding contacts.
Dutch is the national language. However,
English is spoken by almost everyone. In addition, many
Dutch people speak German and French. In The
Netherlands, Value Added Tax and service charges are
included in your check in hotels, shops and taxis. This is
even the case for your restaurant check. Tips for extra
service are always appreciated but not necessary. It is
customary to give taxi drivers and waiters a tip of about 10
percent. Many public restrooms have an attendant who is
usually tipped EUR 0.50.
Passport
Information
Valid passport required by all except
Nationals of EU countries (except Finland and Sweden) who
hold a valid national ID card. When required they must be
valid for at least 3 months after the last day of the
intended visit.
Visa
Information
Visa required by all except: Nationals of
Australia; Brunei; Costa Rica; Ecuador; El Salvador;
Guatemala; Honduras; Jamaica; Malawi; Malaysia; Nicaragua;
Panama; Paraguay; Singapore; and Venezuela for up to 3
months. Nationals who do not require a visa to visit a
country which is a signatory to the Schengen Agreement. The
following do not require visas for any of the Schengen
member states. a) EU nationals; b) Andorra; Argentina;
Brazil; Canada; Chile; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Hungary;
Iceland; Israel; Japan; Liechtenstein; Malta; Mexico;
Monaco; New Zealand; Norway; Poland; San Marino; The Slovak
Republic; Slovenia; South Korea; Switzerland; Uruguay;
Vatican City.
Geography
Location:
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany.
Geographic coordinates: 52 30 N, 5 45 E. Map references: Europe. Area: total: 41,532 sq km, land: 33,889 sq km, water: 7,643 sq km.
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey.
Land boundaries: total: 1,027 km. border countries: Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km. Coastline: 451 km.
Climate: temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters.
Terrain: mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Prins Alexanderpolder -7 m, highest point:
Vaalserberg 321 m. Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, arable land.
Natural hazards: the extensive system of dikes and dams protects nearly one-half of the total area from being
flooded
People
Population: 15,892,237 (July 2000 est.).
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18% (male 1,497,290; female 1,431,671), 15-64 years: 68% (male 5,490,518; female 5,305,848), 65 years and over: 14% (male 885,839; female 1,281,071) (2000 est.).
Population growth rate: 0.57% (2000 est.). Birth rate: 12.12 births/1,000 population (2000 est.).
Death rate: 8.72 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.). Net migration rate: 2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.).
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05
male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03
male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.98
male(s)/female (2000 est.). Infant mortality rate: 4.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.).
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.28 years, male: 75.4 years, female: 81.28 years (2000 est.).
Total fertility rate: 1.64 children born/woman (2000 est.).
Nationality
Noun:
Dutchman (men), Dutchwoman (women), adjective: Dutch. Ethnic groups: Dutch 91%, Moroccans, Turks, and other 9% (1999 est.).
Religions: Roman Catholic 34%, Protestant 25%, Muslim 3%, other 2%, unaffiliated 36% (1991).
Languages: Dutch. Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1979 est.).
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands, conventional short form: Netherlands, local long form: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden, local short form: Nederland.
Data code: NL. Government type: constitutional monarchy.
Capital: Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government.
Administrative divisions: 12 provinces (provincien, singular - provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland,
Zuid-Holland. Dependent areas: Aruba, Netherlands Antilles.
Independence: 1581 (from Spain). National holiday: Queen's Day, 30 April.
Constitution: adopted 1814; amended many times, last time 17 February 1983.
Legal system: civil law system incorporating French penal theory; constitution does not permit judicial review of
acts of the States General; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations.
Economy
The Netherlands is a prosperous and open economy in which the government has successfully
reduced its role since the 1980s. Industrial activity is predominantly in food processing, chemicals, petroleum refining,
and electrical machinery. A highly mechanized agricultural sector employs no more than 4% of the labor force but
provides large surpluses for the food-processing industry and for exports.
The Dutch rank third worldwide in value of
agricultural exports, behind the US and France.
The
Netherlands successfully addressed the issue of public finances
and stagnating job growth long before its European partners.
This has helped cushion the economy from a slowdown
in the euro area. Strong 3.8% GDP growth in 1998 was followed by an only slightly lower 3.4% expansion in 1999.
The
outlook remains favorable, with real GDP growth in 2000 projected at 3.25%, along with a small budget surplus.
The
Dutch were among the first 11 EU countries establishing the euro currency zone on 1 January 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $365.1 billion (1999 est.).
GDP - real growth rate: 3.4% (1999 est.). GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $23,100 (1999 est.).
Population below poverty line: NA%. Labor force: 7 million (1998 est.).
Labor force - by occupation: services 73%, industry 23%, agriculture 4% (1998 est.).
Unemployment rate: 3.5% but generous welfare benefits have prompted large numbers to drop out of the labor
market (1999 est.). Budget: revenues: $163 billion
expenditures: $170 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.).
Industries: agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals,
petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing. Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1999).
Currency
Euros (since January 1, 2002). Before Netherlands guilder,
gulden, or florin (f.) = 100 cents. Exchange rates: euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999); Netherlands guilders, gulden, or florins (f.)
per US$1 - 1.8904 (January 1999), 1.9837 (1998), 1.9513 (1997), 1.6859 (1996), 1.6057 (1995) note: on 1 January 1999, the EU
introduced a common currency that is now being used by
financial institutions in some member countries at a fixed
rate of 2.20371 guilders per euro; the euro replaced the local
currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002.
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