Netherlands
Kingdom of the NetherlandsKoninkrijk der Nederlanden
constitutional monarchy
Netherlands as the 2014 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 167 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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. In October 2010, the former Netherlands Antilles was dissolved and the three smallest islands - Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba - became special municipalities in the Netherlands administrative structure. The larger islands of Sint Maarten and Curacao joined the Netherlands and Aruba as constituent countries forming the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Geography
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany
20 fieldsLand useshare of 41,543 sq km
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
- total:
- 10.61 cu km/yr (12%/88%/1%)
- per capita:
- 636.7 cu m/yr (2008)
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, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
- signed, but not ratified:
- none of the selected agreements
Geography - note
located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)
People and Society
34 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2014 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2014 est.)
Male · female
Ethnic groups(2008 est.)
Religions(2009 est.)
Languages
Dutch (official) note: Frisian, Low Saxon, and Limburgish are recognized as regional languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- 0-14 years:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- 15-24 years:
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- 25-54 years:
- 1.01 male(s)/female
- 55-64 years:
- 0.98 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.8 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.98 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
Government
Constitutional monarchy; King WILLEM-ALEXANDER (since 30 April 2013); Prime Minister Mark RUTTE (since 14 October 2010)
22 fieldsFirst Chamber, 150 seats, elected May 2011one dot, one seat
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Kingdom of the Netherlands
- conventional short form:
- Netherlands
- local long form:
- Koninkrijk der Nederlanden
- local short form:
- Nederland
Capital
- name:
- Amsterdam; note - The Hague is the seat of government
- geographic coordinates:
- 52 21 N, 4 55 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: time descriptions apply to the continental Netherlands only, not to the Caribbean components
Administrative divisions
- 12 provinces (provincies, singular - provincie);
- Drenthe, Flevoland, Fryslan (Friesland), Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant (North Brabant), Noord-Holland (North Holland), Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland (Zealand), Zuid-Holland (South Holland)
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
King's Day (for 2014, the holiday will be on 26 April; thereafter it will fall on the King's Birthday of 27 April (1967))
Constitution
- previous 1597, 1798;
- latest adopted 24 August 1815 (substantially revised in 1848);
- amended many times, last in 2010 (2013)
Legal system
civil law system based on the French system; constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the States General
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- King WILLEM-ALEXANDER (since 30 April 2013)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Mark RUTTE (since 14 October 2010);
- Deputy Prime Minister Lodewijk ASSCHER (since 5 November 2012);
- note - Mark RUTTE tendered his resignation 23 April 2012;
- new elections were held on 12 September 2012 in which his party won the most seats;
- during the interim period he remained in office in a care-taking position;
- he was sworn in again as prime minister on 5 November 2012
- cabinet:
- Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch; (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)
- elections:
- the monarchy is hereditary;
- following Second Chamber elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition 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 advice 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 elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
- elections:
- First Chamber - last held on May 2011 (next to be held in May 2015); Second Chamber - last held on 12 September 2012 (next to be held by May 2017)
- election results:
- First Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA;
- seats by party - VVD 16, PvdA 14, CDA 11, PVV 10, SP 8, D66 5, GL 5, other 6;
- Second Chamber - percent of vote by party - VVD 26.6%, PvdA 24.8%, PVV, 10.1%, SP 9.7%, CDA 8.5%, D66 8.0%, CU 3.1%, GL 6.7%, other 2.5%;
- seats by party - VVD 41, PvdA 38, PVV 15, SP 15, CDA 13, D66 12, CU 5, GL 4, other 7
Judicial branch
- highest court(s):
- Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (consists of 41 judges:
- the president, 6 vice-presidents, 31 justices or raadsheren, and 3 justices in exceptional service, referred to as buitengewone dienst);
- the court is divided into criminal, civil, tax, and ombuds chambers
- judge selection and term of office:
- justices appointed by the monarch from a list provided by the Second Chamber of the States General;
- justices appointed for life or until mandatory retirement at age 70
- subordinate courts:
- courts of appeal; district courts, each with up to 5 subdistrict courts
Political parties and leaders
Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA [Sybrand VAN HAERSMA BUMA]
Christian Union or CU [Arie SLOB]
Democrats 66 or D66 [Alexander PECHTOLD]
Green Left or GL [Bram VAN OJIK]
Labor Party or PvdA [Diederik SAMSOM]
Party for Freedom or PVV [Geert WILDERS]
Party for the Animals or PvdD [Marianne THIEME]
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy or VVD [Mark RUTTE]
Reformed Political Party or SGP [Kees VAN DER STAAIJ]
Socialist Party or SP [Emile ROEMER]
plus a few minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders
- Christian Trade Union Federation or CNV [Jaap SMIT]
- Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers or VNO-NCW [Bernard WIENTJES]
- Federation for Small and Medium-sized businesses or MKB [Hans BIESHEUVEL]
- Netherlands Trade Union Federation or FNV [Ton HEERTS]
- Social Economic Council or SER [Wiebe DRAIJER]
- Trade Union Federation of Middle and High Personnel or MHP [Reginald VISSER]
International organization participation
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Rudolf Simon BEKINK (since 20 July 2012)
- 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, Miami, New York, San Francisco
- consulate(s):
- Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- ambassador Timothy BROAS (since 19 March 2014)
- 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) 310-2207
- 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;
- the colors were those of WILLIAM I, Prince of Orange, who led the Dutch Revolt against Spanish sovereignty in the latter half of the 16th century;
- originally the upper band was orange, but because it tended to fade to red over time, the red shade was eventually made the permanent color;
- the banner is perhaps the oldest tricolor in continuous use
Economy
Netherlands is the sixth-largest economy in the euro-zone and is noted for its stable industrial relations, moderate unemployment and inflation, sizable trade surplus, and important role as a European transportation hub.
41 fieldsGDP - composition, by sector of origin(2013 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP
Economy - overview
Netherlands is the sixth-largest economy in the euro-zone and is noted for its stable industrial relations, moderate unemployment and inflation, sizable trade surplus, and 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 only 2% of the labor force but provides large surpluses for the food-processing industry and for exports. Netherlands, along with 11 of its EU partners, began circulating the euro currency on 1 January 2002. The Dutch financial sector suffered as a result of the global financial crisis, due in part to the high exposure of some Dutch banks to US mortgage-backed securities.
In 2008, the government nationalized two banks and injected billions of dollars of capital into other financial institutions, to prevent further deterioration of a crucial sector. After 26 years of uninterrupted economic growth, the Dutch economy - highly dependent on an international financial sector and international trade - contracted by 3.5% in 2009.
To recover, the government sought to boost the domestic economy by accelerating infrastructure programs, offering corporate tax breaks for employers to retain workers, and expanding export credit facilities. The stimulus programs and bank bailouts, however, resulted in a government budget deficit of 5.3% of GDP in 2010 that contrasted sharply with a surplus of 0.7% in 2008.
The government of Prime Minister Mark RUTTE began implementing austerity measures in early 2011, mainly reducting expenditures, which resulted in an improved budget deficit in 2011. However, in 2012 tax revenues dropped, GDP contracted, and the budget deficit deteriorated. In 2013, the government budget deficit decreased to 3.3% of GDP due to increased government revenue from higher taxes.
However, spending on social benefits also increased, due to a rise in unemployment benefits and payments for pensions. The high unemployment rate and tax increases have contributed to continued decreases in household disposable income, causing the Dutch economy to contract.
Gross national saving
26.2% of GDP (2013 est.) · 27.5% of GDP (2012 est.) · 28.3% of GDP (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 42
Industries
agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing
Distribution of family income - Gini index
30.9 (2007) · 32.6 (1994) country comparison to the world: 115
Public debt
74.3% of GDP (2013 est.) · 71.3% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 35 note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment, debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions
Central bank discount rate
0.75% (31 December 2013) · 1.5% (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 118 note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area
Commercial bank prime lending rate
2.3% (31 December 2013 est.) · 2.65% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 172
Stock of narrow money
$401.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.) · $389.9 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 15 note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 17 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders
Stock of broad money
$1.169 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) · $1.136 trillion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 17
Stock of domestic credit
$1.736 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) · $1.7 trillion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 13
Current account balance
$65.87 billion (2013 est.) · $51.54 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 7
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$71.95 billion (31 December 2013 est.) · $54.82 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 29
Debt - external
$2.347 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) · $2.434 trillion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 9
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$646.4 billion (31 December 2013 est.) · $605.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 14
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$1.034 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) · $961.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 10
Exchange rates
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7634 (2013 est.) · 0.7752 (2012 est.) · 0.755 (2010 est.) · 0.7198 (2009 est.) · 0.6827 (2008 est.)
Energy
23 fieldsInstalled generating capacity, 29.92 million kW(2012)
Crude oil - proved reserves
352 million bbl (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 54
Natural gas - proved reserves
1.09 trillion cu m (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 26
Communications
7 fieldsTelephone 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;
- one in five households now use Voice over the Internet Protocol (VoIP) services
- 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 (2011)
Broadcast media
- more than 90% of households are connected to cable or satellite TV systems that provide a wide range of domestic and foreign channels;
- public service broadcast system includes multiple broadcasters, 3 with a national reach and the remainder operating in regional and local markets;
- 2 major nationwide commercial television companies, each with 3 or more stations, and many commercial TV stations in regional and local markets;
- nearly 600 radio stations with a mix of public and private stations providing national or regional coverage (2008)
Transportation
10 fieldsMerchant marine, 744 ships by type
Airports by runway lengthpaved only
Airports by runway lengthunpaved only
Networkskm
Railways
- total:
- 3,013 km
country comparison to the world: 56
- standard gauge:
- 3,013 km 1.435-m gauge (2,195 km electrified) (2012)
Roadways
total: 139,295 km (includes 2,758 km of expressways) (2012) country comparison to the world: 36
Ports and terminals
- major seaport(s):
- IJmuiden, Vlissingen
- river port(s):
- Amsterdam (Nordsee Kanaal);
- Moerdijk (Hollands Diep River);
- Rotterdam (Rhine River);
- Terneuzen (Western Scheldt River)
- container port(s) (TEUs):
- Rotterdam (11,876,920)
Military
Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force (Koninklijke Luchtmacht, KLu), Royal Military Police (2012)
6 fieldsMilitary branches
Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force (Koninklijke Luchtmacht, KLu), Royal Military Police (2012)
Manpower available for military service
- males age 16-49:
- 3,734,610
- females age 16-49:
- 3,687,940 (2014 est.)
Transnational Issues
3 fieldsRefugees and internally displaced persons
- refugees (country of origin):
- 18,799 (Somalia);
- 15,533 (Iraq);
- 6,269 (Afghanistan) (2013)
- stateless persons:
- 2,005 (2012)
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
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Netherlands.” The World Factbook 2014. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/netherlands/2014.