The
Netherlands
OFFICIAL
NAME:
Kingdom
of the Netherlands
Geography
Area: 41,526 sq. km. (16,485 sq. mi.).
Cities: Capital--Amsterdam (pop. 1.1 million). Other cities--The Hague, seat
of government (.7 million); Rotterdam, the world's largest port (1.1 million);
Utrecht (554,000).
Terrain: Coastal lowland.
Climate: Northern maritime.
People
Population: 15.7 million.
Nationality: Noun--Dutchmen and Dutchwomen. Adjective--Dutch.
Ethnic groups: Predominantly Dutch; largest minority communities are
Moroccans, Turks, Surinamese.
Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, other.
Language: Dutch.
Education: Years compulsory--10. Attendance--nearly 100%. Literacy--99%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--4.8/1,000. Life expectancy--78 yrs.
Work force (6.7 million): Services--73%; industry--23%; government--7%;
agriculture--4%.
Government
Type: Parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch.
Constitution: 1814 and 1848.
Branches: Executive--monarch (chief of state), prime minister (head of
government), cabinet. Legislative--bicameral parliament (First and Second
Chambers). Judicial--Supreme Court.
Subdivisions: 12 provinces.
Political parties: Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), Labor Party (PvdA),
Liberal Party (VVD), Democrats '66 (D'66), other minor parties.
Suffrage: Universal at 18.
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Economy
GDP (2000 est.): $406.0 billion
GDP real growth rate (2000): 4.3%.
GDP per capita (2000 est.): $25,695.
Natural resources: Natural gas, petroleum, fertile soil.
Agriculture (3.5% of GDP): Products--dairy, poultry, meat, flower bulbs, cut
flowers, vegetables and fruits, sugarbeets, potatoes, wheat, barley.
Industry (26.8% of GDP): Types--agroindustries, steel and aluminum, metal
and engineering products, electric machinery and equipment, bulk chemicals,
natural gas, petroleum products, transport equipment, microelectronics.
Trade (1999): Exports--$196 billion (f.o.b): mineral fuels, chemicals,
machinery and transport equipment, processed food and tobacco, agricultural
products. Imports--$186 billion (c.i.f): mineral fuels and crude petroleum,
machinery, transportation equipment, consumer goods, foodstuffs. Major
trading partners--EU, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, U.K., U.S.
