Netherlands

Kingdom of the NetherlandsKoninkrijk der Nederlanden

constitutional monarchy

Netherlands as the 2008 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 138 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, UTC+1
Position52 30 N, 5 45 E
Area41,526 sq km
LocationWestern Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany
2008

Every edition of Netherlands

Populationas each edition published it
16.65 million July 2008 est. · 14.94m in 1990
Population growth% a year
0.436% 2008 est. · 0.63% in 1993
Median ageyears
40 years 2008 est. · 38.6 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
79.25 years 2008 est. · 77.55 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
1.66 children per woman 2008 est. · 1.6 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
4.81 deaths per 1,000 live births 2008 est. · 7 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$39,000 2007 est. · $17,200 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
3.5% 2007 est. · 1.6% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

The Dutch United Provinces declared their independence from Spain in 1579; during the 17th century, they became a leading seafaring and commercial power, with settlements and colonies around the world. After a 20-year French occupation, a Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed in 1815. In 1830 Belgium seceded and formed a separate kingdom. The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I, but suffered invasion and occupation by Germany in World War II. A modern, industrialized nation, the Netherlands is also a large exporter of agricultural products. The country was a founding member of NATO and the EEC (now the EU), and participated in the introduction of the euro in 1999.

Geography

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

20 fields

Land useshare of 41,526 sq km

arable land 21.96%permanent crops 0.77%other 77.27% (2005)irrigated 5,650 sq km (2003)
Area
41,526sq km
land: 33,883 sq kmwater: 7,643 sq kmslightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Coastline
451km
territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Highest point
322m
Vaalserberglowest point: Zuidplaspolder -7 m
Land boundaries
1,027km
border countries: Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

52 30 N, 5 45 E

Climate

  • temperate;
  • marine;
  • cool summers and mild winters

Terrain

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

Natural resources

natural gas, petroleum, peat, limestone, salt, sand and gravel, arable land

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total:
8.86 cu km/yr (6%/60%/34%)
per capita:
544 cu m/yr (2001)

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

Environment - international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

Geography - note

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

People

21 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2008 est.)

1,040,932
65 and over14.6%
1,391,946
5,705,003
15-6467.8%
5,583,787
1,496,348
0-1417.6%
1,427,297
MaleFemale
Population
16,645,313
(July 2008 est.)growth rate: 0.436% (2008 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2008 est.)

Birth
10.53Death
8.71Net migration
2.55

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2008 est.)79.25
76.66 · 81.98Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)4.81
5.34 · 4.25Literacy (2003 est.)99%
99% · 99%
TotalMale · femaleMedian age years (2008 est.)40
39.2 · 40.9School life expectancy years (2006)16
17 · 16
MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups(2008 est.)

Dutch 80.7%EU 5%Indonesian 2.4%Turkish 2.2%Surinamese 2%Moroccan 2%Netherlands Antilles Aruba 0.8%other 4.8% (2008 est.)

Religions(2006)

Roman Catholic 30%Dutch Reformed 11%Calvinist 6%other Protestant 3%Muslim 5.8%other 2.2%none 42% (2006)

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.75 male(s)/female
total population:
0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.66 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality

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

Languages

Dutch (official), Frisian (official)

Education expenditures

5.3% of GDP (2005)

Government

Constitutional monarchy; Queen BEATRIX (since 30 April 1980); Prime Minister Jan Peter BALKENENDE (since 22 July 2002)

19 fields

First Chamber, 150 seats, elected 29 May 2007one dot, one seat

CDA 41PvdA 33Socialist Party 25VVD 22Party for Freedom 9Green Party 7Christian Union 6other 7

Country name

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

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Capital

name:
Amsterdam
geographic coordinates:
52 23 N, 4 54 E
time difference:
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

note: The Hague is the seat of government; time descriptions apply to the continental Netherlands only, not to the Caribbean components

Administrative divisions

  • 12 provinces (provincies, singular - provincie);
  • Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland (Fryslan), Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant (North Brabant), Noord-Holland (North Holland), Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland (Zealand), Zuid-Holland (South Holland)

Dependent areas

Aruba, Netherlands Antilles

Independence

23 January 1579 (the northern provinces of the Low Countries conclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with Spain; on 26 July 1581 they formally declared their independence with an Act of Abjuration; however, it was not until 30 January 1648 and the Peace of Westphalia that Spain recognized this independence)

National holiday

Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX), 30 April (1909 and 1980)

Constitution

adopted 1815; amended many times, most recently in 2002

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:
Queen BEATRIX (since 30 April 1980); Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER (born 27 April 1967), son of the monarch
head of government:
Prime Minister Jan Peter BALKENENDE (since 22 July 2002); Deputy Prime Ministers Wouter BOS (since 22 February 2007) and Andre ROUVOET (since 22 February 2007)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections:
  • the monarchy is hereditary;
  • following Second Chamber elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch;
  • deputy prime ministers appointed by the monarch

note: there is also a Council of State composed of the monarch, heir apparent, and councilors that provides consultations to the cabinet on legislative and administrative policy

Legislative branch

bicameral States General or Staten Generaal consists of the First Chamber or Eerste Kamer (75 seats; members indirectly elected by the country's 12 provincial councils to serve four-year terms) and the Second Chamber or Tweede Kamer (150 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:
First Chamber - last held 29 May 2007 (next to be held in May 2011); Second Chamber - last held 22 November 2006 (next to be held by early 2011)
election results:
  • First Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA%;
  • seats by party - CDA 21, PvdA 14, VVD 14, Socialist Party 11, Christian Union 4, Green Left Party 4, D66 2, other 5;
  • Second Chamber - percent of vote by party - CDA 26.5%, PvdA 21.2%, Socialist Party 16.6%, VVD 14.6%, Party for Freedom 5.9%, Green Party 4.6%, Christian Union 4.0%, other 6.6%;
  • seats by party - CDA 41, PvdA 33, Socialist Party 25, VVD 22, Party for Freedom 9, Green Party 7, Christian Union 6, other 7

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (justices are nominated for life by the monarch)

Political parties and leaders

  • Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA [Jan Peter BALKENENDE];
  • Christian Union Party [Andre ROUVOET];
  • Democrats 66 or D66 [Alexander PECHTOLD];
  • Green Left Party [Femke HALSEMA];
  • Labor Party or PvdA [Wouter BOS];
  • Party for Freedom or PVV [Geert WILDERS];
  • Party for the Animals or PvdD [Marianne THIEME];
  • People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (Liberal) or VVD [Mark RUTTE];
  • Reformed Political Party of SGP [Bas VAN DER VLIES];
  • Socialist Party [Jan MARIJNISSEN];
  • plus a few minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

  • Christian Trade Union Federation or CNV [Rene PAAS];
  • Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers or VNO-NCW [Bernard WIENTJES];
  • Federation for Small and Medium-sized businesses or MKB [Loek HERMANS];
  • Netherlands Trade Union Federation or FNV [Agnes JONGERIUS];
  • Social Economic Council or SER [Alexander RINNOOY Kan];
  • Trade Union Federation of Middle and High Personnel or MHP [Ad VERHOEVEN]

International organization participation

ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CBSS (observer), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Regina "Renee" JONES-BOS
chancery:
4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 244-5300, [1] 877-388-2443
FAX:
[1] (202) 362-3430
consulate(s) general:
Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador James B. CULBERTSON
embassy:
Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague
mailing address:
PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715
telephone:
[31] (70) 310-2209
FAX:
[31] (70) 361-4688
consulate(s) general:
Amsterdam

Flag description

  • three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue;
  • similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer;
  • one of the oldest flags in constant use, originating with WILLIAM I, Prince of Orange, in the latter half of the 16th century

Economy

The Netherlands has a prosperous and open economy, which depends heavily on foreign trade.

51 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$645.5billion
(2007 est.)official exchange rate: $768.7 billion (2007 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
$39,000
(2007 est.)
Real growth rate
3.5%
(2007 est.)industrial production growth: 3.1% (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2007 est.)

agriculture 2%industry 24.4%services 73.6% (2007 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

24.4%
Germany
17.7%
13.6%
Belgium
9.3%
China
10.5%
9.1%
UK
5.8%
8.5%
France
4.4%
4.3%
US
7.3%
5.1%
Italy
Russia
5.1%
Exports $456.8 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)Imports $406.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)(2007)

Budget

Revenues
$359.5 billionExpenditures
$356.5 billion (2007 est.)

Electricity

Electricity production
97.33 billion (2007 est.)Electricity consumption
109.6 billion (2006 est.)Electricity exports
5.565 billion (2007 est.)Electricity imports
23.14 billion (2007 est.)

Economy - overview

The Netherlands has a prosperous and open economy, which depends heavily on foreign trade. The economy is noted for stable industrial relations, moderate unemployment and inflation, a sizable current account surplus, and an important role as a European transportation hub. Industrial activity is predominantly in food processing, chemicals, petroleum refining, and electrical machinery.

A highly mechanized agricultural sector employs no more than 3% of the labor force but provides large surpluses for the food-processing industry and for exports. The Netherlands, along with 11 of its EU partners, began circulating the euro currency on 1 January 2002. The country continues to be one of the leading European nations for attracting foreign direct investment and is one of the five largest investors in the US. The economy experienced a slowdown in 2005 but in 2006 recovered to the fastest pace in six years on the back of increased exports and strong investment. The pace of job growth reached 10-year highs in 2007.

Labor force

7.604 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture:
3%
industry:
21%
services:
76% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

4.6% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%:
2.5%
highest 10%:
22.9% (1999)

Investment (gross fixed)

20% of GDP (2007 est.)

Public debt

45.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate

NA (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

8.72% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

NA

note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU);

individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders

Stock of quasi money

NA (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.876 trillion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products

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

Industries

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

Oil - production

88,950 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption

984,200 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports

1.639 million bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports

2.648 million bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves

100 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

76.33 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

46.42 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports

55.66 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

25.73 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.416 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance

$47.31 billion (2007 est.)

Exports

$456.8 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs

Imports

$406.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs, clothing

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$26.98 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external

$2.277 trillion (30 June 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$924.4 billion (November 2007)

Currency (code)

euro (EUR)

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003)

Communications

8 fields
Mobile cellular
17.3 million
(2006)
Internet users
10.983 million
(2008)
Fixed lines
7.334 million
(2007) · country code .nl

Telephone system

general assessment:
highly developed and well maintained
domestic:
  • extensive fixed-line fiber-optic network;
  • large cellular telephone system with 5 major operators utilizing the third generation of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) technology
international:
  • country code - 31;
  • submarine cables provide links to the US and Europe;
  • satellite earth stations - 5 (3 Intelsat - 1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean, 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (2007)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4, FM 246, shortwave 3 (2004)

Television broadcast stations

21 (plus 26 repeaters) (1995)

Internet users

15 million (2007)

Transportation

10 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

2
over 3,047 m
9
2,438 to 3,047 m
3
1,524 to 2,437 m
4
914 to 1,523 m
3
2
under 914 m
4
Paved 20Unpaved 7

Networkskm

Roadways
134,981 (2006)Railways
2,797Waterways
6,211 (2006)
Roadways: (includes 2,604 km of expressways) · Railways: standard gauge: 2,797 km 1.435-m gauge (2,064 km electrified) (2006) · Waterways: (navigable for ships of 50 tons)

Airports

27 (2007)

Heliports

1 (2007)

Pipelines

condensate 81 km; gas 7,394 km; oil 578 km; refined products 716 km (2007)

Railways

total:
2,797 km
standard gauge:
2,797 km 1.435-m gauge (2,064 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways

total: 134,981 km (includes 2,604 km of expressways) (2006)

Waterways

6,211 km (navigable for ships of 50 tons) (2006)

Merchant marine

total:
622
by type:
bulk carrier 9, cargo 381, carrier 19, chemical tanker 44, container 76, liquefied gas 15, passenger 16, passenger/cargo 15, petroleum tanker 11, refrigerated cargo 10, roll on/roll off 23, specialized tanker 3
foreign-owned:
203 (Belgium 2, Cyprus 8, Denmark 29, Finland 14, France 1, Germany 75, Ireland 10, Italy 1, South Korea 1, Norway 12, Sweden 28, Turkey 1, UAE 5, UK 2, US 14)
registered in other countries:
178 (Antigua and Barbuda 20, Australia 2, Austria 2, Bahamas 9, Cambodia 1, Canada 1, Cyprus 22, Germany 1, Gibraltar 21, Isle of Man 1, Liberia 6, Luxembourg 2, Marshall Islands 8, Netherlands Antilles 38, Panama 14, Paraguay 1, Philippines 23, Portugal 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, US 1, unknown 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals

Amsterdam, IJmuiden, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Vlissingen

Military

Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force (Koninklijke Luchtmacht, KLu), Royal Military Police (2008)

6 fields
Military expenditures
1.6%of GDP
(2005 est.)

Military branches

Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force (Koninklijke Luchtmacht, KLu), Royal Military Police (2008)

Military service age and obligation

20 years of age for an all-volunteer force (2004)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49:
3,950,825
females age 16-49:
3,850,800 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49:
3,233,773
females age 16-49:
3,150,790 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male:
105,735
female:
100,747 (2008 est.)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Illicit drugs

  • major European producer of synthetic drugs, including ecstasy, and cannabis cultivator;
  • important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish entering Europe;
  • major source of US-bound ecstasy;
  • large financial sector vulnerable to money laundering;
  • significant consumer of ecstasy

Central Intelligence Agency. “Netherlands.” The World Factbook 2008. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/netherlands/2008.

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