Netherlands

Kingdom of the NetherlandsKoninkrijk de Nederlanden

constitutional monarchyIndependence 1579 (from Spain)

Netherlands as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 92 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

Position52 30 N, 5 45 E

Area37,330 sq km

LocationWestern Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium

Populationas each edition published it

15.57 million July 1996 est. · 14.94m in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.56% 1996 est. · 0.63% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 38.6 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

77.73 years 1996 est. · 77.55 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.51 children per woman 1996 est. · 1.6 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

4.9 deaths per 1,000 live births 1996 est. · 7 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$19,500 1995 est. · $17,200 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

2.5% 1995 est. · 1.6% in 1993

Geography

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

15 fields

Land useshare of 37,330 sq km

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

Area

37,330sq km

land area: 33,920 sq kmcomparative area: slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Coastline

451km

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Land boundaries

1,027km

border countries: Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km

Location

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

Climate

temperate;
marine;
cool summers and mild winters

Terrain

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

lowest point:: Prins Alexanderpolder -7 m
highest point:: Vaalserberg 321 m

Environment

current issues:: water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic compounds, and nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates;
air pollution from vehicles and refining activities;
acid rain
natural hazards:: the extensive system of dikes and dams, protects nearly one-half of the total area from being flooded
international agreements:: party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Tropical Timber 94

Geographic note

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

People

15 fields

Population

15,568,034

(July 1996 est.)growth rate: 0.56% (1996 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1996 est.)

Birth

12.08Death

8.7Net migration

2.25

Religions(1991)

Roman Catholic 34%Protestant 25%Muslim 3%other 2%unaffiliated 36% (1991)

Literacy

15and over can read and write

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

Age structure

0-14 years:: 18% (male 1,457,694; female 1,393,402)
15-64 years:: 68% (male 5,412,402; female 5,228,579)
65 years and over:: 14% (male 836,934; female 1,239,023) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.68 male(s)/female
all ages:: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate

4.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 77.73 years
male:: 74.91 years
female:: 80.68 years (1996 est.)

Nationality

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

Ethnic divisions

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

Government

Constitutional monarchy; Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April 1980) is a constitutional monarch; Prime Minister Willem (Wim) KOK (since 22 August 1994) and Vice Prime Ministers Hans DIJKSTAL (since 22 August 1994) and Hans VAN MIERLO (since 22 August 1994) were appointed by the queen

24 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

24.3%

PvdA 24.3%CDA 22.3%VVD 20.4%D'66 16.5%other 16.5%

Legislature, 150 seatsone dot, one seat

PvdA 37CDA 34VVD 31D'66 24other 24

Name of country

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

Data code

Type of government

constitutional monarchy

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

Dependent areas

Aruba, Netherlands Antilles

Independence

1579 (from Spain)

National holiday

Queen's Day, 30 April (1938)

Constitution

17 February 1983

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April 1980) is a constitutional monarch;
Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER (born 27 April 1967), Prince of Orange, son of Queen BEATRIX
head of government:: Prime Minister Willem (Wim) KOK (since 22 August 1994) and Vice Prime Ministers Hans DIJKSTAL (since 22 August 1994) and Hans VAN MIERLO (since 22 August 1994) were appointed by the queen
cabinet:: Cabinet was appointed by the prime minister

Legislative branch

bicameral legislature (Staten Generaal)

First Chamber (Eerste Kamer)

members indirectly elected by the country's 12 provincial councils for four-year terms;
election last held 9 June 1995 (next to be held 9 June 1999);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (75 total) number of seats by party NA

Second Chamber (Tweede Kamer)

members directly elected for four-year terms;
elections last held 3 May 1994 (next to be held in 1998);
results - PvdA 24.3%, CDA 22.3%, VVD 20.4%, D'66 16.5%, other 16.5%;
seats - (150 total) PvdA 37, CDA 34, VVD 31, D'66 24, other 24

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (De Hoge Raad), justices are nominated for life by the crown from a list compiled by the Second Chamber of the Staten Generaal

Political parties and leaders

Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), Hans HELGERS;
Labor (PvdA), Felix ROTTENBERG;
Liberal (VVD), Frits BOLKESTEIN;
Democrats '66 (D66), Hans VAN MIERLO;
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)

International organization participation

AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIH, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Adriaan JACOBOVITS DE SZEGED
chancery:: (temporary) 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone:: [1] (202) 244-5300

FAX

[1] (202) 362-3430; consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador Kirk Terry DORNBUSH
embassy:: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ The Hague
mailing address:: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715
telephone:: [31] (70) 310-9209

FAX

[31] (70) 361-4688; consulate(s) 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

This highly developed and affluent economy is | based on private enterprise.

21 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$19,500

(1995 est.)

Real growth rate

2.5%

(1995 est.)industrial production growth: 1% (1995 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

2.25%

(1995)

Unemployment rate

7.1%

(fourth quarter 1995)

GDP composition by sector(1994)

agriculture 3.4%industry 26.9%services 69.7% (1994)

Budget

Revenues

$109.9 billionExpenditures

$122.1 billion (1992 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Installed generating capacity, 17,520,000 kW

Electricity production

72.4 billionElectricity consumption per capita

5,100 (1993)

Economic 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 4% of the labor force, but provides large surpluses for export and the domestic food-processing industry. Indeed, the Netherlands ranks third worldwide in value of agricultural exports, behind the US and France. High 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.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $301.9 billion (1995 est.)

Labor force

6.4 million (1993); by occupation: services 73%, manufacturing and construction 23%, agriculture 4% (1994)

Industries

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

Agriculture

grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock

Illicit drugs

important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish entering Europe; European producer of illicit amphetamines and other synthetic drugs

Exports

$146 billion (f.o.b., 1995)

commodities:: metal products, chemicals, processed food and tobacco, agricultural products
partners:: EU 73% (Germany 28%, Belgium-Luxembourg 13%, UK 9%), Central and Eastern Europe 2%, US 5% (1994)

Imports

$133 billion (c.i.f., 1995)

commodities:: raw materials and semifinished products, consumer goods, transportation equipment, crude oil, food products
partners:: EU 56% (Germany 21%, Belgium-Luxembourg 11%, UK 8.5%), US 8.6% (1994)

External debt

Economic aid

donor: ODA, $2.525 billion (1993)

Currency

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

Exchange rates

Netherlands guilders, gulden, or florins (f.) per US$1 - 1.6365 (January 1996), 1.6057 (1995), 1.8200 (1994), 1.8573 (1993), 1.7585 (1992), 1.8697 (1991)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Transportation

8 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 28 in all

over 3 047 m

2 438 to 3 047 m

1 524 to 2 437 m

914 to 1 523 m

under 914 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

104,831Railways

2,891Waterways

6,340

Highways: paved: 92,251 km (including 2,118 km of expressways) · unpaved: 12,580 km (1992 est.) · Railways: standard gauge: 2,891 km 1.435-m gauge; 2857 km are in common carrier service (1,991 km electrified) and 34 km serve tourists · Waterways: , of which 35% is usable by craft of 1,000 metric ton capacity or larger

Railways

total:: 2,891 km
standard gauge:: 2,891 km 1.435-m gauge; 2857 km are in common carrier service (1,991 km electrified) and 34 km serve tourists

Highways

total:: 104,831 km
paved:: 92,251 km (including 2,118 km of expressways)
unpaved:: 12,580 km (1992 est.)

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

Amsterdam, Delfzijl, Dordrecht, Eemshaven, Groningen, Haarlem, Ijmuiden, Maastricht, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Utrecht

Merchant marine

total:: 352 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,681,133 GRT/3,379,762 DWT
ships by type:: bulk 1, cargo 206, chemical tanker 21, combination bulk 3, container 34, liquefied gas tanker 13, livestock carrier 1, multifunction large-load carrier 2, oil tanker 38, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 16, roll-on/roll-off cargo 11, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 2

note: many Dutch-owned ships are operating under the registry of Netherlands Antilles (1995 est.)

Heliports

1 (1995 est.)

Communications

Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes | Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force, | Royal Constabulary

9 fields

Fixed lines

8.272 million

(1983 est.)

Telephone system

highly developed and well maintained; extensive redundant system of multiconductor cables, supplemented by microwave radio relay

domestic:: nationwide cellular telephone system; microwave radio relay
international:: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean Regions)

males age 15-49:: 4,191,998
males fit for military service:: 3,670,253
males reach military age (20) annually:: 94,013 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $8.2 billion, 2.1% of GDP (1995)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Netherlands.” The World Factbook 1996. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/netherlands/1996.

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