2007 Edition

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, Zuid-Holland (South Holland)

Age structure

0-14 years: 18% (male 1,515,123/female 1,445,390) 15-64 years: 67.8% (male 5,656,448/female 5,525,481) 65 years and over: 14.2% (male 994,723/female 1,354,296) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

27 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 4

total

20

under 914 m

2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

7 914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m

4 (2006)

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 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 Netherlands

Birth rate

10.9 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$306.5 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)

revenues

$304.3 billion

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

52 23 N, 4 54 E

name

Amsterdam

note

The Hague (seat of government)

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Climate

temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters

Coastline

451 km

Constitution

adopted 1815; amended many times, most recently in 2002

Country name

conventional long form

Kingdom of the Netherlands

conventional short form

Netherlands

local long form

Koninkrijk der Nederlanden

local short form

Nederland

Currency (code)

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

Current account balance

$50.17 billion (2006 est.)

Death rate

8.68 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$1.899 trillion (30 June 2006)

Dependent areas

Aruba, Netherlands Antilles

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Roland E. ARNALL

embassy

Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague

mailing address

PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715

telephone

[31] (70) 310-2209

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Christiaan Mark Johan KRONER

telephone

[1] (202) 244-5300

Disputes - international

none

Distribution of family income - Gini index

30.9 (2005)

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $4 billion (2003 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 2% 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 2001-06, as part of the global economic slowdown, but for the four years before that, annual growth averaged nearly 4%, well above the EU average.

Electricity - consumption

102.4 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

5.2 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

21.4 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

92.7 billion kWh (2004)

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-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

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 - 0.79669 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)

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 Laurens Jan BRINKHORST (since 31 March 2005)

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

Exports

$413.8 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs

Exports - partners

Germany 24.9%, Belgium 13%, France 9.4%, UK 9.2%, Italy 5.7%, US 4.3%, Spain 4.1% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 362-3430

[31] (70) 361-4688

consulate(s)

Boston

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York

consulate(s) general

Amsterdam

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 - composition by sector

agriculture

2.1%

industry

23.9%

services

73.9% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$31,700 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.9% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$612.7 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$512 billion (2006 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 (2006)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

19,000 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

22.9% (1999)

lowest 10%

2.5%

Illicit drugs

major European producer of ecstasy, illicit amphetamines, 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 8 February, 2007

Imports

$373.8 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Germany 16.6%, Belgium 9.3%, China 8.8%, US 7.6%, UK 5.8%, France 4.7%, Russia 4.4% (2005)

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)

Industrial production growth rate

2.3% (2006 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

4.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

5.52 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.96 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.4% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

AfDB, Arctic Council (observer), AsDB, 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, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Internet country code

.nl

Internet hosts

8,363,158 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

52 (2000)

Internet users

10,806,328 (2004) Transportation Netherlands

Investment (gross fixed)

19.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

5,650 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

7.6 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

2%

industry

19%

services

79% (2004 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km

total

1,027 km

Land use

arable land

21.96%

other

77.27% (2005)

permanent crops

0.77%

Languages

Dutch (official), Frisian (official)

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 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%; seats by party - CDA 41, PvdA 33, Socialist Party 25, VVD 22, Party for Freedom 9, Green Party 7, Christian Union 6, other 7

elections

First Chamber - last held 25 May 2003 (next to be held May 2007); Second Chamber - last held 22 November 2006 (next to be held by early 2011)

Life expectancy at birth

female

81.67 years (2006 est.)

male

76.39 years

total population

78.96 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99% (2003 est.) Government Netherlands

male

99%

total population

99%

Location

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

Manpower available for military service

females age 20-49

3,470,377 (2005 est.)

males age 20-49

3,557,918

Manpower fit for military service

females age 20-49

2,786,495 (2005 est.)

males age 20-49

2,856,691

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 20-49

95,818 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

99,934

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

40.2 years (2006 est.)

male

38.6 years

total

39.4 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 29, cargo 345, chemical tanker 29, container 59, liquefied gas 12, passenger 14, passenger/cargo 14, petroleum tanker 16, refrigerated cargo 19, roll on/roll off 18, specialized tanker 3

foreign-owned

157 (Australia 1, Belgium 2, Denmark 9, Finland 13, Germany 56, Ireland 10, Netherlands Antilles 1, Norway 7, Sweden 26, UK 19, US 13)

registered in other countries

222 (Antigua and Barbuda 14, Australia 2, Austria 2, Bahamas 24, Canada 1, Cayman Islands 4, Cyprus 18, Gibraltar 5, Isle of Man 1, Liberia 29, Luxembourg 2, Malta 6, Marshall Islands 1, Netherlands Antilles 54, Norway 3, Panama 21, Philippines 19, Portugal 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5, Singapore 2, UK 3, US 4, unknown 1) (2006)

total

558 ships (1000 GRT or over) 5,042,775 GRT/5,016,265 DWT

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, Defense Interservice Command (DICO) (2006)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$9.408 billion (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.6% (2004) Transnational Issues Netherlands

Military service age and obligation

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

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

51.3 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports

53.56 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports

18.85 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

85.98 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.756 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Natural hazards

flooding

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

2.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

946,700 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

1.418 million bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

2.284 million bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

95,800 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves

88.06 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Pipelines

condensate 81 km; gas 7,229 km; oil 578 km; refined products 716 km (2006)

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]; List Pim Fortuyn [Olaf STUGER]; Party for Freedom [Geert WILDERS]; People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (Liberal) or VVD [Mark RUTTE]; Socialist Party [Jan MARIJNISSEN]; Party for Freedom or PVV [Geert WILDERS]; Party for the Animals or PvdD [Marianne THIEME]; Reformed Political Party of SGP [Bas VAN DER VLIES]; plus a few minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

Netherlands Trade Union Federation or FNV (consisting of a merger of Socialist and Catholic trade unions); Christian Trade Union Federation or CNV; Trade Union Federation of Middle and High Personnel or MHP; Federation of Catholic and Protestant Employers Associations; Interchurch Peace Council or IKV; large multinational firms; the nondenominational Federation of Netherlands Enterprises

Population

16,491,461 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

10.5% (1999)

Population growth rate

0.49% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Amsterdam, Groningen, IJmuiden, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Vlissingen, Zaanstad Military Netherlands

Public debt

50.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4, FM 246, shortwave 3 (2004)

Radios

15.3 million (1996)

Railways

standard gauge

2,808 km 1.435-m gauge (2,061 km electrified) (2005)

total

2,808 km

Religions

Roman Catholic 31%, Dutch Reformed 13%, Calvinist 7%, Muslim 5.5%, other 2.5%, none 41% (2002)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$10.24 billion (August 2006 est.)

Roadways

total

134,000 km (including 3,270 km of expressways) (2004)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

extensive fixed-line fiber-optic network; cellular telephone system is one of the largest in Europe with five major network operators utilizing the third generation of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)

general assessment

highly developed and well maintained

international

country code - 31; 9 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions) (2004)

Telephones - main lines in use

7.6 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

15.834 million (2005)

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

1.66 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

5.5% (2006 est.)

Waterways

6,183 km (navigable for ships of 50 tons) (2005)