2003 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 18.2% (male 1,501,127; female 1,436,453) 15-64 years: 67.9% (male 5,576,141; female 5,389,764) 65 years and over: 13.9% (male 929,087; female 1,317,939) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

28 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 4

total

21

under 914 m

2 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

7 914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m

5 (2002)

Area

land

33,883 sq km

total

41,526 sq km

water

7,643 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Background

The 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 EC (now the EU), and participated in the introduction of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) in 1999. Geography Netherlands

Birth rate

11.31 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$134 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)

revenues

$134 billion

Capital

Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government

Climate

temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters

Coastline

451 km

Constitution

adopted 1814; amended many times, last time 17 February 1983

Country name

conventional long form

Kingdom of the Netherlands

conventional short form

Netherlands

local long form

Koninkrijk der Nederlanden

local short form

Nederland

Currency

euro (EUR)

note

on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries

Currency code

EUR

Death rate

8.66 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Dependent areas

Aruba, Netherlands Antilles

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Clifford M. SOBEL

embassy

Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague

mailing address

PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715

telephone

[31] (70) 310-9209

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Boudewijn J. VAN EENENNAAM

consulate(s)

Boston

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York

Disputes - international

none

Distribution of family income - Gini index

32.6 (1994)

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $3.5 billion (2000 est.)

Economy - overview

The Netherlands is a prosperous and open economy depending 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 4% 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. Economic growth slowed considerably in 2001-03, as part of the global economic slowdown, but for the four years before that, annual growth averaged nearly 4%, well above the EU average. The government is wrestling with a deteriorating budget position, and is moving toward the EU 3% limit.

Electricity - consumption

99.42 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

4.209 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

21.49 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

88.32 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

89.9%

hydro

0.1%

nuclear

4.3%

other

5.7% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Vaalserberg 322 m

lowest point

Zuidplaspolder -7 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

Environment - international agreements

party to

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

Ethnic groups

Dutch 83%, other 17% (of which 9% are non-western origin mainly Turks, Moroccans, Antilleans, Surinamese and Indonesians) (1999 est.)

Exchange rates

euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94 (1999)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch

chief of state

Queen BEATRIX (since 30 April 1980); Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER (born 27 April 1967), son of the monarch

elections

none; 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; vice prime ministers appointed by the monarch

head of government

Prime Minister Jan Peter BALKENENDE (since 22 July 2002) and Deputy Prime Ministers Gerrit ZALM (since 27 May 2003) and Thom DE GRAAF (since 27 May 2003)

note

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

Exports

$243.3 billion f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs

Exports - partners

Germany 25.1%, Belgium 12.7%, UK 10.7%, France 10.2%, Italy 6%, US 4.6% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 362-3430

[31] (70) 361-4688

chancery

4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

consulate(s) general

Amsterdam

telephone

[1] (202) 244-5300

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Netherlands

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 Netherlands

GDP

purchasing power parity - $437.8 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

3.1%

industry

25.7%

services

71.2% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $27,200 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

0.2% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

52 30 N, 5 45 E

Geography - note

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

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Heliports

1 (2002) Military Netherlands

Highways

paved

104,850 km (including 2,235 km of expressways)

total

116,500 km

unpaved

11,650 km (1999)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

110 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

17,000 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

25.1% (1994)

lowest 10%

2.8%

Illicit drugs

major European producer of illicit amphetamine and other synthetic drugs; important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish entering Europe; major source of US-bound ecstasy; large financial sector vulnerable to money laundering This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Imports

$201.1 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Germany 17.8%, Belgium 9.7%, US 9.1%, UK 6.9%, France 5.5%, China 5.1%, Japan 4% (2002)

Independence

1579 (from Spain); note - the northern provinces of the Low Country concluded the Union of Utrecht, but it was 1648 before Spain finally recognized their independence

Industrial production growth rate

0% (2002 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

3.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

4.68 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.26 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.4% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Internet country code

.nl

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

52 (2000)

Internet users

9.73 million (2002) Transportation Netherlands

Irrigated land

5,650 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

7.2 million (2000)

Labor force - by occupation

services 73%, industry 23%, agriculture 4% (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km

total

1,027 km

Land use

arable land

26.53%

other

72.44% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

1.03%

Languages

Dutch (official language), Frisian (official language)

Legal system

civil law system incorporating French penal theory; constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the States General; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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 for four-year terms) and the Second Chamber or Tweede Kamer (150 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

election results

First Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CDA 23, PvdA 19, VVD 15, Green Party 5, Socialist Party 4, D66 3, other 6; Second Chamber - percent of vote by party - CDA 28.6%, PvdA 27.3%, VVD 12.9%, Socialist Party 6.3%, List Pim Fortuyn 5.7%, Green Party 5.1%, D66 4.1%; seats by party - CDA 44, PvdA 42, VVD 28, Socialist Party 9, List Pim Fortuyn 8, Green Party 8, D66 6, other 5

elections

First Chamber - last held 25 May 2003 (next to be held NA May 2007); Second Chamber - last held 22 January 2003 (next to be held NA January 2007)

Life expectancy at birth

female

81.76 years (2003 est.)

male

75.85 years

total population

78.74 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

NA% Government Netherlands

male

NA%

total population

99% (2000 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

exclusive fishing zone

200 NM

territorial sea

12 NM

Median age

female

39.5 years (2002)

male

37.7 years

total

38.6 years

Merchant marine

convenience

Belgium 1, Canada 1, Denmark 5, Finland 5, Germany 55, Ireland 12, Norway 12, Sweden 17, UK 33, US 12 (2002 est.)

note

includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of

ships by type

bulk 3, cargo 371, chemical tanker 51, container 70, liquefied gas 13, livestock carrier 1, multi-functional large-load carrier 15, passenger 10, petroleum tanker 24, refrigerated cargo 34, roll on/roll off 16, short-sea passenger 2, specialized tanker 6

total

616 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,664,711 GRT/5,226,912 DWT

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$6.5 billion (FY00/01 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.5% (FY00/01 est.) Transnational Issues Netherlands

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

4,071,891 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

3,536,586 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

20 years of age (note - age 17 for cadets and midshipmen) (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

94,034

note

Netherlands has an all-volunteer, 74,100 force in 2001 (2003 est.)

National holiday

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

Nationality

adjective

Dutch

noun

Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)

Natural gas - consumption

49.72 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

49.28 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

20.78 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

77.75 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.693 trillion cu m (37257)

Natural hazards

flooding

Natural resources

natural gas, petroleum, arable land

Net migration rate

2.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

895,300 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

1.418 million bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

2.284 million bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

46,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

88.06 million bbl (37257)

Pipelines

condensate 325 km; gas 6,998 km; oil 590 km; refined products 716 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders

Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA [Maxime Jacques Marcel VERHAGEN]; Christian Union Party [Andre ROUVOET]; Democrats 66 or D66 [Boris DITTRICH]; Green Party [Femke HALSEMA]; Labor Party or PvdA [Wouter BOS]; List Pim Fortuyn [Mat HERBEN]; People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (Liberal) or VVD [Gerrit ZALM]; Socialist Party [Jan MARIJNISSEN]; a host of minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

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

Population

16,150,511 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

0.5% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Amsterdam, Delfzijl, Dordrecht, Eemshaven, Groningen, Haarlem, IJmuiden, Maastricht, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Utrecht, Vlissingen

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4, FM 58, shortwave 3 (1998)

Radios

15.3 million (1996)

Railways

standard gauge

2,808 km 1.435-m gauge (2,061 km electrified) (2002)

total

2,808 km

Religions

Roman Catholic 31%, Protestant 21%, Muslim 4.4%, other 3.6%, unaffiliated 40% (1998)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.04 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

the existing system of multi-conductor cables is gradually being replaced by fiber-optic cables; the density of cellular telephone traffic is rapidly increasing and further modernization of the system is expected in 2001, with the introduction of the third generation of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)

general assessment

highly developed and well maintained

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) (1996)

Telephones - main lines in use

9,132,400 (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular

4,081,891 (April 1999)

Television broadcast stations

21 (plus 26 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions

8.1 million (1997)

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

1.65 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

3% (2002 est.)

Waterways

5,046 km (of which 3,745 km are canals)

note

47% of total route length is usable by craft of 1,000-metric-ton capacity or larger