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A third of the low situated Netherlands lies beneath sea level, therefore, the country has an extensive and famous network of dikes and seawalls, that protect the country from floods. Furthermore the country is known for her tulips, cheese, windmills and wooden shoes. It is also one of the biggest exporters of goods, capital and nutrition. Also her broad minded policies regarding euthanasia, drugs and gay-marriage are world famous.
Thanks to her open economy, the small densely populated country has been a trading nation for centuries It also belongs to the founding members of NATO and the EC, the predecessor of the European Union, and was amongst the first countries that introduced the Euro. The international outlook of the Netherlands is reflected in her population, you find Dutchman in almost every part of the world, and most inhabitants speak English, but also French and German are widely spoken.
History
In the previous millennia, the Netherlands have been ruled by many different nations, such as the Romans, Charles the Great, the house of Habsburg and different Spanish and French kings. Since the 16th century, the Netherlands fought several wars to secure and maintain her independency. The Dutch Republic, mainly due to the VOC was a prosperous nation. Besides the economical success, both culture and science bloomed and due to her freedom of religion, the Netherlands became a literary center for writers and scholars that were not allowed to publish in their own country. After the rule of Napoleon, the Netherlands became a kingdom in 1813, which it still is nowadays.
During the first World War, the Netherlands stayed neutral. At the start of the second World War they proclaimed neutrality again, but were invaded by the Germans, who occupied the country for five years. The post-war reconstruction of the Netherlands has had a big influence on the country in the second half of the 20th century. Furthermore, the two Dutch Colonies Surname and Indonesia retrieved their independence in this era. In this period there also was a disastrous flood in the Netherlands which lead to the construction of the extensive and famous network of dams and dikes that protect the country from the water.
The present Netherlands is a modern industrialised country with a liberal policy, and an open internationally oriented economy.
Economy
The Netherlands has a prosperous economy in which the government has reduced her role since the 80’s. Though small, the country with her open economy that leans on international trade, belongs to the 15 largest economies in the world.
The Netherlands knows relatively low unemployment rates and a high educated labour force, of which 75% works in the service sector. Trade, transport, telecommunication, construction, banks and insurances make up the largest groups in this sector. The Netherlands belongs to the largest exporting countries of agricultural products, in which only 4% of the Dutch working population is active.
The principal industrial activities of the Netherlands are in the chemical industry (DSM), food processing (Unilever), oil refinement (Shell), and the production of electronics (Philips).
As the Netherlands has many rivers and is situated by sea, it has a key position in Europe. The Rotterdam harbour is one of the biggest in the world and processes millions of tons of goods every year to the extended hinterland.
The national airport Schiphol belongs to the 5 largest airports in Europe and transports millions of persons en goods every year. Both Schiphol airport and the Rotterdam harbour play a major role in the Dutch economy.
Furthermore, the Netherlands has a favourable financial climate for foreign companies and belongs to the first countries that switched to the Euro as currency.As the country has many rivers and is situated by sea, the Netherlands has a key position in Europe. The Rotterdam harbour is one of the biggest in the world and processes millions of tons of goods every year to the extended hinterland.
The national airport Schiphol belongs to the 5 largest airports in Europe and transports millions of persons en goods every year. Both Schiphol airport and the Rotterdam harbour play a major role in the Dutch economy.
Official Holidays 2011
1 January - New Year´s Day
22 April - Good Friday
24 April - Easter Sunday
25 April - Easter Monday
30 April - Queen’s day (Koninginnedag, National Holiday)
5 May – Liberation Day
2 June - Ascension Day
12 June - Pentecost (Pinksteren)
13 June - Pentecost (Boxing Day)
25 December - Christmas
26 December - Christmas (Boxing Day)