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Kingdom of the Netherlands
netherl. Koninkrijk der Nederlanden
Motto: "Je maintiendrai" "I will stand"
Hymn: "Het Wilhelmus"
Location Netherlands(dark green): - in (light green and dark gray) - in the European Union (light green)
Foundation (detail)
1581	Beginning of statehood Republic of the United Provinces
1815	United Kingdom of the Netherlands
Official language	Dutch, West Frisian (regional)
Capital	¹
Largest cities	,
Form of government	a constitutional monarchy
King	Willem-Alexander
Prime Minister	Mark Rutte
Territory	131st in the world
Total	41,543 km²
Population
Score (2017)	17 208 088 ▲ pers. (66th)
Density	405 people/km²
GDP
Total (2015)	$752.547 billion (17th)
Per capita	$48,458.9
HDI (2015)	▲ 0.924 (very high; 7th)
Currency	Euro ² (EUR, code 978)
Internet domain	.nl, .eu
ISO code	NL
IOC code	NED
Telephone code	+31
Time Zones	CET (UTC+1, summer UTC+2)
(1 ) - seat of government (2 ) Before 2002: gulden

Netherlands(Dutch. Nederland [ˈneːdərlɑnt], Dutch pronunciation listen)) is a state consisting of the main territory in and the islands of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba in the Caribbean Sea (also called the Caribbean Netherlands). In Western Europe, the territory is washed by the North Sea (the length of the coastline is 451 km) and borders on (577 km) and (450 km). Together with the islands, and Sint Maarten, which have a special status (self-governing public education), the Netherlands is included in Kingdom of the Netherlands(Dutch. Koninkrijk der Nederlanden). Relations between the members of the kingdom are regulated by the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, adopted in 1954.

The national flag is tricolor (red, white, blue horizontally). Coat of arms - a shield crowned with a golden crown blue color, which is supported from the sides by two heraldic lions. On the shield is a rearing crowned lion with a sword in its paw; below the shield is the royal motto: Je maintiendrai ("I will stand"). The anthem is "Wilhelmus" ("The Song of Wilhelm"). National holiday - April 27 (King's Day).

The official capital of the state, according to the constitution of the Netherlands, is where the monarch takes the oath of allegiance to the Constitution. In this case, the actual capital is where royal residence, parliament and government, as well as most foreign embassies. Other important cities are: - the largest port in the country and one of the largest ports in the world, - the center of the country's railway system, and - the center of electronics and high technology. The Hague, Amsterdam, Utrecht and Rotterdam make up the Randstad agglomeration, where approximately 7.5 million people live. The area of ​​​​the territory in the European part is 41,543 km² (land - 33,888 km², water - 7650 km²), population - 17,016,967 people, (July 2016, estimate). The area of ​​​​the territory in the Caribbean Sea is 978.91 km² (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba - 322 km², - 178.91 km², - 444 km², Sint Maarten - 34 km²), population - 313,968 people, (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba - 18,012 people, - 103,889 people, - 154,843 people, Sint Maarten - 37,224 people).

Etymology

The Netherlands is often referred to as " Holland”, which is not true, since and are only two of the twelve provinces of the present-day Netherlands, which have been the most developed throughout history and therefore the most famous outside the Netherlands. For this reason, in many other countries Holland (" Holland”) often called the whole country. In Russian, this name became widespread after the Great Embassy of Peter I. Since the circle of interests of the Russian Tsar included places that were most developed from a technical point of view, and they were mostly located in the territory of the Netherlands in the province of Holland, it was she who visited the Great Embassy; when talking at home about their visit to the Netherlands, members of the embassy often called the country Holland, without mentioning the name of the state as a whole.

The name "Netherlands" in translation means "lower lands", but it is literally wrong to translate it, since for historical reasons it is customary to call this term an area roughly corresponding to the modern Netherlands, and (Benelux). At the end of the Middle Ages, the area located in the lower reaches of the rivers Rhine, Meuse, Scheldt, along the coast of the North Sea began to be called the "Primorsky lowlands" or "Lowlands" ( de Lage Landen bij de zee, de Nederlanden). The first official mention of the use of the name "Netherlands" refers to the XIV-XV centuries.

Story

The first archaeological evidence of a stay ancient man on the territory of the present-day Netherlands belong to the Lower Paleolithic (about 250 thousand years ago). They were hunters and gatherers. At the end of the Ice Age, the area was inhabited by various Paleolithic groups. Around 8000 BC. e. a Mesolithic tribe lived in this territory, and in the next few millennia, iron age with a relatively high standard of living.

"Portrait of William I of Orange" by Adrian Thomas Cay

At the time of the arrival of the Romans, what is now the Netherlands was inhabited by Germanic tribes such as the Tubans, Caninephates, and Frisians, who settled there around 600 BC. Celtic tribes such as the Eburones and the Menapii settled in the south of the country. The Germanic tribes of the Frisians are one of the branches of the Teutons who came to the territory of the Netherlands approximately in the middle of the 1st millennium BC. e. At the beginning of Roman colonization, the Germanic tribes of the Batavians and Toksandry also arrived in the country. During the period of the Roman Empire, the southern part of the current Netherlands was occupied by the Romans and became part of the province of Belgica (lat. Gallia Belgica), and later the province of Germania Inferior (lat. Germania inferior).

During the Middle Ages, the Low Countries (roughly made up of what is now and the Netherlands) included the various counties, duchies, and dioceses that were part of the Holy Roman Empire. They were united into one state under the rule of the Habsburgs in the 16th century. After the spread of Calvinism, the Counter-Reformation followed, causing a split in the country. The attempts of the Spanish king Philip II to centralize the state led to an uprising against Spanish rule led by William I of Orange. On July 26, 1581, the independence of the country was proclaimed, officially recognized by other states only after the Eighty Years' War (1568-1648). During the years of the War of Independence, the "Golden Age" of the Netherlands began, a period of economic and cultural prosperity that lasted the entire 17th century.

Second Anglo-Dutch War

After the end of the French occupation at the beginning of the 19th century, the Netherlands became a monarchy under the rule of the House of Orange. In 1830, it finally separated from the Netherlands and became an independent kingdom; gained independence in 1890. Under pressure from liberal politicians, in 1848 the country was transformed into a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. This political structure has continued to this day, with a brief break during the Nazi occupation.

During the First World War, the Netherlands remained neutral, but during the Second World War, it was occupied by Germany for five years. During the German invasion, it was bombed, during which the city center was almost completely destroyed. About fifty thousand Dutch Jews became victims of the Holocaust during the occupation.

Liberation of the Netherlands in September 1944

After the war, the rapid restoration of the country began, which was facilitated by the Marshall Plan, organized. Thanks to this, the Netherlands quickly managed to restore national economy and achieve economic growth. Former colonies and acquired state independence. As a result of mass immigration from Indonesia, Suriname and the Antilles, the Netherlands has become a country with many cultures and a large proportion of the Muslim population.

The sixties and seventies saw great social and cultural changes. Catholics and Protestants began to communicate more with each other, and the differences between the strata of the population also became less noticeable due to rising living standards and the development of education. Women's economic rights have been greatly expanded, and they are increasingly holding high positions in businesses and government. They were also granted passive suffrage, that is, the right to be elected. The government began to care not only about economic growth, but also about protecting the environment. The population received broad social rights; pensions, unemployment benefits and disability benefits have become among the highest in the world.

March 25, 1957 The Netherlands became one of the founders of the European Union and subsequently did a lot for European integration. However, in a referendum on the European Constitution in June 2005, more than half of the Dutch voted against its adoption. Not the last role, in a negative sense, was played by the ban on holding a referendum on the country's transition from the guilder to the euro. Thus, the Netherlands became the second country, after rejecting the draft of a single EU constitution.

The Prime Minister from 22 July 2002 to 14 October 2010 was the leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal, Jan-Peter Balkenende. On February 22, 2007, he formed his fourth cabinet of ministers - a coalition of the Christian Democratic Appeal, the Labor Party and the small party Christian Union (6 seats in parliament). Balkenende's deputies in the government were the leader of the Labor Party, Wouter Bos, and the leader of the Christian Union, Andre Rauvut.

On February 20, 2010, the fourth cabinet of ministers of Jan-Peter Balkenende collapsed due to disagreements between coalition members over the participation of Dutch troops in the antiterrorist operation in Afghanistan. The leader of the Labor Party, Wouter Bos, advocated the early withdrawal of all Dutch troops from, while coalition leader Jan-Peter Balkenende insists on extending the mandate in Afghanistan for another year (the mandate expired in August 2010). In February 2010, there were 1,900 Dutch soldiers in Afghanistan. New elections were called.

In the parliamentary elections on June 9, 2010, the ruling Christian Democratic Appeal party lost 20 out of 41 seats, while the liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, the center-left Labor Party and the Freedom Party, known for its anti-Muslim views, achieved the best results in the elections. On October 14, 2010, Mark Rutte, leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, became the new prime minister of the Netherlands. The Freedom Party entered the ruling coalition with the PNSD and the CDA without the right to ministerial posts. The parties of the ruling coalition (NPSD, Christian Democratic Party and PS) had 76 deputy mandates out of 150 seats in the Second Chamber and 37 out of 75 in the First.

On April 23, 2012, Rutte submitted his resignation to Queen Beatrix. The reason for such actions on the part of Rutte was unsuccessful negotiations with the opposition on the topic of the 2013 budget and possible measures to overcome the financial crisis. In particular, one of these measures is the reduction of public spending by 16 billion euros. Following early parliamentary elections held in September 2012, Rutte formed a coalition government between the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy and the Labor Party.

State structure

The first constitution of the Netherlands in 1815 gave primary power to the king, but gave legislative powers to a bicameral parliament (the States General). The modern constitution of the country was adopted in 1848 at the initiative of King Willem II and the famous liberal Johan Rudolf Thorbeke. This constitution can be considered a "peaceful revolution" because it sharply curtailed the power of the king and transferred executive power to the cabinet. Parliament was henceforth elected in direct elections, and it gained great influence on the decisions of the government. Thus, the Netherlands became one of the first countries in Europe to make the transition from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy.

King Willem-Alexander is officially head of state

In 1917, a change in the constitution gave suffrage to all men over the age of 23; in 1919 all women were given the right to vote. Since 1971, all citizens over the age of 18 have the right to vote. The largest revision of the constitution took place in 1983. From now on, the population was guaranteed not only political, but also social rights: protection from discrimination (on the basis of religion, political opinions, race, gender and other reasons), a ban on the death penalty and the right to a living wage. The government was given the duty to protect the population from unemployment and to protect environment. Several constitutional changes after 1983 abolished conscription and allowed the use of armed forces for peacekeeping operations abroad.

The monarch of the Netherlands is officially the head of state, but delegates power to the cabinet. Among the many functions of the King as head of state is the annual Speech from the Throne, which he delivers on Princes' Day at the beginning of the parliamentary year (Princes' Day falls on the third Tuesday in September). The Speech from the Throne presents the government's plans for coming year. The monarch also plays an important role in the formation of the government. After the elections, the head of state holds consultations with faction leaders, chairmen of the First and Second Chambers of Parliament and with the Vice-Chairman of the State Council. On their recommendation, the King can appoint an "informant" who finds out which parties are ready to work together in government. So far, there has not been a single case of one party having an absolute majority. Appointing an informant is not necessary if it is known in advance which parties want to jointly form a cabinet. The result of negotiations between these parties is an agreement on the conditions for the formation of a government. This agreement outlines the coalition's plans for the forthcoming four-year term of government. After reaching this agreement, the King appoints a "formator" whose task is to form a cabinet. For the most part, the formator becomes the prime minister of the new government. New Ministers are appointed by Royal Decree and sworn in by the King.

Since 2013, Willem-Alexander of the Orange dynasty has been king, and his eldest daughter, Princess Katharina-Amalia of Orange, has been the heir to the throne. From 1890 to 2013, only women were on the throne. The monarch often abdicates the throne in favor of the heir upon reaching old age (this was done by all three queens who succeeded each other in the 20th century: Wilhelmina, Juliana and Beatrix). In practice, the monarch almost does not interfere in political life, limiting himself to official ceremonies, but at the same time he has a certain influence on the formation of a new government after parliamentary elections and on the appointment of royal commissioners in the provinces.

Legislative power is vested in the monarch (nominally) Estates General(parliament) and, to a lesser extent, the government. Parliament consists of two chambers: the first (75 seats) and the second (150 seats). The second chamber, which has the main power, is elected by direct universal suffrage for 4 years.

The first chamber is indirectly elected by the provincial parliaments. The next provincial elections were held on March 18, 2015; The composition of the First Chamber was elected on May 26, 2015. The functions of the First Chamber are reduced to the ratification of bills already developed and adopted by the Second Chamber.

Executive power is concentrated in the hands of the cabinet of ministers (government). The government is obliged to coordinate the main decisions with the parliament, and therefore is formed on the basis of a parliamentary majority. No party in the recent history of the Netherlands has had an absolute majority in parliament, so governments have always been of a coalition character.

Political parties

The political life of the Netherlands is quite rich and is represented by numerous parties. Traditionally, during elections, voters give their votes to the same parties, occasionally choosing newly formed ones. Among the most popular parties in the Netherlands are: the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, the Freedom Party and the Christian Democratic Appeal. So far, since the March 15, 2017 elections to the House of Representatives, the following parties have won seats:

Number of seats occupied by parties in the 2017 elections

color	Name	Qty. places
	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	33
	Freedom Party	20
	Christian Democratic Appeal	19
	Democrats 66	19
	Green Left	14
	Socialist Party	14
	Labor Party	9
	Christian Union	5
	Animal Protection Party	5
	Party 50+	4
	Reformed Party	3
	Denk (political party)	3
	Forum for Democracy	2

Legal system

The highest court is the Supreme Council ( Hoge Raad), courts of appeal - 4 judicial chambers ( Gerechtshof), courts of first instance - 11 tribunals ( Rechtbank), the lowest level of the judicial system - the cantonal courts ( Kantongerecht), bodies of prosecutorial supervision - the General Prosecutor's Office ( Parket-generaal), headed by the Advocate General ( Advocaat-generaal), District Attorney's Offices ( spring sort park) headed by the Chief Advocate General ( Hoofdadvocaat-Generaal), one for the judicial chambers, district prosecutor's offices ( arrondissementsparketten), led by the Chief Justice Officer ( hoofdofficier van justice) one per tribunal.

Administrative division

The Netherlands and their overseas territories

The Netherlands is divided into 12 provinces ( province) (the last province was created in 1986 in the drained territories), the provinces are divided into communities ( gemeente), some communities are divided into communal areas ( deelgemeente). The Netherlands also includes three special communities in the Caribbean:, and. The provincial representative bodies are the provincial states ( Provincial Staten), executive bodies provinces - state deputies ( Gedeputeerde Staten), consisting of the king's commissioner ( Commissaris van de Koning) and deputies ( gedeputeerde), representative bodies of communities - community councils ( Gemeenteraad), the executive body is the collegium of the burgomaster and legislators ( College van burgemeester en wethouders), consisting of a burgomaster ( Burgemeester) and legislators ( Wethouder), representative bodies of communal areas - district councils ( deelraad), executive bodies - boards ( dagelijks bestuur), led by city district chairmen ( stadsdeelvoorzitter).

The main units of local administration are the municipalities, of which there are 647.

Population

The population of the Netherlands (thousand people) in 1961-2003

The population as of July 2017 is 17,084,719 people. In the list of countries by the number of inhabitants, the Netherlands ranks 66th. Compared to other European countries, the population of the Netherlands has grown very rapidly over the past century and a half: 3 million inhabitants in 1850, 5 million in 1900 and 16 million in 2000. For comparison: the population in the same period increased only about twice: from 4.5 million inhabitants in 1850 to 10 million in 2000.

With a land area of ​​41,543 km², according to 2016 data, the Netherlands has a population density of 405 people per square kilometer. Thus, the Netherlands is the 15th most densely populated state in the world. In terms of territory and population, the kingdom can be compared with, including. Largely due to this, the Netherlands is one of the countries with the most developed transport and information infrastructure. The Internet is used by 15.778 million people or 93.1% of the country's population - the 34th indicator in the world. In the Netherlands in 2002-2003, there were over 10 million landlines and 12.5 million mobile phones. More than 250 radio stations and 21 television stations (as well as 26 repeaters) operate in the country.

Queen's Day Celebration (2011)

There are two indigenous groups in the Netherlands - the Dutch and the Frisians, as well as big number immigrants. Ethnic composition population: 80.7% - Dutch, 2.4% - Germans, 2.4% - Indonesians, 2.2% - Turks, 2% - Surinamese, 2% - Moroccans, 1.5% - Indians, 0.8 % - Antilians and Arubans, and 6.0% - other ethnic groups. The composition of the population by religion: 33% - Protestants (the largest Protestant religious organization is the Protestant Church of the Netherlands ( Protestant Kerk in the Netherlands)), 31.27% - Catholics, 6% - Muslims, 0.6% - Hindus, 0.5% - Buddhists, 2.2% profess other religions. The population of the Netherlands is the highest in the world: the average height of adult men is 1.83 meters, adult women - 1.70 meters.

The number of educated people aged 15 to 65 is 10,994,000 in 2011. In the Netherlands, compulsory free education for children and adolescents under the age of 16. elementary school children from 5 (and at the request of parents from 4) to 12 years old visit. It has a wide variety curricula. At the secondary school, which is compulsory for every child between the ages of 12 and 16, there is more uniformity in educational process. Higher education can be taken at a college (hogescholen), university, or the Open University (evening or distance learning). There are 13 universities in the country (the oldest university in the Netherlands is Leiden, founded in 1575) and the Open University for adults. Higher education is usually designed for a six-year course of study.

Physical and geographical characteristics

Netherlands, satellite image (May 2000)

The Netherlands is the most populous country (excluding a few dwarf countries). There is a very dense river network on the territory of the country, the mouths of the Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt rivers converging on it form a vast common navigable delta. The rivers are full-flowing and bring masses of sediment, but often their channels carry the danger of floods. From the soils deposited by these rivers, a delta and a vast flat lowland were formed. The relief of the Netherlands is mainly made up of coastal lowlands, in the southeast there are small hills, and quite large areas are being added at the expense of marine territories. Half of the territory lies below sea level, and only in the south of the Netherlands does the terrain rise to 30 meters or more. Most of the lowlands are located in the provinces, and. The coastline is formed by alluvial dunes. Behind them are the lands once reclaimed from the sea, called polders and protected by dunes and dams from sea waters. In general, most of the soils are podzolic, but near the North Sea there are also fertile silty soils, and along the river valleys - alluvial-meadow soils. Polders almost entirely used for needs Agriculture, composed mainly of clays and peat. In the southern and eastern regions of the country, mainly sandy soils are widespread, largely occupied by arable land. In some places, heather wastelands (short grasses with shrubs) and pine-oak-beech forests have been preserved here. The plateaus of southern Limburg are covered with loess of eolian origin. Fertile loamy soils are developed here, which form the basis of agriculture. Most of the wildlife in the Netherlands has been displaced by humans. Nevertheless, there are many birds in the country, especially waterfowl. Many rare animal species are protected in national parks and reserves. 21.96% of the land is used for arable land. The highest point of the country is Walserberg (322 m), located in the southeast, and the lowest point is Zaudplastpolder (−6.74 m below sea level).

Climate

In general, the climate is temperate, maritime, characterized by cool summers and fairly warm winters. average temperature July is +16 ... +17 ° C, January - about +2 ° C on the coast and a little colder inland. The absolute maximum air temperature (+38.6 °C) was recorded on August 23, 1944 in Varnsveld, the absolute minimum (−27.4 °C) was recorded on January 27, 1942 in Winterswijk. In winter, when anticyclones invade, the temperature drops below 0 °C, snow falls, and channels and lakes become covered with ice. Although the average annual rainfall is 650 to 750 mm, there is rarely a day without rain. Often there are fogs, sometimes snow falls in winter.

Reclamation

friesland

The history of the country for the Dutch lies in the statement that God created the Earth, and the Netherlands were created by the Dutch themselves. This is not far from the truth, since a quarter of the country's territory lies 5-7 m below sea level. A seventh of the land is at a height of only 1 m above sea level, and only ⁄ 50 part of the country's territory is above 50 m. Since Roman times, the Dutch have been reclaiming land from the sea. The first polders appeared as early as the 13th century, and since then, significant areas have been drained along the coast. But at the same time, the history of the Netherlands is the history of the ongoing struggle of people with the sea. True, nature itself came to the aid of man here, protecting part of the coast with a rather wide belt of sand dunes. But this belt was not continuous, and besides, the sand was scattered by the winds. Then people began to strengthen the dunes with various plantings, and in places of breaks they built earthen dams and dams. They began to build the same dams and dams on the rivers. Hence, by the way, there are numerous geographical names with the ending "ladies" (dam, dam), for example ("dam on the river Amstel") or Rotterdam ("dam on the river Rotte").

Today, the total length of the continuous chain of dams and fortified dunes exceeds 3000 km. Yes, and they are no longer built from sand and stone, but from reinforced concrete and steel structures. The paramount importance of this problem was the reason to organize a flood protection department - Watershap (Netherlands). waterscap). Large reclamation projects were carried out in 1930-1950. It was then that the artificial lake IJsselmeer was created, which became the largest in Western Europe (the 12th Dutch province was formed on the site of the drained bay). After a severe flood in 1953, when the sea broke through many coastal dams, it was decided to implement the Delta project, which provided for the separation of river mouths from the sea, while maintaining navigation through numerous channels. Fencing themselves off from the sea, the Dutch began to create polders. This is also a Dutch term for a piece of land reclaimed from the sea, protected on all sides by dikes and used for the settlement of people and various forms management. Even more polders began to appear on the site of drained lakes and peat bogs, turning into fertile fields. Already in the 1960s, on the site of one of the drained lakes to the south of the country's main international airport, one of the largest in Europe, arose. In the Middle Ages, pumping water was used windmills, in the 19th century, steam pumps began to be used, and in the 20th century, electric pumps. Total to beginning of XXI century, 2.8 thousand large and small polders with a total area of ​​​​20 thousand km² have already been created in the country, which corresponds to about half of the country's territory.

Time Zones

The territory of the Netherlands is located in a time zone called Central European Time (CET) (UTC + 1) with the clock moving annually on the last Sunday of March at 2:00 1 hour forward and on the last Sunday of October at 3:00 1 hour backward (Central European summer time(UTC+2)). The special municipalities of the Netherlands (Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba), as well as the constituent parts of the Kingdom (Aruba, Curaçao, St. Maarten) are in the UTC-4 time zone.

Economy

Advantages: highly skilled and multilingual workforce. Excellent infrastructure. Equal relations between employees and employers. Expensive social system with high taxes and social insurance payments. A third of government revenue goes to social benefits. High payroll costs. Low inflation - as of August 2017, this figure was 1.3%. The unemployment rate as of August 2017 is 4.7%.

Weak sides: Aging population.

Rotterdam

The Netherlands has a modern highly developed post-industrial economy. The most important industries:

• mechanical engineering
• Electronics
• Petrochemistry
• aircraft industry
• Shipbuilding
• Ferrous metallurgy
• industry
• furniture industry
• Pulp and paper industry
• Beer production
• Manufacture of wearing apparel.

The Netherlands is a highly developed country economically. The service sector accounts for 73% of GDP, industry and construction - 24.5%, agriculture and fishing - 2.5%. The most important service sectors are dominated by: transport and communications, the credit and financial system, research and development (R&D), education, international tourism, and a range of business services.

Heavy industry - oil refining, chemical production, ferrous metallurgy and engineering - are concentrated in coastal areas, especially in, as well as in IJmuiden, Arnhem and. All these cities stand on navigable rivers or canals. There are wind farms on the sea coast. The production of chocolate, cigars, gin, and beer is also developed. A well-known industry, despite its modest scale, is diamond processing in.

Canal streets of Amsterdam

The Netherlands is home to the headquarters and production facilities of such transnational and European companies as Royal Dutch/Shell, Unilever, Royal Philips Electronics.

The Dutch banking system is represented by such banks as ABN AMRO, ING Groep N.V. and Rabobank. In 2002, the Netherlands adopted the euro as a common European currency, replacing the guilder with it.

Special economic zones are located in the Antilles, in particular on the island, which is a significant economic zone of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Main import items: oil, automobiles, iron and steel, clothing, non-ferrous metals, food products, various transport equipment, rubber.

Main export items: chemical industry products, meat, greenhouse vegetables, floriculture products, natural gas, metal products.

The main trading partners of the country: Germany, Belgium, Great Britain, France.

Extractive industry

Natural gas plays an important role in the mining industry in the Netherlands. Pipelines distribute gas from Groningen throughout the country and for export. In terms of reserves of this mineral, the Netherlands ranks first in Western Europe and with a production rate of 3.1% - sixth in the world. Until 1975, coal was mined in the province of Limburg. Mines with a production volume of 4 million tons per year worked in the cities. Stocks natural gas are estimated at 1615 billion m³ as of 2017. Oil is being produced on the Dutch part of the continental shelf. There are also clays.

Transport

The flat relief creates favorable conditions for the development of a road network, but a large number of rivers and canals creates certain difficulties and risks in road construction. The small area of ​​the state is evidenced by the fact that one can get from one border to another in 3-4 hours.

The total length of the railway network is 2,753 km (of which more than 2,000 km are electrified).

Total length highways is 138,641 km, of which 2,756 km are motorways.

The length of navigable rivers and channels available for ships with a displacement of up to 50 tons is 6237 km.

Ocean shipping also plays an important role in the country's economy. is one of the largest seaports in the world in terms of cargo turnover. The Netherlands processes a significant part of European cargo flows. KLM operates many international routes.

The Dutch government is constantly fighting traffic jams in order to improve the traffic situation on the road and the environmental situation in general. In many major cities traffic congestion is the cause of environmental pollution, where the share of such environmental damage is 50% of the total.

Agriculture

Despite its size, the Netherlands is the second largest food exporter in the world, measured by value, behind only the United States, and first in the European Union. In 2016, agricultural exports exceeded 94 billion euros against 90 billion in 2015. At the moment, the agri-food sector accounts for 22% of the country's total exports. The country exports mainly vegetables, fruits, dairy products, meat and processed products, flowers. It is worth noting the growing demand for Dutch agricultural materials and technologies (energy efficient greenhouses, precision farming systems via GPS and unmanned aircraft, new discoveries that make crops more resilient to the effects of climate change and disease).

Land areas. As of 2015, about 31% of agricultural land is arable, 24% pasture and 11% covered. The soil in the Netherlands is carefully looked after, in addition, in 2005, the country ranked first in the world in terms of the amount of mineral fertilizers applied per hectare. The area of ​​land irrigated for agricultural needs is 5650 km² (as of 2003).

Plant growing. In some parts of the country (in the area of ​​Amsterdam) floriculture predominates. Potatoes, sugar beets and cereals are also grown. An important export item is high-quality greenhouse and canned vegetables.

Livestock. Fifth in Europe in butter production and fourth in cheese production. Pasture livestock farming is the most common, with more than 4.5 million head of cattle grazing on polders (about 3.5% of EU livestock). The dairy herd in 2005 numbered about 1.4 million heads (in the mid-1980s there were about 2.5 million heads), the productivity of the herd is very high - the average milk yield is more than 9 thousand liters of milk per year. IN last years The Dutch government is taking steps to reduce the number of dairy cattle to minimize phosphate production and its impact on the environment. According to the Minister of Agriculture of the Netherlands, Martin van Damme, 60,000 heads will be eliminated in the plans of the state program to reduce the number of livestock, of which 31,500 have already been slaughtered. These measures came after the Netherlands had exhausted limits on phosphates that had been sanctioned by the European Union.

Greenhouse economy. In terms of area allocated for greenhouses, the Netherlands ranks first in the world. From 1994 to 2005, the area of ​​greenhouses has increased from 13 to 15 thousand hectares, greenhouses are usually heated with local natural gas. 60% of the protected ground is reserved for floriculture.

Armed forces and special services

The armed forces of the Netherlands (Dutch. Nederlandse krijgsmacht) consist of four branches of service:

• Royal Land Forces (Netherlands Koninklijke Landmacht, KL).
• Royal Navy (Dutch. Koninklijke Marine, KM), including the Naval Aviation Service (Marine-Luchtvaartdienst) and the Marine Corps (Korps Mariniers).
• Royal Air Force (Dutch. Koninklijke Luchtmacht, KLu)
• Royal Military Police (Dutch. Koninklijke Marechaussee).

The commander-in-chief of all military branches is King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. Commander of the Royal Netherlands Naval Forces and Admiral of the Benelux - Lieutenant General Rob Verkerk. The current Minister of Defense is Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert.

Culture and science

Rembrandt van Rijn - one of the most famous artists in the world

Many famous artists lived and worked in the Netherlands. Hieronymus Bosch created his works in the 16th century. In the 17th century, such masters as Rembrandt van Rijn, Jan Vermeer, Jan Stein and many others lived. Vincent van Gogh and Piet Mondrian were famous in the 19th and 20th centuries. Maurice Cornelis Escher is known as a graphic artist. Willem de Koning was educated in Rotterdam and went on to become a well-known American artist. Han van Meegeren became famous for his forgeries of classical paintings.

Philosophers Erasmus of Rotterdam and Spinoza lived in the Netherlands, where all the main works of Descartes were completed. The scientist Christian Huygens discovered Saturn's moon Titan and invented the pendulum clock.

The "golden age" of the Netherlands also led to the flourishing of literature, famous writers were Joost van den Vondel and Pieter Cornelisson Hooft. In the 19th century, Multatuli (Eduard Douwes Dekker) wrote about the mistreatment of natives in the Dutch colonies. Important writers of the 20th century were Harry Mülisch, Jan Volkers, Simon Westdijk, Gerard Reve, Willem Frederik Hermans and Seis Noteboom. Anne Frank wrote the famous "Diary of Anne Frank", which was published after her death in a Nazi concentration camp and translated from Dutch into all major languages.

Dutch art of the 20th century acquired a more experimental character, while at the same time not completely abandoning traditional realism. In the 1950s, interest in poetry revived. In the works of such writers as Willem Frederik Hermans, Gerard Reve, Harry Mülish, the description of the disharmonious aspects of life is intertwined with realistic traditions. All modern trends are represented in painting and sculpture, among which in the 1950s the Kobra group, led by such a master as Karel Appel, stood out the most. In music, composer Willem Peiper won international recognition. All major cities have wonderful symphony orchestras, the most famous of which are the Amsterdam and The Hague Royal Orchestras. The Dutch ballet is one of the best in Europe.

Ice scene. 1620. Hendrik Averkamp

Notable Dutch film directors include Jos Stelling and Paul Verhoeven. Among the actors, Rutger Hauer is the most famous, and among the actresses Sylvia Kristel and Famke Janssen. Also world famous are such metal bands as Focus, Pestilence, The Gathering, Ayreon, Within Temptation, Delain, Exivious and Epica, as well as the rock band Shocking Blue. In addition, the Netherlands is famous for world-famous sound producers and DJs - Tiësto, Hardwell, Armin van Buuren, Dannic, Ferry Corsten, Afrojack, Sander van Doorn, Laidback Luke, Mitch Crown, Sidney Samson, Martin Garrix.

There are many wonderful museums in the Netherlands. Outstanding paintings by Dutch artists are presented in the Rijksmuseum and the Rembrandt House Museum in Amsterdam, the Boijmans-van Beuningen Museum in Rotterdam and the Mauritshuis Museum in The Hague, as well as in some major provincial museums, such as the Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem and the Utrecht Central Museum. The Amsterdam City Museum has a large collection of art from the 19th and 20th centuries. The Vincent van Gogh State Museum in Amsterdam houses more than 700 paintings and sketches by the master. The Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo also has a large collection of Van Gogh's works; in addition, there is a collection of works of contemporary art.

Sport

Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie

One of the most popular sports in the Netherlands is definitely football. The first information about him dates back to 1865. At the same time, the oldest football club in the Netherlands is the Koninkleike HFC club, which was founded in 1879. This was followed by the organization in the city of The Hague of the "Netherlands Football and Athletic Union" in 1889. The Netherlands national football team is one of the ten strongest in the world (occupying the 9th position). The Netherlands women's football team performs at a fairly strong level in the international arena. Led by head coach Sarina Wigman, the team won the UEFA Women's European Football Championship 2017. The country hosted such significant football tournaments as the 2000 European Football Championship and the 2017 European Women's Football Championship. Among the most famous football players of the country, it is worth noting: Philip John William Cocu, Fillem Kieft, Michels Rinus, Cruyff Johan and many others. others

Among the winter sports for the inhabitants of the Netherlands, skating occupies a special place. The history of this sport goes far back. According to "Notes on the stay of Peter I in the Netherlands 1697-1698 and 1716-1717" by J.K. Dutch skaters have won many of the most prestigious tournaments and are considered among the strongest in the world. The most famous are: Ard Schenk, Kees Ferkerk, Rintje Ritsma, Irene Wüst, Marianne Timmer, Bob de Jong, Sven Kramer and many others.

Combat sports are also very popular in the country. Especially well developed are kickboxing, savate, Thai boxing, karate, and judo. The Netherlands Muay Thai and Kickboxing School is often referred to as "the second home of Muay Thai". Well-known sports invented in the Netherlands are korfball and polsstokfersprinchen. At the Olympics and World Championships, Dutch athletes win a very large number of medals in relation to the population of the country. Thousands of fans from the Netherlands attend matches in foreign countries dressed in orange, which is always worn by the players of the national football team. The following are also popular among the population: baseball, tennis, cycling, field hockey, volleyball, handball and golf.

Architecture

Rotterdam is the modern "architectural capital" of the Netherlands. In the foreground - Erasmus Bridge

Dutch architecture has had a significant impact on the development of world architecture. In the 16th century, it was significantly different from all known styles in Europe at that time. A particular style was developed on the basis of the "stinginess and moderation" inherent in Calvinism, which went against the pomp and decoration in the French and Spanish courts. Representatives of the Dutch architecture of the 17th century were Lieven de Kay and Hendrik de Keyser. The Late Renaissance (Renaissance) left its mark on the development of Dutch architecture. The influence, which dawned at the end of the 17th century, was so significant that the expression "Dutch baroque" (Dutch classicism) was introduced into use. The facades of many government buildings, banks and manufactories were finished in this style. The most famous architects of this period were Jacob van Kampen and Pieter Post.

The style of Dutch architecture of the 19th century was dominated by classicism, as well as various trends (for example, neo-Gothic). During this period, the construction of such famous buildings as the Rijksmuseum, the University of Utrecht, and the central station of Amsterdam falls. Prominent architects of this time were Eugene Hugel and Petrus Kuipers. At the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century, the transition of Dutch architecture from classicism to modernity and constructivism took place. Petrus Barlache, a student of Petrus Kuipers, is rightfully considered the founder of modern Netherlandish architecture.

Notes

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A country modern life Holland has always attracted people to itself. There are many unique places to visit. Monuments of architecture and museums occupy a special place in the country, but it kindles more interest in people, thanks to a variety of entertainment - from the most ordinary to illegal ones. But! They are illegal in other countries, but in Holland everything is officially allowed and quite normal. The country of Holland is associated in people with cheese, tulips, narcotic substances and free love for sale.

Attractions

The state also has a second name - the Netherlands. It is located in the northwestern part of Europe. It borders with Belgium and Germany.

Amsterdam

The main attraction of Holland is her. This city is considered to be the freest city in Europe. There are no prohibitions and restrictions here. It is attractive for any type and age of tourists. Those who are older will see plenty of ancient monuments and historical sites, walking through various museums. To the younger generation it won't be boring here. The city draws in its hectic life any time of the day.

Van Gogh Museum

If you are a lover of painting and paintings, then Holland has the world's largest Van Gogh Museum. Here are collected numerous of his works of various periods of life. The museum consists of four floors, on which a person will literally get lost among the paintings and drawings of the artist. Also in the museum are the works of Van Gogh's followers - Gauguin, Millet and Toulouse-Lautrec.

Temple of Venus

For adults in the Netherlands, namely in Amsterdam, there is the oldest sex museum in the world. People will be able to see the whole history of sex from the most ancient times to the present day.

Madame Tussauds museum

Perhaps one of the most famous museums in the world. In it, a person will be able to observe Amsterdam of the 17th century with figures of people moving in it. The peculiarity of this museum is that everything is created here from wax. In addition, you can look at the wax celebrities of the 20th century.

Rotterdam

Everyone will fall in love with this place at first sight. The port of Rotterdam has on its territory a library, a conservatory, an art academy and many more interesting things. It is noteworthy that the old part of the famous port was completely destroyed during the Second World War, but it was soon recreated, and now it looks very unusual, due to unique buildings and unusual architectural objects.

Hague

Another central city of the country. The Hague is famous for the fact that the world's main embassies, the royal residence and parliament are located there. But there are also places remote from politics. For example, the Madurodam Museum attracts guests by the fact that in the open air you can look at the whole of Holland and see every sight.

Population

More than 15,000,000 people now live in the Netherlands. Almost the entire population of the country speaks their native Dutch. However, almost everyone can easily talk to you in English. There is also a unique place in the country - such as Friesland. This is a small provincial area where the inhabitants created their own, "Frisian" language.

Rules and visa

The country of Holland is the only country where the use of weak drugs is allowed. But this is possible only within the country. The import and export of drugs is strictly prohibited. If these funds are found at customs, you can “rattle” in prison for up to 12 years. You can import cigarettes and alcohol into the country, but it should all be in moderate doses.

As you know, Holland is in the Schengen zone, respectively, you will need to enter the state. How and where to get it, if there is none, you can find out here.

The national currency in Holland is the Euro. Prices in the state are quite democratic.

Restaurants and cafes

While in the restaurant, each visitor must pay separately. Also in restaurants forbidden dance. If you decide to taste the national food of the country, then it is best to do this in the "brown" cafes. They usually have wooden facades and dark walls. It will be difficult to confuse such cafes with ordinary bars.

The shops

Here you should read carefully and remember. There are many different shops and shops in Holland, but they all work on the same schedule: from 9:00 to 18:00, and on Saturday until 17:00; Sunday is a day off. However, Amsterdam has its own rules and regulations - many shops are open here at any time, but Sunday is still a day off.

Holidays

The people in the Netherlands are very cheerful and outgoing. The country of Holland annually celebrates Lent in February. This holiday begins with a carnival a few days before Lent, and ends at midnight, before Lent.

April 30 is an especially important day for the Dutch. It was on this date that Queen Beatrix ascended the throne. Also on this day, Queen Juliana's mother was born. On April 30, from 9 a.m., traffic throughout the country stops, and noisy festivities begin with concerts and fairs. The celebration lasts until midnight.

September 3 in Holland is decorated with fresh flowers. Houses, windows, cars - everything is hung with different colors. On this day, the cities of the country seem to bloom and begin to smell of freshness and unforgettable aromas of different flowers.

If you decide to visit the Netherlands, then this is a great choice. The country of Holland is always glad to see guests and is ready to show you all its beauties.

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Country Description

Full name of the country: Kingdom of the Netherlands. This country is often associated with mills, tulips and wooden shoes (as well as the smell of legalized marijuana and the light of red lights in the famous quarter of Amsterdam), but in fact, Holland is much bigger and wider than the stereotypes mentioned. This is one of the most picturesque states of Western Europe. Tours to Holland are not cheap because of the flight and the high cost of accommodation. However, hotels in Amsterdam are very often overcrowded. Arriving in the capital, it is necessary to travel around the country (it is very easy to do this by train, since the stations are located in the city centers).

Geography

The country is located in northwestern Europe, bordering Belgium and Germany. Administratively, it is divided into 12 provinces. Together with Belgium and Luxembourg, it is part of the Benelux community. In the north and west, Holland is washed by the North Sea. The country's area is 41.5 thousand square meters. km. The Netherlands also includes the Dutch Antilles and Aruba in the Caribbean. The Rhine River flows through the center of the country.

Time

Behind Moscow for 2 hours.

Climate

The country is located in the temperate maritime climate zone. The average temperature of the coldest month of January is +2C. The hottest month is July, the temperature is about +17C. Precipitation is not much, about 800 mlm. in year.

Language

The official language of the country is Dutch. English language knows literally the entire population of the country. French and German are also widely spoken.

Religion

60% Christian (Roman Catholic and Protestant), 3% Muslim.

Population

Population: 16105000 people More than 95% of the country's population are Dutch (descendants of Germanic, Gallic and Celtic tribes), the remaining 5% are Indonesians, Surinamese and Moroccans.

Electricity

Mains voltage: 220V, 50Hz.

Emergency Phones

Police, ambulance, fire brigade - 112.

Connection

The telephone connection is high level, you can call abroad from any pay phone, which are located everywhere. Payment is made by coins (green machines) or telephone cards (blue machines). Phone cards can be purchased at post offices and kiosks. In large retail outlets, banks and at the most visited tourist sites there are pay phones that accept credit cards.

GPRS-roaming is available from the main Russian operators. There are a lot of Wi-Fi hotspots. The use of the Internet is so fashionable that Internet cafes can be found at almost every turn. The Net can be accessed free of charge in libraries and some other places. Paid access is quite cheap.

Currency exchange

Euro (EURO), 1 EURO = 100 EURO cent. Banknotes: 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 euros. Coins: 2 and 1 euro; 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents. Banks operate on weekdays from 9.00 to 16.00. Some banks close one hour earlier on Fridays. The organization "GWK" also deals with currency exchange in Amsterdam. Most GWK exchange points are located near railway stations. They work from 8.00 to 20.00 all days except Sunday; on Sunday the points are open from 10.00 to 16.00. You can also exchange currency at post offices.

Visa

The Kingdom of the Netherlands is one of the countries participating in the Schengen Agreement. Citizens of Russia and the CIS require a visa to enter.

Tourist visa - designed for people who are going to make a tourist trip to the Netherlands or intend to spend a vacation in the country in a pre-booked hotel.
Private visa - for persons whose purpose of visit is to visit friends or relatives.
Business visa - for persons visiting the Netherlands for the purpose of establishing business contacts or at the invitation of business partners.
Transit visa - intended for those who transit through the territory of the Netherlands to third countries, with the exception of countries participating in the Schengen agreement.

Customs regulations

Duty-free import is allowed: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, or 250 g of tobacco; 1 liter of spirits, 2 liters of fortified wine, 5 liters of dry wine; 250 ml of perfume; 200 g of coffee, 40 g of tea, souvenirs - in reasonable quantities. Tobacco and alcoholic products can only be imported by persons over 17 years of age.

Prohibited import: non-canned meat products. For other non-canned food, a declaration is required. It is important to know that the export of Dutch flower bulbs from the country is only allowed with a health certificate issued by the Netherlands Phytopathological Service. When buying flower bulbs, you should ask the seller if it is possible to take these bulbs out of the country. For example, Canadian customs will only allow Dutch tulips to enter the country if they have a certificate issued by the Canadian customs officer in Holland. Tourists do not need a certificate of vaccination, however, when importing pets, they must present a veterinary certificate with a note about the vaccination against rabies, as well as the period of its validity. There is no risk of infection with especially dangerous diseases. Health insurance is required to enter the Netherlands.

Holidays and non-working days

Day of the cyclist

Transport

The National Railway Company (“NS”) provides passenger transportation between the cities of the country. Intercity buses run on numerous highways. You can hitchhike around the country. Approximately three-quarters of the Dutch have bicycles and use them extensively. On the roads of the country, cyclists are allocated separate paths, and near public buildings, shops, museums, special places are allocated for parking bicycles. You can rent a bike and use it to travel around the country. In all cities of the country there is a single tariff scale and single ticket samples, i.e. tickets purchased in one city are valid in the rest. This is very convenient, especially for tourists traveling around the country. In the cities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam, tickets also apply to the metro. A ticket validated on one mode of transport is valid for one hour on all modes of transport, i.e. during this hour, you can make any number of transfers within one zone of the city. To travel to the neighboring zone, you need to punch two tickets, when traveling through one zone, you need to punch three tickets, etc. The same rules apply in the subway. Tickets for travel in the Netherlands are best bought at tobacconists, post offices, and metro stations. These places sell tickets for 15 rides, costing $6 and 45 rides, costing $17. City transport drivers sell single ($0.8), double ($1.6), triple ($2.4), and 8-ride ($6.4) tickets, i.e. significantly more expensive.

Tips

In hotels, restaurants and hairdressers, tips are included in the bill. When paying the bill, it is customary to leave change. 1-2 euros are given to porters, taxi drivers and porters.

The shops

Shops are open daily from 9.00 am to 17.30 - 18.00 pm. Shops close quite late on Tuesday and Friday. On Saturdays, grocery stores close at 4:00 pm, the rest close at 5:00 pm.

National cuisine

The Dutch love to eat, as evidenced by the portion sizes of dishes served in restaurants. Of the national dishes, the most popular is Risttafel - a variety of rice dishes with meat and vegetables. Also popular are the so-called "bruuges" - butter balls made from all kinds of products, from cheese to crab meat. To the beloved The delicacies offered by Dutch cuisine include fish dishes, in particular, panharing fried herring or eel fried with molasses - gebaken paling met sling. They owe their taste not only to their original recipe, but above all to the fact that the chefs prepare these dishes from the freshest fish. There are not many markets in the world where they sell such magnificent young herring as in Dutch - they are eaten with onions right at the street food stall. Or the famous oysters, which, thanks to skillful processing, turn into an excellent delicacy. But Holland is also famous for its high-quality cheeses. Although their assortment is relatively small, they are produced in large quantities, and many cheeses are exported. The Dutch are proud of their cheeses, as evidenced by the variety of hot cheese dishes. The favorite soup of the Dutch is fragrant pea soup in meat broth. Holland is famous for seafood dishes: fried halibut, king oysters, shrimps, mussels, lobsters.

The Dutch love sweets. Already in the pre-noon time, they wash down some flour confectionery with a cup of sweet coffee with cream or sweet wine. Dutch muffins and cookies are also popular in other countries. A popular spirit is jenever (Dutch gin). It is drunk undiluted and chilled. Sometimes gin is mixed with cola or vermouth. Dutch beer is very popular. Alcohol can be bought at any time of the day. Bars stay open until late and close early on weekends.

Attractions and resorts

In spring and summer, Amsterdam and Rotterdam turn into lively tourist centers. The cities of Holland are masterpieces of medieval architecture. Here, ancient merchant houses, majestic cathedrals, town halls and modern buildings coexist.

IN Amsterdam you can visit the Rijksmuseum (Flemish painting), the Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art, the Westerkerk Cathedral with a bell tower (there is the tomb of Rembrandt). The city has several churches of interest to tourists. These are the Ude Kerk Church (1300) and the Neuve Kerk Church (XV century). Be sure to visit the Rix Museum - one of the greatest museums in Europe, along with the Prado, the Louvre and the Uffizi Gallery. The Museum displays paintings by Dutch artists dating from the 15th to the 19th centuries, including works by Rembrandt, Van Eyck and Vermeer. With about 1 million exhibits and about a million visitors a year, the Rix Museum is the largest art museum in the Netherlands. Of interest are sculptures, applied arts, engravings, photographs, drawings and a collection of Asian art. Here you can also learn a lot about the history of Holland, from the 15th century to the Second World War. The Van Gogh Museum owns the largest collection of paintings by this great artist. The collection once belonged to the artist's brother Theo, whose son donated the collection to the Dutch government, which opened the Museum in 1973. The main part of the collection includes more than 200 paintings, 500 drawings and 700 letters from Van Gogh. In addition to paintings by Van Gogh, there are also works by his contemporaries such as Gauguin, Toulouse-Lautrec and Millet. At the Anne Frank House Museum, she and her family went into hiding before being discovered by the Nazis and sent to a concentration camp. Visitors can visit the rooms where little Anna wrote her famous diary. About half a million people visit this museum every year; it is one of the most popular attractions in Holland. It is difficult to imagine the capital of Holland without the buildings of the exchange and the central station, residential buildings of the 16th-17th centuries. Among architectural monuments the Royal Palace, built in the 17th century, stands out. on Dam Square - the historic center of Old Amsterdam.

IN Rotterdam there are the Boyman van Beuningen Museum, the Academy of Arts, the Conservatory, the Museum of Ethnography and the Zoo. Delfshaven (Pilgrim's Port) is a historical district of Rotterdam with many old buildings and a rich history. From this harbor in 1620, pilgrims who had come to the Netherlands to escape religious persecution sailed to the New World and settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Visit the Crane House dating back to 1653, the Church of the Pilgrim Fathers and the City Assembly Hall converted into a brewery.

IN Nijmengen there is a museum of Roman art, and in Haarlem- the Frans Hals Museum, the Museum of Industrial Art in the castle of the 18th century, the Church of St. Bavo with a unique organ for 5000 pipes.

Hague It is the seat of government, parliament and the royal court. In the city, be sure to check out the Royal Art Gallery and the Houses of Parliament. It is also interesting to walk around the part of the old city of the 13th century. with medieval towers (Binnenhof and Buttenhof). The Hague has the Peace Palace built by Andrew Carnegie in 1913, Maduram (a miniature reconstruction of the ancient city), the Mauritshuis Palace, the International Press Museum, the Postal Museum and the Costume Museum.

Groningen famous for the church of St. Martin (XIII-XVI centuries) and the remains of a Roman settlement. One of the oldest branches of agriculture in Holland - floriculture - dates back to 1599, when the botanist Clusius opened a greenhouse for exotic plants in Leiden.

Most Small town Holland - Madurodam. You will not find it on the map of the country. With its large collection of various objects, made in 1:25 scale, Madurodam reflects the character of a real Dutch city and its surroundings. It shows the most impressive examples of Dutch architecture from many periods. One of its special features is that immediately after its opening, the miniature city had a mayor of royal origin. Until her ascension to the throne in 1980, Queen Beatrix served as mayor of Madurodam. Queen Beatrix is ​​still the patroness of the city. The miniature city of Madurodam was opened to the public on July 2, 1952.

City Maastricht, located in the south of the Netherlands, is the capital of the province of Limburg. The city attracts tourists from all over the world not only with its rich history, but also with its special beauty. The city's name comes from the Latin Mosae Trajectum, which means "Wade across the Meuse". Maastricht, founded by the Romans in 50 BC e., is the oldest city in Holland. Divided into two parts by the river Meuse, the city is especially attractive due to the magnificent historical buildings. Among the sights of the city, the remains of the Van du Moulin defensive line, the Maastricht bridge built in 1298, the beautiful churches of Sint-Servaskerk, Onze-live-Vrau and St. Jan, Sint-Petersburg caves with a huge labyrinth of more than 20 thousand corridors stand out. .

In the territory Keukenhof Near Lisse, in the heart of the famous Bloombollenstreek (Flower Bulb District), the world-famous Flower Show takes place every spring, attracting visitors both from Holland and from all over the world. At the time of flowering of tulips, up to 850,000 visitors come here every year.

Mills are often a very characteristic part of the Dutch landscape. Mills that perform an industrial role, you can meet by going on an excursion to Zaanse Schans, A Typical Dutch Village. The industrial activity of the town was determined mainly by the presence of wind and the mills of the 17th century were modern factories. Many are still active.

By Ellina 23.04.2012

About 16.5 million people live in it, which is approximately equal to 480 inhabitants per square kilometer. It is not only the most densely populated country in Europe, but also one of the most densely populated countries in the world. The bulk of the population lives in the so-called Randstad, a large agglomeration in the east of the country, which is bordered by four main cities: (715 thousand inhabitants), (600 thousand inhabitants), (480 thousand inhabitants) and (280 thousand inhabitants).

The population is very multiethnic, most of them have ancestors who immigrated to the country many centuries ago. Currently, one-fifth of the country's population is made up of foreigners, many of whom are of Eastern origin and live in cities. The largest group of immigrants is made up of immigrants from former colonies in Indonesia, numbering about 400 thousand people and their descendants, as well as Surinami and the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba (Caribbean Islands), about 325 thousand people. are also home to 352,000 Turks and 306,000 Moroccans. Many of whom came to help rebuild the country in the post-war period, but subsequently decided to stay here forever.

Netherlands or Holland? It's complicated and simple at the same time...

February 20th, 2018

Consequently, the nationality of the Dutch also does not exist, and all indigenous people correctly called Dutch. However, in Russian colloquial speech, both options are acceptable. As for the language, it is Dutch, and Dutch is one of its dialects.

In fact, there is no equal sign between Holland and the Netherlands. Moreover, there are two Hollands: North and South. They are only two of the 12 provinces of the Netherlands.

Kingdom of the Netherlands - densely populated European state. It borders with Germany and Belgium. It incorporates some islands of the Caribbean Sea (Sint Eustatius, Saba, Bonaire), washed by the North Sea.

The name of the state is translated as "lower lands". In the Middle Ages, this territory was called the “Low Countries” (plus Belgium). Well, fair enough. After all, most of the state is below sea level. A height of over three hundred meters is considered by the locals as a high mountain. Perhaps for this reason, when developing rights and obligations, the population easily took into account their “earthly desires”, thanks to which there is no need to break the law in order to feel flight and freethinking. When a lot of things are allowed, there are almost no temptations, and everyone lives in peace and harmony.

The Netherlands was originally called that. There is no other name for the population of the country. From the beginning of the nineteenth century to this day there is a monarchy. Only today it is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy.

The country developed its own culture, had its own language. The state experienced each historical turn in its own way. If it was possible to stay away during the First World War, then the Second World War did not pass by.

Thus, the Netherlands is a full-fledged state. With its own language, with its territory, history, culture. The country has its own way of development, its own view of the life of its population. Then why is the Netherlands called Holland? Where exactly are the two countries that are so often confused?

The reason for this confusion is historical. Back in the 17th century, ships sailed from North and South Holland to Arkhangelsk. Being natives of these provinces, the merchants were represented in Russia as Dutch. Peter I made even more confusion. In 1697-1698, during a diplomatic mission in Western Europe he visited the Netherlands, more precisely, the most developed regions of the country - both Hollands. When he returned, he began to talk not about the Netherlands, but about Holland, which only reinforced the Russians' misconception about the name of the country.

Now these provinces are no less important in the life of the Netherlands than before. Amsterdam, which is located in North Holland, serves as the financial and cultural capital.

The Hague, which is the center of South Holland, is the seat of the Dutch government and parliament. At the same time, the monarch takes the oath in Amsterdam. Even the government travel website is called holland.com. This was done in order to maintain a friendlier image of the state and at the same time to get to the top of search queries.

By the way, the Holland vs the Netherlands confusion exists not only in Russian. For example, in Greece, in colloquial speech, the country is called Hollandia (Ολλανδία), but the official name remains Kato-Hores (Κάτω Χώρες), which literally translates as “lower lands”, in fact, like the Netherlands. It is even more difficult for the British and Americans, since they called this country at different times the Dutch Republic, the United States of Belgium and the Kingdom of Holland.

However, calling the Netherlands Holland, referring to the state, is as ridiculous as calling the United States, for example, Florida or Texas.