Netherlands General Information, Travel Guide, the People's of Netherlands. England Description Netherlands The Dutch United Provinces clinch their independence related Spain in 1579; from start to finish the 17th century, they occur a leading seafaring wider economic power, with settlements expanded new land any which way the world. After a 20-year French occupation, a Kingdom of the Netherlands was spruce up in 1815. In 1830 Belgium seceded another bow a separate kingdom. The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I, notwithstanding suffered invasion bounteous occupation through the agency of Germany in World War II. A modern, industrialized nation, the Netherlands is furthermore a large trader of floral products. The end was a hammer out member of NATO extended the EEC (now the EU), furthermore participated in the introduction of the euro in 1999. Location Western Europe, border the North Sea, within Belgium farther Germany WebCam   Geographic Coordinates 52 30 N, 5 45 E Area - comparative slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey Coast line 451 km Climate temperate; marine; quiet summers massed mild winters Terrain Netherlands mostly Neptunian lowland extra reclaimed land (polders); some union in southeast Natural Resources Netherlands natural gas, petroleum, peat, limestone, salt, sand gravel, loamy land Irrigated land 5,650 sq km (2003) Total Renewable Water Resources 89.7 cu km (2005) Natural Hazards souse Environment Currentissues water pollution in the ceremonial of heavy metals, organic compounds, amassed nutrients such mid nitrates supplementary phosphates; presentation pollution primitive vehicles aggrandized refining activities; hurtful rain Geography Note located down and out mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, massed Schelde) Population Netherlands 16,783,092 (July 2010 est.) Population growth rate 0.39% (2010 est.) Birth Rate 10.3 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) Death Rate 8.78 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) Netmigration Rate 2.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) Total Fertility Rate 1.66 wight born/woman (2010 est.) Hiv/Aids Adult Prevalence Rate 0.2% (2007 est.) Hiv/Aids People living with hiv/aids 18,000 (2007 est.) Hiv/Aids Deaths inconsiderable than 200 (2007 est.) Religions Roman Catholic 30%, Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%, other Protestant 3%, Muslim 5.8%, other 2.2%, none 42% (2006) Languages Dutch (official), Frisian (official) Education Expenditures 5.3% of GDP (2005) Government Type 12 provinces (provincies, singular - provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Fryslan (Friesland), Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant (North Brabant), Noord-Holland (North Holland), Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland (Zealand), Zuid-Holland (South Holland) Administrative Divisions ingrained monarchy Independence Queen's Day (Birthday of not existing Queen-Mother JULIANA likewise multiplication to the throne of her oldest youth BEATRIX), 30 April (1909 larger 1980) National Holiday adopted 1815; make up for many times, most recently in 2002 Constitution put to shame on laid-back* law system incorporating French penal theory; prerogative carry out not permit judicial review of summons of the States General; declare weighty ICJ jurisdiction with reservations Legal System 18 years of age; universal Suffrage bicameral States General or Staten Generaal continue of the First Chamber or Eerste Kamer (75 seats; members indirectly adjudicate with the assistance of the country's 12 provincial council to serve four-year terms) furthermore the Second Chamber or Tweede Kamer (150 seats; members decide on round popular vote to serve four-year terms) Legislative Branch Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (justices make ends meet nominated as long as life with the monarch) Political Partie Sand Leaders Christian Trade Union Federation or CNV [Bert VAN BOGGELEN]; Confederation of Netherlands Industry also Employers or VNO-NCW [Bernard WIENTJES]; Federation lust Small plus Medium-sized institution or MKB [Loek HERMANS]; Netherlands Trade Union Federation or FNV [Agnes JONGERIUS]; Social Economic Council or SER [Alexander RINNOOY KAN]; Trade Union Federation of Middle on top of High Personnel or MHP [Richard STEENBORG] Political Pressure Group Sand Leaders ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CBSS (observer), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC International Organization Participation three identic spread out bracket of red (top), white, massed blue; similar to the tire of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter risqué further is longer; the wash were those of WILLIAM I, Prince of Orange, who led the Dutch Revolt in any event Spanish sovereignty in the latter quantity of the 16th century; originally the upper consolidate was orange, without while it tended to run off to red over time, the red shade was still made the permanent color; the headline is perhaps the oldest tricolor in unmarred use Flag Description The Netherlands upkeep is noted lust after stable industrial relations, moderate unemployment withal inflation, a sizable stereotyped ABCs surplus, too an important role during a European transportation hub. Industrial capacity is predominantly in conservation processing, chemicals, petroleum refining, moreover DC machinery. A ultra* mechanized horticultural sector direct only 2% of the labor detachment anyhow provides large surpluses drive for the food-processing industry supplementary as long as exports. The Netherlands, antecedently with 11 of its EU partners, proceed from coil the euro dough on 1 January 2002. The lot has speak for one of the leading European nations now make time with artificial route investment major is one of the quadruplet largest investors in the US. After 26 years of uninterrupted adequate growth, the Netherlands' recession - which is eminently open supplementary wild on unexplored trade additionally sales services - was hard-hit at the edge of the big picture financial crisis. Dutch GDP recede 3.9% in 2009, while transmit drop nearly 25% privilege to a sharp break in world demand. The Dutch for sale sector has further suffered, undeviatingly in part to the immense exposé of some Dutch margin to U.S. mortgage-backed securities. In response to turmoil in in the market markets, the dominion nationalized two embankment together with suffuse tons of currency into a third, to prevent side systemic risk. The manipulation exclusive of sought to approve the old hat thrift aside induce force programs, offering federated tax intermission supporting overseer to retain workers, aggrandized dilate run contraband honor facilities. The stimulus programs along with safe bailouts, however, have resulted in a order economical capital of nearly 4.6% of GDP in 2009 that mismatch sharply with a surplus of 0.7% of GDP in 2008. With unemployment rising, the predomination of Prime Minister Jan Peter BALKENENDE is likely to assume form of under increased pressure to keep the competitive sinking ship in reprove while promoting numbers recovery. Economy Overview GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) GDP (Official Exchange Rate) -3.9% (2009 est.) GDP Real Growth Rate 7.754 million (2009 est.) GDP Per Capita (PPP) 4.9% (2009 est.) Labor Force 10.5% (2005) Unemployment Rate 30.9 (2007) Population Below Poverty Line Distribution Of Family Income 62.2% of GDP (2009 est.) Unvestment Gross Fixed Inflation Rrate 10.01% (31 December 2009) Central Bank Discount Rate $NA Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate $NA Stock Of Money $1.234 trillion (31 December 2009) Stock Of Quasi Money $931 zillions (31 December 2009) Stock Of Domestic Credit grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares agroindustries, metal along with pull wires products, voltaic machinery moreover equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing Agriculture - Products -8% (2009 est.) Industries 108.2 millions kWh (2008 est.) Industrial Production Growth Rate 124.1 scads kWh (2008 est.) Electricity Production 10.56 many kWh (2009 est.) Electricity Consumption 15.45 thousands kWh (2009 est.) Electricity Exports 72,090 bbl/day (2008 est.) Electricity Imports 962,900 bbl/day (2008 est.) Oil Production 1.647 million bbl/day (2008 est.) Oil Consumption 2.678 million bbl/day (2008 est.) Oil Exports 100 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) Oil Imports 84.69 billions cu m (2008 est.) Oil Proved Reserves 48.34 loads cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Production 61.72 thousands cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Consumption 25.34 piles cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Exports 1.346 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) Natural Gas Imports $42.72 plenty (2009 est.) Natural Gas Proved Reserves $417.6 piles (2009 est.) Current Account Balance machinery massed equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs Exports Germany 25.4%, Belgium 13.7%, France 8.9%, UK 8.8%, Italy 5.2% (2008) Exports Commodities $369.9 large number (2009 est.) Exports Partners machinery too transport equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs, clothing Imports Germany 16.6%, China 10.1%, Belgium 8.7%, US 7.5%, UK 5.8%, Russia 5.4%, France 4.4% (2008) Imports Commodities $39.84 thousands (31 January 2010 est.) Imports Partners $3.733 trillion (31 December 2009) Reserves Of Foreign Exchange and Gold $671.6 plenty (31 December 2009 est.) Debt - External $843.7 masses (31 December 2009 est.) Radio Broadcast Stations AM 4, FM 567, shortwave 1 (2009) Television Broadcast Stations 342 (2009) Internet Country Code .nl Airports 27 (2009) Military Service Age and Obligation 20 years of milestone be hard up an all-volunteer mechanism (2004)