Netherlands

Kingdom of the NetherlandsKoninkrijk de Nederlanden

constitutional monarchyIndependence 1579 (from Spain)

Netherlands as the 1993 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 81 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalAmsterdam

Area37,330 km2

LocationWestern Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany

Populationas each edition published it

15.27 million July 1993 est. · 14.94m in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.63% 1993 est. · 0.3% in 2025

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 38.6 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

77.55 years 1993 est. · 81.9 yrs in 2025

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.59 children per woman 1993 est. · 1.6 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

6.2 deaths per 1,000 live births 1993 est. · 7 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$17,200 1992 · $70,900 in 2025

GDP real growth% a year

1.6% 1992 · 1% in 2025

Geography

Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany

14 fields

Land useshare of 37,330 km2

arable land 26%permanent crops 1%meadows and pastures 32%forest and woodland 9%other 32%irrigated 5,500 km2 (1989 est.)

Area

37,330km2

land area: 33,920 km2 comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Coastline

451km

continental shelf: not specifiedexclusive fishing zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Land boundaries

1,027km

total · Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km

Location

Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany

Map references

Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World

Climate

temperate;
marine;
cool summers and mild winters

Terrain

mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast

Environment

without an extensive system of dikes and dams, nearly one-half of the total area would be inundated by sea water

Note

located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, Schelde)

People

14 fields

Population

15,274,942

(July 1993 est.)growth rate: 0.63% (1993 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1993 est.)

Birth

12.81Death

8.53Net migration

2.06

Religions(1988)

Roman Catholic 36%Protestant 27%other 6%unaffiliated 31% (1988)

Labor force

5.3million

by occupation: services 50.1%, manufacturing and construction 28.2%, government 15.9%, agriculture 5.8% (1986)

Literacy

15and over can read and write

age · (1979)total population: 99%male: NA%female: NA%

Infant mortality rate

6.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 77.55 years
male:: 74.48 years
female:: 80.78 years (1993 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)
adjective:: Dutch

Ethnic divisions

Dutch 96%, Moroccans, Turks, and other 4% (1988)

Government

Constitutional monarchy

22 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

35.3%

CDA 35.3%PvdA 31.9%VVD 14.6%D'66 7.9%other 10.3%

Names

conventional long form:: Kingdom of the Netherlands
conventional short form:: Netherlands
local long form:: Koninkrijk de Nederlanden
local short form:: Nederland

Capital

Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government

Administrative divisions

12 provinces (provincien, singular - provincie);
Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland, Zuid-Holland

Legal system

civil law system incorporating French penal theory;
judicial review in the Supreme Court of legislation of lower order rather than Acts of the States General;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Political parties and leaders

Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), Willem van VELZEN;
Labor (PvdA), Wim KOK;
Liberal (VVD), Frederick BOLKSTEIN;
Democrats '66 (D'66), Hans van MIERIO;
a host of minor parties

Other political or pressure groups

large multinational firms;
Federation of Netherlands Trade Union Movement (comprising Socialist and Catholic trade unions) and a Protestant trade union;
Federation of Catholic and Protestant Employers Associations;
the nondenominational Federation of Netherlands Enterprises;
and Interchurch Peace Council (IKV)

Elections

First Chamber:: last held on 9 June l991 (next to be held 9 June 1995);
results - elected by the country's 12 provincial councils;
seats - (75 total) percent of seats by party NA
Second Chamber:: last held on 6 September 1989 (next to be held in May 1994);
results - CDA 35.3%, PvdA 31.9%, VVD 14.6%, D'66 7.9%, other 10.3%;
seats - (150 total) CDA 54, PvdA 49, VVD 22, D'66 12, other 13

Executive branch

monarch, prime minister, vice prime minister, Cabinet, Cabinet of Ministers

Legislative branch

bicameral legislature (Staten Generaal) consists of an upper chamber or First Chamber (Eerste Kamer) and a lower chamber or Second Chamber (Tweede Kamer)

Leaders

Chief of State:: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April 1980); Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER, Prince of Orange, son of Queen Beatrix (born 27 April 1967)
Head of Government:: Prime Minister Ruud (Rudolph) F. M. LUBBERS (since 4 November 1982); Vice Prime Minister Willem (Wim) KOK (since 2 November 1989)

AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, ESCAP, FAO, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Johan Hendrick MEESMAN
chancery:: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008
telephone:: (202) 244-5300
FAX:: (202) 362-3430
consulates general:: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Manila (Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands), New York

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Thomas H. GEWECKE
embassy:: Lange Voorhout 102, The Hague
mailing address:: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715
telephone:: [31] (70) 310-9209
FAX:: [31] (70) 361-4688
consulate general:: Amsterdam

Flag

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer

Economy

19 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$17,200

(1992)

Real growth rate

1.6%

(1992)industrial production growth: growth rate 1.6% (1992 est.); accounts for 25% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

3.5%

(1992 est.)

Unemployment rate

5.3%

(1992 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$109.9 billionExpenditures

$122.1 billion

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)

Overview

This highly developed and affluent economy is based on private enterprise. The government makes its presence felt, however, through many regulations, permit requirements, and welfare programs affecting most aspects of economic activity. The trade and financial services sector contributes over 50% of GDP. Industrial activity provides about 25% of GDP and is led by the food-processing, oil-refining, and metalworking industries.

The highly mechanized agricultural sector employs only 5% of the labor force, but provides large surpluses for export and the domestic food-processing industry. Unemployment and a sizable budget deficit are currently the most serious economic problems. Many of the economic issues of the 1990s will reflect the course of European economic integration.

National product

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $259.8 billion (1992)

Exports

$128.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992)

commodities:: agricultural products, processed foods and tobacco, natural gas, chemicals, metal products, textiles, clothing
partners:: EC 77% (Germany 27%, Belgium-Luxembourg 15%, UK 10%), US 4% (1991)

Imports

$117.7 billion (f.o.b., 1992)

commodities:: raw materials and semifinished products, consumer goods, transportation equipment, crude oil, food products
partners:: EC 64% (Germany 26%, Belgium-Luxembourg 14%, UK 8%), US 8% (1991)

External debt

Electricity

22,216,000 kW capacity; 63,500 million kWh produced, 4,200 kWh per capita (1992)

Industries

agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, fishing, construction, microelectronics

Agriculture

accounts for 4.6% of GDP;
animal production predominates;
crops - grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables;
shortages of grain, fats, and oils

Illicit drugs

transit country for illicit narcotics produced in neighboring countries; European producer of illicit amphetamines and other synthetic drugs

Economic aid

donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $19.4 billion

Currency

1 Netherlands guilder, gulden, or florin (f.) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

Netherlands guilders, gulden, or florins (f.) per US$1 - 1.8167 (January 1993), 1.7585 (1992), 1.8697 (1991), 1.8209 (1990), 2.1207 (1989), 1.9766 (1988)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields

Merchant marine, 344 ships by type

short-sea passenger 3cargo 193refrigerated cargo 30container 26roll-on/roll-off 13livestock carrier 1multifunction large-load carrier 11oil tanker 23chemical tanker 22liquefied gas 10specialized tanker 2bulk 6combination bulk; note - many Dutch-owned ships are also registered on the captive Netherlands Antilles register 4344 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,762,000 GRT/3,675,649 DWT

Networkskm

Highways

108,360Inland waterways

6,340

Highways: ; 92,525 km paved (including 2,185 km of limited access, divided highways); 15,835 km gravel, crushed stone · Inland waterways: , of which 35% is usable by craft of 1,000 metric ton capacity or larger

Railroads

2,828 km 1.435-meter standard gauge operated by Netherlands Railways (NS) (includes 1,957 km electrified and 1,800 km double track)

Highways

108,360 km total;
92,525 km paved (including 2,185 km of limited access, divided highways);
15,835 km gravel, crushed stone

Inland waterways

6,340 km, of which 35% is usable by craft of 1,000 metric ton capacity or larger

Pipelines

crude oil 418 km;
petroleum products 965 km;
natural gas 10,230 km

Ports

coastal - Amsterdam, Delfzijl, Den Helder, Dordrecht, Eemshaven, Ijmuiden, Rotterdam, Scheveningen, Terneuzen, Vlissingen; inland - 29 ports

Airports

total:: 28
usable:: 28
with permanent-surface runways:: 20
with runways over 3,659 m:: 0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:: 11
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:: 6

Telecommunications

highly developed, well maintained, and integrated;
extensive redundant system of multiconductor cables, supplemented by microwave radio relay microwave links;
9,418,000 telephones;
broadcast stations - 3 (3 relays) AM, 12 (39 repeaters) FM, 8 (7 repeaters) TV;
5 submarine cables;
1 communication satellite earth station operating in INTELSAT (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean antenna) and EUTELSAT systems;
nationwide mobile phone system