The Netherlands ( Nederland in Dutch, Néerlande , very out-of-date French form) are the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands , a Constitutional monarchy. They are located at the North-West of the Europe and are bordered by the the North Sea, the Belgium and the Germany. By extension, one uses the Netherlands term to indicate the whole of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (including thus Aruba and the Dutch West Indies).

A Abus language current indicates the Netherlands and the Netherlanders respectively by the Holland and the Dutchmen (and even sometimes the language Dutchwoman by Dutch). Holland is only one area of the Netherlands separated in two provinces (Holland-Septentrional and the Holland-Southerner), sheltering the big cities of the country (Amsterdam, $the Hague, Rotterdam).

Introduction

The Netherlands are one of the countries whose average altitude is lowest (a quarter of the territory in lower part of the sea level). It is also one of the countries densément populated world. They have been known for their Digue S, their Polder S and their Moulin S. If they a long time represented a symbol of the tolerance on the social plan, this policy for a few years is called into question by part of the public opinion and political community, which aspires to the return “standards and values” ( normen in waarden ). The Netherlands are members of the NATO and founding member of the European Union.

This country is also known under the name of its two principal provinces: the Holland-Septentrional and the Holland-Southerner. The capital of the Kingdom of the Netherlands east Amsterdam; however $the Hague became little by little the administrative capital by accommodating the seat of the government, the residence of the queen, and the majority of the embassies.

The Netherlands shelter the seat of many international organizations, in particular in legal matter:

They also shelter European organizations:

History

See also: History of the Netherlands

Provinces currently forming the Netherlands were gradually gathered, by marriage, purchase or conquest, by the dukes of Burgundy. This unit passed by heritage to Habsbourg, Marie of Burgundy, the girl of Charles Bold the, having married the emperor Maximilien Ier. Under the reign of Charles Quint, emperor of the Holy Germanic Roman Empire and king of Spain, the area belonged to the 17 provinces of the Spanish Netherlands which also included/understood the current Belgium. The Walloon Pierre Minuit bases the New Amsterdam in 1626 on the current site of New York, with the the United States. After having obtained its independence of Spain officially in 1648 with the treaty of Munster, the Netherlanders of the United Provinces became one of the most important maritime and economic powers of the 17th century. This period during which the Netherlands established colonies and Comptoir S throughout the world is known under the name of century of gold. (colonial Empire Dutch)

War of Holland against Louis XIV between 1672 and 1678. After transformbeing transformed into Batavian Republic then in Kingdom of Holland before being integrated in the French empire under Napoleon, a transitory unified kingdom of the Netherlands was created with Belgium in 1815 following the Congrès of Vienna. The duchy of Luxembourg was high with the row of Grand Duchy. William of Orange, wire of the stathouder Guillaume V of the Linked Provinces, becomes Guillaume I {{er}}, king of the Netherlands and large duke of Luxembourg. Guillaume receives Luxembourg with personal capacity like compensation for the loss of his German territories (Nassau and Fulda).

The Belgium reached independence little time after (1830) following a revolution. In 1890, after the death of the king Guillaume III, who did not have a heir to male sex, Wilhelmine of Orange-Nassau became queen of the Netherlands, while Adolphe de Nassau-Weilburg went up on the Luxembourg throne. This under the terms of a contract of heritage signed in 1783 between the two surviving branches of the House of Nassau, the line ottonienne (the Orange-Nassau House) and the line walramienne (the House of Nassau-Weilburg).

Policy

See also: Political of the Netherlands

The Netherlands are a Constitutional monarchy since 1815, after having been a République between 1581 and 1806 (the country was occupied by the France between 1806 and 1815). The Fundamental law ( Grondwet ) was adopted in 1815.

Since 1980, the Netherlands are represented by the queen Beatrix, who succeeded the queen Juliana. In theory, the queen names the members of the government. In practice, the queen is satisfied to ratify the result of the parliamentary elections.

See also: Royal family Dutchwoman

The Parliament, called the General states ( Staten Generaal ), consists of two rooms. The elections of the members of the Second Room ('' Tweede Kamer '') take place every four years, with the poll proportional. This way of voting not making it possible to release a majority party, one period of negotiations opens after the elections, to form a coalition and to establish a government program. This process can last several months. It is traditionally the chief candidate of the party having gained the most seats, which becomes minister-president. The First Room ('' Eerste Kamer '') has a less importance. It is selected every four years by the members of the Parliaments of province, just after their election.

The current government, the Cabinet Balkenende IV, is a coalition of Christian Democrats (CDA), social democrats (PvdA) and social-Christians (ChristenUnie). This coalition was formed following the anticipated general elections of November 22nd, 2006]].

The political parties represented with the General states are:

  • Christen-Democratisch Call (HALF-VALUE LAYER) - Call Christian-Democrat (Christian-conservative) - 41 seats. It is the party of the current Minister-President (Prime Minister), Jan Peter Balkenende.
  • Partij van of Arbeid (PvdA) - Party of work (social democrat) - 32 seats.
  • Socialistische Partij (SP) - Socialist party - 25 seats. On the left of PvdA, this party made countryside for not with the referendum on the European Constitution.
  • Volkspartij voor Vrijheid in Democracy (VVD) - Popular party for freedom and the democracy (tendency liberal-conservative) - 22 seats.
  • Partij voor of Vrijheid (PVV) - Party for freedom - 9 seats. Carried out by a dissident of the precedent.
  • GroenLinks (GL) - VertGauche - 7 seats.
  • ChristenUnie (CU) - Christian union - 6 seats. This denominational party Protestant made countryside for not with the referendum on the European Constitution.
  • Democraten 66 (D66) - Democratic '66 - 3 seats: party social-liberal.
  • Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij (SGP) - Political party calvinist - 2 seats. This very preserving theocratic party is in particular known for its internal payment which prohibits the women from becoming parliamentary. It made countryside for not with the referendum on the European Constitution.
  • Partij voor of Dieren (PvdD) - party of the animals - 2 seats.
The Lijst Pim Fortuyn (LPF) - List Pim Fortuyn (right populist) - Party founded by Pim Fortuyn, assassinated a few days before the legislative elections in May 2002. Second party of the country after these elections, it does not have any more deputies in 2006. June 1st 2005, the Netherlanders consulted by referendum, in an advisory capacity, voted against the Traité establishing a Constitution for Europe.

Geography

See also: Geography of the Netherlands

Provinces

See also: Provinces of the Netherlands

The Kingdom of the Netherlands east made up of 12 provinces:

And of two insular territories in the the Antilles:

See also: Dutch Territory of overseas

The Kingdom of the Netherlands consists of three territories: Netherlands, Aruba and the Dutch West Indies. The Netherlands are composed of twelve provinces.

Recently the Antilles announced to reform their statute. A local referendum in the Antilles approved the change which was registered and ratified in the constitution of the Kingdom. The Antilles began their reform on July 1st, 2007: Sint-Maarten and Curaçao is transitorily of new communities recognized, before becoming autonomous territories in the Kingdom, like Aruba. The other islands of the Dutch West Indies, Bonaire, Sheba and Saint-Eustace will become municipalities of the Netherlands with particular status. Thus, as of on July 1st, 2007 the Kingdom of the Netherlands will include/understand four territories: the State of the Netherlands (divided into provinces plus three common to particular status), Sint-Maarten, Curaçao and Aruba.

The complete transfer of competences of the Federation of the Dutch West Indies towards the two new communities in creation or towards that of the Netherlands will be completed on December 15th, 2008, dates to which the Federation of the Dutch West Indies will be dissolved: the two new communities will exert the whole of competences D `State within the Kingdom still currently recognized with the Federation, and the three detached communes will be integrated in the State of the Netherlands (with the particular status which will also confer same competences to them as the other provinces, within the same municipal community).

Cities

See also: List of the cities of the Netherlands

; Principal city

; Principal cities of the provinces (in the order of the provinces) :

; Other principal cities

Economy

See also: Economy of the Netherlands, List of companies Dutchwomen

The most important industries are the sector of agroalimentary, chemistry, the refining of oil, and the electric machines. Agriculture is very mechanized and employs hardly 4% of the active population. The legal sale of Cannabis via the coffee shop S represents a considerable money re-entry insofar as many foreigners (resulting mainly from Belgium, France and Germany) come to make their small purchase because the laws of their respective countries do not enable them to get some legally. The Netherlands are a founding member of the European Union. The guilder was replaced by the euro on January 1st 1999, but the tickets and parts entered in circulation only on January 1st 2002. Unemployment rate in 2005 is of 6,5% of the active population

Demography

See also: Demography of the Netherlands

Education

Culture

See also: Culture of the Netherlands

Codes

The Netherlands have as codes:

See too

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